Markedly elevated high-sensitivity troponin and in-hospital mortality after cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: High-sensitivity troponin (hsTnI) is correlated with cardiac mortality; however, studies on the relationship of markedly elevated hsTnI with in-hospital mortality after cardiac surgery are sparse. Therefore, we aimed to define this relationship in order to help guide in-hospital, acute management of post-surgical patients. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed all cardiac surgeries completed at our institution between January 2020 and June 2022 in which a peak hsTnI was noted to be >35× upper limit of normal (ULN = 34 ng/L). The primary outcome was in-hospital death. Subgroup analysis was performed to assess differences between coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and other cardiac surgeries. RESULTS: A total of 1382 cases met inclusion criteria. The patients' mean age was 64.8 years and 68.2 % were male. Median peak hsTnI after surgery was 4202 ng/L (interquartile ratio: 2427-7654). Univariate analysis of troponin level with mortality found that for every 1000 ng/L increase in hsTnI, odds of in-hospital death increased by 3.8 % (odds ratio [OR]: 1.038; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.027-1.050; p < 0.0001). In a multivariate model, troponin (OR 1.02; 95 % CI 1.01-1.04; p = 0.004) maintained a significant association with in-hospital death. CABG was associated with a lower risk of in-hospital death for any given hsTnI level up to 60,000 ng/L compared to other cardiac surgeries. CONCLUSION: Increasing hsTnI level is associated with increasing probability of in-hospital mortality and, therefore, serves as an additional, objective measure of risk to help guide in-hospital clinical management.

Comparing planned versus ad hoc coronary microvascular assessment: Early findings from the Coronary Microvascular Disease Registry.

BACKGROUND: Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is an etiology for angina with non-obstructive coronary disease. However, the initial adoption of CMD assessment, whether planned or conducted ad hoc, is limited. We characterize planned and ad hoc CMD assessments and highlight evolving trends of a CMD referral center. METHODS: We analyzed outpatient data from the Coronary Microvascular Disease Registry from 2021 to 2023. Patients were categorized into planned or ad hoc CMD assessment groups, and baseline characteristics, hospital stay, medications, and physiological measurements were compared. Secondary analysis evaluated a CMD referral center's evolution. RESULTS: Of 101 included outpatients, 67.3 % underwent ad hoc procedures and 32.7 % planned procedures. Average age was 63.1 ± 10.1 years. The planned procedure group was 87.9 % female, and the ad hoc procedure group was 51.5 % female. There were no significant differences in index of microvascular resistance or coronary flow reserve between groups. Hospital stay duration was <1 day for both groups, and neither reported complications. Ad hoc patients were more frequently prescribed aspirin before (64.7 % vs. 36.4 %, p = 0.007) and after the procedure (66.2 % vs. 39.4 %, p = 0.01). CMD rates were higher for planned procedures (30.3 % vs. 10.3 %, p = 0.01). We observed that CMD referral centers have more planned procedures and a higher rate of positive results over time. CONCLUSION: CMD referral centers' planned procedures, and subsequent positive cases, increased over time. This emphasizes the importance of planned procedures, appropriate patient selection, and increased awareness of CMD among healthcare providers. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Coronary Microvascular Disease (CMD) Registry, NCT05960474, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05960474.

Frequency of ventriculography during left heart catheterization for radial vs. femoral access.

BACKGROUND: Radial artery access has been used for left heart catheterization (LHC) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for over 30 years. This method has gained popularity among operators due to superficial vessel anatomy, allowing for easy accessibility and compressibility, resulting in effective hemostasis. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent PCI due to ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS), and chest pain (stable angina) from November 2013 to February 2023. RESULTS: We analyzed validated registries and found 7714 PCIs. Of these, 1230 were STEMI patients, 5585 were NSTE-ACS patients, and 899 were stable angina patients, forming the basis of our final analysis. In STEMI patients, there was a trend toward a higher rate of ventriculography with femoral access compared to radial access (53.4 % vs. 47.5 %, p = 0.06), which was also observed in NSTE-ACS patients (34.2 % vs. 31.8 %, p = 0.07). The use of central venous access was more common with femoral access in all three diagnoses, with significantly higher rates seen in STEMI patients (36.2 % vs. 7.6 %, p < 0.001), NSTE-ACS patients (19.3 % vs. 2.8 %, p < 0.001), and chest pain patients (26.4 % vs. 2.7 %, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The analysis revealed that operators may perform fewer ventriculography and RHC procedures when using radial access as compared to femoral access. While there is discrepancy in performing left ventriculography and RHC when using a radial artery, it is essential to emphasize that routinely performing ventriculography and hemodynamic assessment has not proven to impact outcomes, despite their contributions to proper decision-making and treatment.

