Real-World Experience and Outcomes With Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Protected Versus Unprotected Left Main Coronary Artery Disease: Insights from the Veteran Affairs Clinical Assessment Reporting and Tracking Program.

The practice patterns and outcomes of protected left main (PLM) and unprotected left main (ULM) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are not well defined in contemporary US clinical practice. Data were collected from all Veteran Affairs catheterization laboratories participating in the Clinical Assessment Reporting and Tracking Program between 2009 and 2019. The analysis included 4,351 patients who underwent left main PCI, of whom 1,306 pairs of PLM and ULM PCI were included in a propensity-matched cohort. Selected temporal trends were also assessed. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) outcomes at 1 year, which was defined as a composite of all-cause mortality, rehospitalization for myocardial infarction (MI), rehospitalization for stroke, or urgent revascularization. Patients who underwent ULM PCI compared with patients who underwent PLM PCI were older (age 71.5 vs 69.2 years, p <0.001), more clinically complex, and more likely to present with acute coronary syndrome. In the propensity-matched cohort, radial access was used more often for ULM PCI (21% [273] vs 14% [185], p <0.001) and ULM PCI was more likely to involve the left main bifurcation (22% vs 14%, p = 0.003) and require mechanical circulatory support (10% [134] vs 1% [17], p <0.001). The 1-year MACEs occurred more frequently with ULM PCI than PLM PCI (22% [289] vs 16% [215], p ≤0.001) and all-cause mortality was also higher (16% [213] vs 10% [125], p ≤0.001). In the matched cohort, there was a low incidence of rehospitalization for MI (4% [48] ULM vs 4% [48] PLM, p = 1.000) or revascularization (7% [94] ULM vs 6% [84] PLM, p = 0.485). In this real-world experience, patients who underwent PLM PCI had better 1-year outcomes than those who underwent ULM PCI; however, in both groups, there was a high rate of mortality and MACEs at 1 year despite a relatively low rate of MI or revascularization.

Outcomes of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Protected versus Unprotected Left Main Coronary Artery Disease: Insights from the VA CART Program.

Background: Practice patterns and outcomes of protected left main (PLM) and unprotected left main (ULM) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), as well as the differences between these types of PCI, are not well defined in real-world clinical practice. Methods: Data collected from all Veteran Affairs (VA) catheterization laboratories participating in the Clinical Assessment Reporting and Tracking Program between 2009 and 2019. The analysis included 4,351 patients undergoing left main PCI, of which 1,306 pairs of PLM and ULM PCI were included in a propensity matched cohort. Patients and procedural characteristics were compared between PLM and ULM PCI. Temporal trends were also assessed. Peri-procedural and one-year major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were compared using cumulative incidence plots. The primary outcome was MACE outcomes at 1-year, which was defined as a composite of all-cause mortality, rehospitalization for myocardial infarction (MI), rehospitalization for stroke or urgent revascularization. Results: ULM PCI patients in comparison to PLM PCI were older (71.5 vs 69.2; P < 0.001), more clinically complex and more likely to present with ACS. In the propensity matched cohort, radial access was used more often for ULM PCI (21% [273] vs. 14% [185], P < 0.001), and ULM PCI was more likely to involve the LM bifurcation (22% vs 14%; P = 0.003) and require mechanical circulatory support (10% [134] vs 1% [17]; P <0.001). One-year MACE occurred more frequently with ULM PCI compared to PLM PCI (22% [289] vs. 16% [215]; P = < 0.001) and all-cause mortality was also higher (16% [213] vs. 10% [125]; P = < 0.001). In the matched cohort there was a low incidence of rehospitalization for MI (4% [48] ULM vs. 4% [48] PLM; P = 1.000) or revascularization (7% [94] ULM vs. 6% [84] PLM; P = 0.485). Conclusions: Veterans undergoing PLM PCI had better one-year outcomes than those undergoing ULM PCI, but in both groups there was a high rate of mortality and MACE at one-year despite a relatively low rate of MI or revascularization.

Comprehensive Management of ANOCA, Part 1-Definition, Patient Population, and Diagnosis: JACC State-of-the-Art Review.

