Cardiovascular Risk Profile, Presentation and Management Outcomes of Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery bypass (CABG) is an important revascularization procedure with excellent long-term results. However, bypass grafts, particularly venous grafts, develop structural changes and atherosclerotic plaques that may cause angina or even acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Here we aimed to study patients with previous CABG presenting with an ACS and evaluated their cardiovascular (CV) risk profile, clinical presentations, angiographic findings, management strategies and short and long term outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This represents an observational retrospective cross sectional single center study including all consecutive patients with previous CABG presenting with ACS at the University Heart Center of the University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2016. Mean age was 76.4 years and 83.1% were males, 60.2% were diabetics and 58.6% obese, 43.5% hypertensives and 37.8% had hyperlipidemia. Major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) at 1-year and long-term follow up were analyzed using Kaplan Meyer survival analysis. RESULTS: We included 510 patients with ACS and prior CABG. 73% (n=372) presented as unstable angina (UA), 22.5% as NSTEMI (n=115) and only 4.5% as STEMI (n=23). Acute events during the index hospitalization occurred in 4.9% (n=25) before discharge, in 4.9% (n=25) within the first year and in 90.2% (n=460) thereafter. Most patients (92.2%; n=470) had stenosed or occluded venous bypass grafts at presentation, while a minority (7.8%; n=40) had significantly narrowed or occluded arterial grafts. CV risk profiles were similar in both groups. However, arterial graft disease occurred earlier after CABG and more likely presented as NSTEMI rather than UA compared to the SVG group. In 54.7% (n=279) primary PCI of the saphenous graft, and in 13.5% (n=69) of the native coronary arteries was performed, while 6.5% (n=33) underwent redo CABG and 25.3% (n=129) received medical treatment only. MACE at 1 year occurred in 12.2% (n=62) with repeated revascularization as the most common event (7.2%; n=37) followed by cardiac death (2.4%; n=12), MI (1.2%; n=6), cerebrovascular infarction (1.2%; n=6) and major bleeding (0.2%; n=1). Hypertensive and obese patients, those with myocardial infarction or an ACS before discharge or during the first year after CABG had higher MACCE. In patients undergoing pPCI the rate of cardiac death and MI at 1 year was lower with an intervention in the native coronary arteries and with redo CABG compared to pPCI of bypass grafts. CONCLUSION: Thus, patients with ACS and prior CABG typically present as UA and much less frequently as NSTEMI-ACS and rarely as STEMI. Most events occur after one year, particularly with SVG. The 1 year MACCE rate is comparable to those with native coronary artery ACS. Hypertensive and obese patients, those with MI or with an ACS before discharge had higher MACCE rates.

Clinical and electrocardiographic features of patients with myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary artery disease (MINOCA).

AIMS: Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary artery disease (MINOCA) is often an underdiagnosed and undertreated condition. This study aimed to evaluate clinical and ECG characteristics of MINOCA in a large cohort of patients admitted for acute coronary syndrome. METHODS: All coronary angiograms performed at the University Heart Center in Zurich (Switzerland) between 2012 and 2016 were investigated. MINOCA was defined according to European Society of Cardiology guidelines and patients were divided into two groups, based on the presence or absence of coronary sclerosis at angiogram[nonobstructive coronary artery disease (noCAD) and normal coronary arteries (NCA)]), after exclusion of myocarditis and Takotsubo syndrome. RESULTS: Out of 13 669 angiographic studies, 3695 were diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome; of these, 244 patients presented MINOCA (6.6%). Patients with noCAD were more likely to be older (67.9 vs. 59.2 years, P < 0.001) with higher prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension 64.1 vs. 41.2%, P = 0.002; diabetes 19.7 vs. 10.8%, P = 0.036; hypercholesterolemia 36.6 vs. 23.5%, P = 0.037). On surface ECG, anterior ST- segment elevation was more frequent in NCA patients (13.7 vs. 5.0%, P = 0.016). Secondary prevention therapy was significantly more prescribed in noCAD compared with NCA patients (acetylsalicylic acid 68.3 vs. 21.6%, P less than 0.001; statins 76.1 vs. 22.5%, P less than 0.001; angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-AT1 blockers 51.4 vs. 31.3%, P = 0.006). One-year mortality was very low (0.4% for noCAD patients). CONCLUSION: noCAD patients were older, with higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and more frequently discharged with secondary prevention therapy. NCA patients presented more frequently anterior ST- segment elevation. Further diagnostic tests should be highly recommended to determine the underlying mechanism of MINOCA.