Coronary Microvascular Disease Registry (CMDR): Study design and rationale.

BACKGROUND: Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is a prevalent condition among patients with cardiovascular risk factors, leading to a reduced quality of life and an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events. Novel invasive techniques have emerged to more accurately diagnose CMD. However, CMD's natural history remains poorly understood due to limited data. To address this knowledge gap, the Coronary Microvascular Disease Registry (CMDR) was established with the primary aim of standardizing comprehensive coronary functional testing and understanding of CMD. DESIGN: CMDR is a prospective, multicenter registry enrolling an unlimited number of consecutive subjects who undergo comprehensive invasive hemodynamic assessment of the entire coronary arterial vasculature. Patients undergoing acetylcholine provocation test for coronary vasospasm will also be included. Follow-up assessments will be conducted at 30 days and annually for up to 5 years. The primary endpoint is Canadian Cardiovascular Society angina grade over time. Secondary endpoints, including all-cause mortality, cardiovascular death, acute myocardial infarction, stroke, hospitalizations, medication changes, and subsequent coronary interventions, will be analyzed to establish long-term safety and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing invasive CMD assessment. SUMMARY: CMDR aims to characterize the clinical and physiologic profile of patients undergoing comprehensive invasive coronary functional testing, simultaneously providing crucial longitudinal information on the natural history and outcomes of these patients. This will shed light on CMD's course and clinical implications, which, in turn, holds the potential to significantly improve diagnostic and treatment strategies for CMD patients, ultimately leading to the enhancement of their overall prognosis and quality of life. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov, NCT05960474.

From chest pain to coronary functional testing: Clinical and economic impact of coronary microvascular dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Coronary functional testing to formally diagnose coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) reduces cardiovascular events and alleviates angina. This study aims to investigate the extensive and complex journey that patients with CMD undergo, from the onset of chest pain to eventual diagnosis. METHODS: Data from the Coronary Microvascular Disease Registry (CMDR) were analyzed, including information on the date of first documentation of chest pain, number of non-invasive and invasive tests the patient underwent, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations. In addition, we estimated the total cost per patient. A total of 61 patients with CMD diagnosis were included in this analysis. RESULTS: Most patients in our cohort were older than 50 years of age. The median time from initial chest pain symptoms to diagnosis was 0.62 (interquartile range [IQR]: 0.06-2.96) years. During this period, patients visited the emergency department a median of 1.0 (IQR: 0.0-2.0) times. Diagnostic tests included 3.0 (IQR: 2.0-6.0) electrocardiograms, 3.0 (IQR: 0.0-6.0) high-sensitivity troponin tests, and 1.0 (IQR: 1.0-2.0) echocardiograms. Prior to diagnosis of CMD, 13 (21.3 %) patients had left heart catheterization without coronary functional testing. Non-invasive testing for ischemia was conducted in 43 (70.5 %) patients. Alternative non-cardiac diagnoses were given to 11 (18.0 %) patients during the diagnostic process, with referrals made to gastroenterology for 16 (26.2 %) and pulmonology for 10 (16.4 %) patients. The cost was almost $2000/patient. CONCLUSION: Timely identification of CMD offers promising opportunities for prompt symptom alleviation, accompanied by reduced visits to the emergency department, cardiovascular testing, invasive medical procedures, and consequently reduced healthcare expenses.

Coronary microvascular dysfunction assessment: A comparative analysis of procedural aspects.