Angina with nonobstructive coronary arteries (ANOCA) is increasingly recognized and may affect nearly one-half of patients undergoing invasive coronary angiography for suspected ischemic heart disease. This working diagnosis encompasses coronary microvascular dysfunction, microvascular and epicardial spasm, myocardial bridging, and other occult coronary abnormalities. Patients with ANOCA often face a high burden of symptoms and may experience repeated presentations to multiple medical providers before receiving a diagnosis. Given the challenges of establishing a diagnosis, patients with ANOCA frequently experience invalidation and recidivism, possibly leading to anxiety and depression. Advances in scientific knowledge and diagnostic testing now allow for routine evaluation of ANOCA noninvasively and in the cardiac catheterization laboratory with coronary function testing (CFT). CFT includes diagnostic coronary angiography, assessment of coronary flow reserve and microcirculatory resistance, provocative testing for endothelial dysfunction and coronary vasospasm, and intravascular imaging for identification of myocardial bridging, with hemodynamic assessment as needed.

Comprehensive Management of ANOCA, Part 2-Program Development, Treatment, and Research Initiatives: JACC State-of-the-Art Review.

Centers specializing in coronary function testing are critical to ensure a systematic approach to the diagnosis and treatment of angina with nonobstructive coronary arteries (ANOCA). Management leveraging lifestyle, pharmacology, and device-based therapeutic options for ANOCA can improve angina burden and quality of life in affected patients. Multidisciplinary care teams that can tailor and titrate therapies based on individual patient needs are critical to the success of comprehensive programs. As coronary function testing for ANOCA is more widely adopted, collaborative research initiatives will be fundamental to improve ANOCA care. These efforts will require standardized symptom assessments and data collection, which will propel future large-scale clinical trials.

Illness Perception and the Impact of a Definitive Diagnosis on Women With Ischemia and No Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease: A Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: Ischemia and no obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA) disproportionately impacts women, yet the underlying pathologies are often not distinguished, contributing to adverse health care experiences and poor quality of life. Coronary function testing at the time of invasive coronary angiography allows for improved diagnostic accuracy. Despite increased recognition of INOCA and expanding access to testing, data lack on first-person perspectives and the impact of receiving a diagnosis in women with INOCA. METHODS: From 2020 to 2021, we conducted structured telephone interviews with 2 groups of women with INOCA who underwent invasive coronary angiography (n=29) at Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT: 1 group underwent coronary function testing (n=20, of whom 18 received a mechanism-based diagnosis) and the other group who did not undergo coronary function testing (n=9). The interviews were analyzed using the constant comparison method by a multidisciplinary team. RESULTS: The mean age was 59.7 years, and 79% and 3% were non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Black, respectively. Through iterative coding, 4 themes emerged and were further separated into subthemes that highlight disease experience aspects to be addressed in patient care: (1) distress from symptoms of uncertain cause: symptom constellation, struggle for sensemaking, emotional toll, threat to personal and professional identity; (2) a long journey to reach a definitive diagnosis: self-advocacy and fortitude, healthcare interactions brought about further uncertainty and trauma, therapeutic alliance, sources of information; (3) establishing a diagnosis enabled a path forward: relief and validation, empowerment; and (4) commitment to promoting awareness and supporting other women: recognition of sex and racial/ethnic disparities, support for other women. CONCLUSIONS: Insights about how women experience the symptoms of INOCA and their interactions with clinicians and the healthcare system hold powerful lessons for more patient-centered care. A coronary function testing-informed diagnosis greatly influences the healthcare experiences, quality of life, and emotional states of women with INOCA.

Chest pain and coronary endothelial dysfunction after recovery from COVID-19: A case series.

Endothelial cell damage related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been described in multiple vascular beds, and many survivors of COVID-19 report chest pain. This case series describes two previously healthy middle-aged individuals who survived COVID-19 and were subsequently found to have symptomatic coronary endothelial dysfunction months after initial infection.

Effects of Psychological Stress on Vascular Physiology: Beyond the Current Imaging Signal.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review describes the effects of psychological stress on the physiology of the entire vascular system, from individual cellular components to macrovascular and microvascular responses, and highlights the importance of the vascular system in the context of current limitations in cardiac imaging for evaluation of the cardiovascular response to mental stress. RECENT FINDINGS: The physiological responses that mediate vascular changes are based on evolutionary needs, but there is increasing evidence that the long-term consequences of psychological stress can precipitate the development and progression of cardiovascular disease (CVD). While there is an extensive body of literature describing localized physiological responses or overt cardiovascular manifestations, often framed within the organ-specific scope of cardiovascular imaging, there has not been a comprehensive description of the global vascular effects of psychological stress. Given the global nature of these processes, targeted cardiovascular imaging modalities may be insufficient. Here we approach the vascular response to mental stress systematically, describing the effects on the endothelium, vascular smooth muscle, and adventitia. We then address the mental stress effects on large vessels and the microvascular compartment, with a discussion of the role of microvascular resistance in the pathophysiology of mental stress-induced myocardial ischemia. Vascular responses to psychological stress involve complex physiological processes that are not fully characterized by routine cardiovascular imaging assessments. Future research incorporating standardized psychological assessments targeted toward vascular mechanisms of stress responses is required to guide the development of behavioral and therapeutic interventions.