Baseline Predictors of Renal Failure in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) post transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is associated with worsened short- and long-term outcomes. We sought to identify significant baseline predictors of AKI and establish a high-risk group within patients enrolled in the multicenter SWISS-TAVI cohort. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 526 patients who underwent TAVI were included in our analysis. Patients on hemodialysis were excluded. Within the first week after valve implantation, fifty patients (9.5%) developed AKI. There was a significantly higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus in the AKI group (45% vs 28%; P=.02). The odds ratio (OR) for patients suffering from diabetes mellitus who developed AKI was 1.9 after multivariable binary regression analysis (95% confidence interval, 1.018-3.553; P=.04). Chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage ≥4 was more prevalent in the AKI group (26% vs 14%; P=.04). Every 1 mg/dL creatinine above normal level at baseline increased AKI risk by a factor of 1.6 (OR, 1.605; 95% CI, 1.111-2.319; P=.01). Age, gender, body mass index, history of dyslipidemia, and history of hypertension were similar between the groups. In the diabetic population of 155 patients (29.5%), AKI developed in 22 patients (14.2%), compared with the non-diabetic population of 370 patients (70.5%), where AKI developed in 27 patients (7.3%). In the diabetic population, an elevation by 1 mg/dL in baseline creatinine was an independent predictor of developing kidney injury (OR, 2.061; 95% CI, 1.154-3.683; P=.02, while in non-diabetic patients, neither baseline glomerular filtration rate, CKD grade, STS score, EuroScore II, ACEF score, nor procedural contrast usage were predictors of AKI. CONCLUSION: Diabetics with CKD stage ≥4 (as defined by the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes criteria) constitute a high-risk group for developing AKI after TAVI. In this high-risk subgroup, baseline creatinine in combination with amount of contrast agent used were strong risk factors for developing AKI. AKI in non-diabetics was less predictable by baseline characteristics.

Pre-existing treatment with aspirin or statins influences clinical presentation, infarct size and inflammation in patients with de novo acute coronary syndromes.

BACKGROUND: Influence of pre-existing treatment with aspirin and/or statins prior to a first acute coronary syndrome (ACS) on clinical presentation, infarct size and inflammation markers. We analyzed patients from the Swiss Program University Medicine ACS-cohort (SPUM-ACS; ClinicalTrials.govnumber:NCT01075867). METHODS: 1639 patients were categorized into 4 groups: (1) patients without either drug (n = 1181); (2) patients only on aspirin (n = 157); (3) patients only on statins (n = 133) and (4) patients on both drugs (n = 168). Clinical features, electrocardiogram (ECG), creatinine kinase (CK, U/l), high-sensitivity troponin T (hsTNT, µg/l), N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP, ng/l), leucocytes (Lc, G/l), neutrophils (Nc, G/l), C-reactive protein (CRP, mg/l) and angiographic features were documented at baseline. RESULTS: Incidences of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) were 64% in group 1, 45% in group 2, 52% in group 3 and 40% in group 4 (p < 0.0001). Those with both drugs had significantly lower CK (median 145 U/l, interquartile range (IQR) 89-297), hsTNT (median 0.13 µg/l, IQR 0.03-0.52) and higher left ventricular ejection fraction values (LVEF) (mean 55 ±â€¯12%) compared to untreated patients (median CK 273 U/l, IQR 128-638; median hsTNT 0.26 µg/l, IQR 0.08-0.85; mean LVEF 51 ±â€¯11%) (p < 0.0001, p = 0.001, p = 0.028, respectively). Co-medicated groups matched for high risk factors presented less frequently as STEMIs (p < 0.0001), had significantly smaller infarcts determined by CK and hsTNT (both p < 0.0001) and lower CRP levels (p = 0.01) compared to patients without pre-existing treatment with either drug. CONCLUSION: Pre-existing treatment with aspirin and/or statins and particularly with their combination changes the clinical presentation, infarct size, inflammation markers and LVEF in patients suffering their first ACS.