BACKGROUND: Full adoption of coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) assessment faces challenges due to its invasive nature and concerns about prolonged procedure time and increased contrast and/or radiation exposure. We compared procedural aspects of CMD invasive assessment to diagnostic left heart catheterization (DLHC) in patients with chest pain who were not found to have obstructive coronary artery disease. METHODS: A total of 227 patients in the Coronary Microvascular Disease Registry were compared to 1592 patients who underwent DLHC from August 2021 to November 2023. The two cohorts were compared using propensity-score matching; primary outcomes were fluoroscopy time and total contrast use. RESULTS: The participants' mean age was 64.1 ± 12.6 years. CMD-assessed patients were more likely to be female (66.5% vs. 45.2%, p < 0.001) and have hypertension (80.2% vs. 44.5%, p < 0.001), history of stroke (11.9% vs. 6.3%, p = 0.002), and history of myocardial infarction (20.3% vs. 7.7%, p < 0.001). CMD assessment was safe, without any reported adverse outcomes. A propensity-matched analysis showed that patients who underwent CMD assessment had slightly higher median contrast exposure (50 vs. 40 mL, p < 0.001), and slightly longer fluoroscopy time (6.9 vs. 4.7 min, p < 0.001). However, there was no difference in radiation dose (209.3 vs. 219 mGy, p = 0.58) and overall procedure time (31 vs. 29 min, p = 0.37). CONCLUSION: Compared to DLHC, CMD assessment is safe and requires only slightly additional contrast use (10 mL) and slightly longer fluoroscopy time (2 min) without clinical implications. These findings emphasize the favorable safety and feasibility of invasive CMD assessment.

Reasons for repeat urgent cardiac procedures within the same day.

BACKGROUND: With advances in technology and technique, the expectations are that patients undergoing procedures in the cardiac catheterization laboratory will not need to return for a repeat procedure within the same day. OBJECTIVES: Report why subjects undergoing cardiac procedures return urgently to the catheterization laboratory for a repeat procedure during the same day. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients who were brought back to the cardiac catheterization laboratory within the same day for a repeat procedure. The reasons for index and repeat procedure were identified. Patients who were transferred from an outside center after an initial procedure at other centers were excluded. RESULTS: Between November 2013 and January 2022, 55,942 catheterization procedures were performed at our institution, of which 140 entries were included in our analysis. Common reasons for the index procedure were diagnostic angiography (35.0%), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI, 29.2%), and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (15.0%). The most common reason for bringing these patients back to the cardiac catheterization laboratory within the same day was vascular complications (24.2%), followed by repeat PCI (20.7%), need for hemodynamic support (15.0%), heart team discussion and PCI (10%), and pacemaker implantation (10%). Acute limb ischemia was the most commonly identified vascular complication (7.1%), followed by pseudoaneurysm (5%). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that a very small number of patients underwent repeat procedures within the same day. Special attention should be paid to vascular access and closure and assessment of recurrent chest pain postprocedure, as these are the main reasons for same-day repeat procedures.

Targeting inflammation in atherosclerosis: overview, strategy and directions.

Atherosclerosis is a chronic condition characterised by the build-up of plaque in the inner lining of the blood vessels and it is the main underlying cause of cardiovascular disease. The development of atherosclerosis is associated with the accumulation of cholesterol and inflammation. Although effective therapies exist to lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, some patients still experience cardiovascular events due to persistent inflammation, known as residual inflammatory risk (RIR). Researchers have conducted laboratory and animal studies to investigate the measurement and targeting of the inflammatory cascade associated with atherosclerosis, which have yielded promising results. In addition to guideline-directed lifestyle modifications and optimal medical therapy focusing on reducing LDL-C levels, pharmacological interventions targeting inflammation may provide further assistance in preventing future cardiac events. This review aims to explain the mechanisms of inflammation in atherosclerosis, identifies potential biomarkers, discusses available therapeutic options and their strengths and limitations, highlights future advancements, and summarises notable clinical studies. Finally, an evaluation and management algorithm for addressing RIR is presented.

Computed tomography fractional flow reserve discrepancies with invasive angiography and physiology - Case series.

BACKGROUND: Computed tomography with fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) is increasingly common in assessing coronary artery disease. CASE PRESENTATION: We report five cases of discrepancies that led to changes in treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This report highlights discordant findings between modalities, which should be considered during the diagnostic assessment of chest pain.

Aspirin Versus Warfarin after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Low-Risk Patients: 2-Year Follow-Up.