Drug-coated balloon versus plain old balloon angioplasty in femoropopliteal disease: An updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty has emerged as a mainstay of therapy for the treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) involving the superficial femoral and popliteal arteries. We performed a meta-analysis including all available randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to date which compare DCB to plain balloon angioplasty (POBA) in femoropopliteal disease (FPD). METHODS: Five databases were analyzed including EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web-of-Science from January 2000 to September 2018 for RCTs comparing DCB to POBA in patients with FPD. Heterogeneity was determined using Cochrane's Q-statistics. Random effects model was used. RESULTS: Twenty-two RCTs, including five trials of in-stent restenosis (ISR) intervention, with 3,217 patients were included in the analysis. Mean follow-up was approximately 21.6 ± 14.4 months. Overall, DCB use was associated with a 51% reduction in target vessel revascularization (TLR) when compared to POBA at follow-up (relative risk [RR]: 0.49, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.40-0.61, P < 0.0001). Rates of TLR were 45% lower in the DCB group when compared to POBA in patients with ISR (RR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.37-0.81, P = 0.002). DCB was associated with lower rates of binary stenosis, late lumen loss and higher primary safety endpoints. Major amputation and mortality were not different between DCB and POBA. CONCLUSIONS: Use of DCBs is associated with improved vessel patency and a lower risk of TLR when compared to POBA in patients with FPD, especially in the setting of ISR. There was no difference in mortality between DCB and POBA in our meta-analysis. Extended follow-up of the available RCT data will be essential to analyze long-term device-related mortality.

Coronary Physiology in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory.

Coronary angiography has been the principle modality for assessing the severity of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease for several decades. However, there is a complex relationship between angiographic coronary stenosis and the presence or absence of myocardial ischemia. Recent technological advances now allow for the assessment of coronary physiology in the catheterization laboratory at the time of diagnostic coronary angiography. Early studies focused on coronary flow reserve (CFR) but more recent work has demonstrated the physiologic accuracy and prognostic value of the fractional flow reserve (FFR) and instantaneous wave free ratio (iFR) for the assessment of coronary artery disease. These measurements have been validated in large multi-center clinical trials and have become indispensable tools for guiding revascularization in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. The physiological assessment of chest pain in the absence of epicardial coronary artery disease involves coronary thermodilution to obtain the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) or Doppler velocity measurement to determine the coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR). Physiology-based coronary artery assessment brings "personalized medicine" to the catheterization laboratory and allows cardiologists and referring providers to make decisions based on objective findings and evidence-based treatment algorithms. The purpose of this review is to describe the theory, technical aspects, and relevant clinical trials related to coronary physiology assessment for an intended audience of general medical practitioners.

5-HT3 receptors participate in CCK-induced suppression of food intake by delaying gastric emptying.

Serotonin type 3 (5-HT(3)) receptors have been shown to participate in the negative-feedback control of food intake. We previously reported that cholecystokinin (CCK)-induced suppression of food intake is partly mediated through 5-HT(3) receptors when rats were tested on a preferred liquid diet, but whether such an effect occurs when they are tested on a solid maintenance diet is unknown. In the present study, we examined the effects of ondansetron, a selective 5-HT(3) antagonist, on CCK-induced suppression of solid chow intake. Intraperitoneal administration of ondansetron significantly attenuated 30- and 60-min CCK-induced reduction of food intake, with suppression being completely reversed by 120 min. It is not known whether 5-HT(3) receptors directly mediate CCK-induced satiation or whether their participation depends on CCK acting as part of a feedback cascade to inhibit ongoing intake. Because CCK-induced inhibition of sham feeding does not depend on additive gastric/postgastric-feedback signals, we examined the ability of ondansetron to reverse CCK-induced satiation in sham-feeding rats. Ondansetron did not attenuate reduction of sham feeding by CCK, suggesting that ondansetron does not directly antagonize CCK-satiation signals. CCK suppresses real feeding through a delay in gastric emptying. Ondansetron could attenuate CCK-induced reduction of food intake by reversing CCK-induced inhibition of gastric emptying. We found that blockade of 5-HT(3) receptors attenuates CCK-induced inhibition of gastric emptying of a solid meal, as well as saline and glucose loads. We conclude that 5-HT(3) receptors mediate CCK-induced satiation through indirect mechanisms as part of a feedback cascade involving inhibition of gastric emptying.