Antithrombotic therapy in patients undergoing TAVI: an overview of Dutch hospitals.

PURPOSE: To assess current antithrombotic treatment strategies in the Netherlands in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). METHODS: For every Dutch hospital performing TAVI (n = 14) an interventional cardiologist experienced in performing TAVI was interviewed concerning heparin, aspirin, thienopyridine and oral anticoagulation treatment in patients undergoing TAVI. RESULTS: The response rate was 100 %. In every centre, a protocol for antithrombotic treatment after TAVI was available. Aspirin was prescribed in all centres, concomitant clopidogrel was prescribed 13 of the 14 centres. Duration of concomitant clopidogrel was 3 months in over two-thirds of cases. In 2 centres, duration of concomitant clopidogrel was based upon type of prosthesis: 6 months versus 3 months for supra-annular and intra-annular prostheses, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Leaning on a small basis of evidence and recommendations, the antithrombotic policy for patients undergoing TAVI is highly variable in the Netherlands. As a standardised regimen might further reduce haemorrhagic complications, large randomised clinical trials may help to establish the most appropriate approach.

Acute and subacute stent thrombosis after primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: incidence, predictors and clinical outcome.

BACKGROUND: Early coronary stent thrombosis occurs most frequent after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). OBJECTIVES: To identify the specific predictors of, respectively, acute and subacute stent thrombosis in patients after primary PCI for STEMI. PATIENTS/METHODS: Consecutive STEMI patients with angiographically confirmed early stent thrombosis were enrolled and compared in a 2 : 1 ratio with a matched control group. Clinical outcome was collected up to 1 year. RESULTS: Of 5842 STEMI patients treated with primary PCI, 201 (3.5%) presented with a definite early stent thrombosis. Of these, 97 (1.7%) had acute stent thromboses and 104 (1.8%) had subacute stent thromboses. Postprocedurally discovered dissection, undersizing and smaller stent diameter were the strongest predictors for acute stent thrombosis. No glycoprotein IIb/IIIa therapy and the use of drug-eluting stents were also associated with acute stent thrombosis. Lack of clopidogrel therapy in the first 30 days after the index PCI was the strongest predictor for subacute stent thrombosis. Mortality rates at 1-year follow-up were lower for acute stent thrombosis than for subacute stent thrombosis (8.3% vs. 13.2%, P = 0.294). The incidence of definite recurrent stent thrombosis at 1-year follow up was significantly lower after a first definite acute stent thrombosis than after a first definite subacute stent thrombosis (6.4% vs. 19.3%, P = 0.007 at 1 year). CONCLUSIONS: The specific risk factors for, respectively, acute and subacute stent thrombosis after primary PCI vary greatly. Mortality rates are high for both categories of stent thrombosis. However, recurrent stent thrombosis occurs more frequently after subacute stent thrombosis.

Long-term follow-up of coronary angioplasty in patients with diabetes compared with nondiabetics.

BACKGROUND: Some reports have indicated that in patients with diabetes mellitus and multivessel disease, coronary artery bypass surgery is preferred over percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We retrospectively compared outcome PCI in diabetic and nondiabetic patients. METHODS: Ninety-seven diabetics and 971 nondiabetics were included and randomised before PCI to aspirin alone or aspirin plus coumadin. Fifty diabetics and 481 nondiabetics underwent follow-up angiography. The primary endpoint comprised all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction or targetvessel revascularisation. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were similar between the groups except for significantly more males and smokers among the nondiabetics. The diabetics had significantly more previous strokes, more left anterior descending coronary artery disease as well as more restenotic lesions and multivessel disease. At 30 days, the primary endpoint had occurred in five diabetics (5.2%) and 47 nondiabetics (4.9%), (p=0.8) and at one year in 17 (17.5%) and in 165 (17.1%), respectively (p=0.9). Event-free survival remained comparable during long-term follow-up (four years). Multivariate analysis showed no differences for the occurrence of any event (p=0.9, 95% CI 0.6-1.7). At six months, the minimal luminal diameter was significantly smaller in the diabetics (1.55±0.76 mm vs. 1.78±0.66 mm, p=0.01). Diabetics also had more restenosis (41% vs. 23%, p=0.003). CONCLUSION: Despite angiographical differences at six months between the diabetics and nondiabetics, both short-term and long-term clinical follow-up appeared to be similar.

Long term follow up after elective percutaneous coronary intervention for unprotected non-bifurcational left main stenosis: is it time to change the guidelines?

BACKGROUND: According to the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for left main coronary artery (LMCA) stenosis is contraindicated and coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) is preferred. However, PCI of the LMCA is performed under exceptional circumstances. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the data of patients who underwent PCI of the unprotected LMCA in St Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, Netherlands. RESULTS: In a database of 17 683 PCI procedures, 71 patients (0.4%) were found with non-bifurcational LMCA stenosis who underwent an elective PCI between 1991 and 2001. Ages ranged from 26.7-86.5 years. Severe concomitant disease was the most frequent argument in favour of PCI instead of CABG. PCI consisted of only balloon angioplasty in 23 cases (32.4%). A stent was used in 46 cases (64.4%). Average follow up was 43 months (range 0-121 months). One patient died one day after the procedure. The total one year survival rate was 98.6% (70/71). Seven patients died during the follow up period, mostly because of non-cardiac reasons. The annual mortality rate was 2.5%. Recurrent elective percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty for restenosis of the LMCA was performed in one patient (1.4%) six weeks after the initial procedure. CABG was required in 13 patients (18.3%) throughout the follow up period. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that at highly experienced centres, elective PCI of the non-bifurcational LMCA can be performed safely where the anatomy is suitable.

How good are experienced cardiologists at predicting the hemodynamic severity of coronary stenoses when taking fractional flow reserve as the gold standard.

BACKGROUND: Coronary angioplasty should be based on documented ischemia. However, in daily clinical practice the indication for angioplasty is often based on eyeball assessment of the severity of the stenosis. This study was performed to assess the accuracy of eyeball estimation of coronary stenosis when taking functional flow reserve (FFR) as gold standard. METHODS: Study lesions were where no mutual agreement on the severity of the stenosis was obtained. The procedure consisted of a repeat control angiogram, FFR measurement and in case of FFR<75% percutaneous coronary intervention. The eyeball assessment of the stenosis was written down before further execution of the procedure. FFR was measured with a pressure monitoring guide. Maximal myocardial hyperemia was induced by intravenous adenosine infusion. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients were studied. Agreement between eyeball assessment and FFR existed in a total of 36 cases (69.2%). Over estimation of hemodynamic severity occurred in six cases (11.5%) and under estimation in 10 cases (19.2%). Consequently, the positive predictive value of eyeball assessment for pressure-derived FFR was 63% and the negative predictive value 76%. CONCLUSION: The assessment of the hemodynamic severity of intermediate coronary stenosis should not be based on eyeball assessment even by experienced interventional cardiologists.