Subclinical leaflet thrombosis occurs with transcatheter heart valves (THVs) and could be associated with structural valve deterioration. The current guidelines recommend the use of antiplatelet agents after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) but not the routine use of oral anticoagulation. Our study examines the effects of short-term warfarin therapy on THV hemodynamics at 24 months after TAVR in low-risk patients. Low-risk patients who underwent TAVR were randomly allocated 1:1 to receive low-dose aspirin (n = 50) or low-dose aspirin plus warfarin (n = 44). After 30 days of treatment, ongoing medication regimens, including anticoagulation, were at the physicians' discretion. Follow-up after a period of 24 months was available for clinical and echocardiographic outcomes. At the 24-month mark, follow-up echocardiography of the randomly allocated patients revealed just 1 additional case of new structural valve deterioration in the aspirin group (compared with the occurrence within 30 days), based on the Valve Academic Research Consortium 3 definitions. There were also no differences in mean pressure gradients (11.5 ± 0.5 mm Hg vs 11.05 ± 4.0 mm Hg, p = 0.6) or peak velocity (2.2 ± 0.5 m/s vs 2.1 ± 0.4 m/s, p = 0.7) between the groups. A composite end point (mortality, stroke, and myocardial infarction) did not show any difference between the groups at long-term follow-up (p = 0.07). In conclusion, in low-risk patients who underwent TAVR, short-term anticoagulation with warfarin did not impact clinical outcomes or THV hemodynamics by echocardiography at 24 months.

Understanding Patient Characteristics and Coronary Microvasculature: Early Insights from the Coronary Microvascular Disease Registry.

Coronary angiography has limitations in accurately assessing the coronary microcirculation. A new comprehensive invasive hemodynamic assessment method utilizing coronary flow reserve (CFR) and the index of microvascular resistance (IMR) offers improved diagnostic capabilities. This study aimed to present early real-world experience with invasive hemodynamic assessment of the coronary microvasculature in symptomatic patients with nonobstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) from the Coronary Microvascular Disease Registry, which is a prospective, multi-center registry that standardized the evaluation of patients with angina and nonobstructive CAD who underwent invasive hemodynamic assessment of the coronary microvasculature using the Coroventis CoroFlow Cardiovascular System. All patients underwent comprehensive invasive hemodynamic assessment. Analysis was performed on the first 154 patients enrolled in the Coronary Microvascular Disease Registry; their mean age was 62.4 years and 65.6% were female. A notable proportion of patients (31.8%) presented with a Canadian Cardiovascular Society Angina Score of 3 or 4. Coronary microvascular dysfunction was diagnosed in 39 of 154 patients (25.3%), with mean fractional flow reserve of 0.89 ± 0.43, mean resting full cycle ratio of 0.93 ± 0.08, mean CFR of 1.8 ± 0.9, and mean IMR of 36.26 ± 19.23. No in-hospital adverse events were reported in the patients. This study demonstrates the potential of invasive hemodynamic assessment using CFR and IMR to accurately evaluate the coronary microvasculature in patients with nonobstructive CAD. These findings have important implications for improving the diagnosis and management of coronary microvascular dysfunction, leading to more targeted and effective therapies for patients with microvascular angina.

Early experience with the Evolut FX self-expanding valve vs. Evolut PRO+ for patients with aortic stenosis undergoing TAVR.

BACKGROUND: The Evolut FX system is the most recent generation of self-expandable transcatheter heart valve (THV) technology. This study aims to report the early experience and outcomes associated with this system. METHODS: Our analysis included 200 consecutive patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement at our center from 2022 to 2023. The first cohort comprised the last 100 patients who received the Evolut PRO+ THV, while the second cohort included the first 100 patients who received the Evolut FX THV. The primary endpoints of the study were defined according to the Valve Academic Research Consortium-3 (VARC-3) criteria, which included technical success (at exit from procedure), device success (at discharge or at 30 days), and early safety (at 30 days). RESULTS: The study groups demonstrated no significant differences in baseline characteristics, including co-morbidities, pre-procedural imaging, and echocardiography. VARC-3 technical success rate was 99 % for both valves. The VARC-3 device success rate for the Evolut FX was 92 % compared to 97 % for the Evolut PRO+ (p = 0.12), and VARC-3 early safety rate was 80.1 % for the Evolut PRO+ vs. 81.5 % for the Evolut FX (p = 0.82). The in-hospital permanent pacemaker implantation rate for the Evolut FX was 12 % compared to 9 % for the Evolut PRO+ (p = 0.21). There were no differences in clinical outcomes, such as mortality or stroke, between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The Evolut FX THV performed well when used for patients with severe aortic stenosis, demonstrating high success with low complication rates when compared to an earlier generation of self-expanding THV.

Impact of IVUS and OCT on physician decision-making during post-PCI optimization.

BACKGROUND: Intravascular imaging (IVI) has been available as a complementary diagnostic tool in addition to coronary angiography for more than two decades. Prior studies have suggested that IVI influences physician decision making in up to 27 % of cases during post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) optimization. However, no studies have compared the two intracoronary imaging modalities (intravascular ultrasound [IVUS] vs. optical coherence tomography [OCT]) in shaping physician decisions post-PCI. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed IVI studies performed during PCI at a tertiary care center. IVUS and OCT cases performed by a single operator with expertise in both imaging studies were selected. The primary endpoint was the physician reaction rate during post-PCI optimization comparing IVUS vs. OCT. RESULTS: A total of 142 patients underwent IVUS evaluation, and 146 underwent OCT evaluation, post-PCI. The primary endpoint did not differ between IVUS-guided vs OCT-guided PCI optimization (35.2 % vs. 31.5 %, p = 0.505). The predominant cause of abnormalities deemed unsatisfactory by the implanting physician warranting further intervention were stent under-expansion (26.1 % vs. 19.2 %, p = 0.163), followed by malapposition (2.1 % vs. 6.2 %, p = 0.085), and dissection (3.5 % vs 4.1 %, p = 0.794). Overall, IVI using either IVUS or OCT influenced the physician decision in 33.3 % of cases. CONCLUSION: In this first study comparing IVUS- and OCT-guided PCI to assess their impact on physician decision making during post-PCI optimization, the primary endpoint of physician reaction rate was similar for IVUS vs. OCT. The use of post-PCI IVI changed physician management in one third of cases.

Evolut PRO/PRO+ versus Evolut R system for transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

BACKGROUND: The self-expanding CoreValve Evolut PRO/PRO+ transcatheter aortic valve was designed to overcome the limitations of its forerunner, Evolut R. Evolut PRO/PRO+ offers the lowest delivery profile for 23-29 mm valves, with an external tissue wrap on all valve sizes. We compared safety and efficacy of Evolut PRO/PRO+ and Evolut R. METHODS: We analyzed 300 patients enrolled in the EPROMPT Registry against a historical control cohort of 242 patients who received Evolut R. The two arms were matched (1:1) via propensity-score methodology by accounting for differences in Society of Thoracic Surgeons Predicted Risk of Mortality scores, yielding 440 patients. The endpoints included in-hospital safety clinical outcomes, all-cause mortality, and echocardiographic parameters at 30 days and 1 year. RESULTS: After propensity-score matching, cardiac death (0.5% vs. 0.5%, p = 0.995), stroke (1.6% vs. 2.8%, p = 0.410), life-threatening bleeding (1.1% vs. 3.3%, p = 0.139), major vascular complications (0.5% vs. 0.9%, p = 0.653), and pacemaker implantation (16.9% vs. 13.6%, p = 0.345) were comparable between the Evolut PRO/PRO+ and Evolut R groups. Likewise, the rates of all-cause mortality were similar both at 30 days (0.5% vs. 1.4%, p = 0.315) and 1 year (1.8% vs. 4.1%, p = 0.159). The rates of moderate paravalvular leak (5.7% vs. 2.6%, p = 0.402), and mean gradient (7.27 ± 3.25 mmHg vs. 8.84 ± 4.36 mmHg, p = 0.105) were also comparable between groups at 1 year. CONCLUSION: Our largest-to-date observational study suggests that the Evolut PRO/PRO+ system is safe and effective in treating severe aortic stenosis, with commensurate 30-day and 1-year mortality and similar 1-year echocardiographic hemodynamic outcomes in comparison to Evolut R.