Gender Differences in Types, Frequency, Clinical Manifestations and Atherosclerotic Burden of Coronary Artery Anomalies.

BACKGROUND: Although not well established; gender may play a role in the incidence, clinical manifestations, and atherosclerotic burden of Coronary Artery Anomalies (CAAS). Our aim is to investigate the impact of gender on coronary artery anomalies. METHODS: All coronary angiograms performed at the University Heart Center Zurich, Switzerland, between January 2000 and December 2016 were investigated. Those of anomalous origin, course and termination (fistula) were included in the analysis with the exclusion of coronary artery aneurysms and myocardial bridges. RESULTS: Out of the original 39577 angiographic studies that included 28550 males and 11026 females, Coronary Artery Anomalies (CAAS) were documented in 130 (0.32%) patients of whom 69.2% (n=90) and 30.8%(n=40) were males and females respectively. However, the overall prevalence of coronary anomalies amongst both genders did not differ (0.32% vs 0.36%, P = 1) and so were the basic characteristics except for hypertension, which was more prevalent in females (P = 0.03644). The most prevalent anomaly overall was (left circumflex artery from right coronary artery/sinus), which was present in (n=47, 36.2%). No impact of gender on the incidence of individual anomalies except for Right Coronary Artery (RCA) originating from Left Circumflex Artery (LCX), which was only documented in men (P = 0.0000116). On the other hand malignant CAAS presented equally with a proportion of 10% for both genders (P = 1). Although males outnumbered females in terms of atherosclerotic burden in CAAS this was statistically not significant (P = 0.331). CONCLUSION: Both genders have a similar impact on the overall prevalence, clinical manifestations and atherosclerotic burden of CAAs. Anomaly of RCA originating from LCX occurred more frequently in males than females.

Extensively Thrombosed Ectatic Circumflex Coronary Artery Fistula Presenting as Acute Coronary Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery fistula (CAF) is an abnormal communication between the termination of a coronary artery or its branches and a cardiac chamber, a great vessel or other vascular structure. Symptomatic patients with large CAF should undergo surgical or percutanous closure of the fistula at the drainage site while still the debate on closing asymptomatic CAF and reopening symptomatic occluded CAF is ongoing. CASE SUMMARY: We are reporting a 30-year-old male patient with no previous medical history presented as non-ST segment elevation myocardial Infarction. Coronary angiography showed an entirely thrombosed ectatic circumflex artery with a suspicion of thrombosed coronary arterial fistula. In view of the ongoing ischemia in the setting of acute coronary syndrome; we tried to open percutaneously but all efforts were to no avail. DISCUSSION: In this case report, we are sharing our experience in the management of this challenging case in view of the rarity of such peculiar clinical condition and the unfavourable presentation along with the lack of clear-cut Guideline and Consensus whether to/not to open such huge and immensely thrombosed symptomatic coronary artery fistula as well as the dilemma of choosing the best long-term medical treatment between antiplatelets vs anticoagulants in such young patient.

Impact of gender on outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

BACKGOUND: The influence of gender on clinical outcomes following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) was considerably discrepant in previous studies. We aimed to investigate the impact of gender in our registry. METHODS: The study is a retrospective observational analysis of a prospectively designed cohort (546 consecutive patients treated at the University Hospital Zurich who were enrolled in Swiss TAVI Cohort from May 2008 to April 2014). The Study took place in University Heart Centre at University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland. RESULTS: Both genders were equally represented with 51.5 % (n = 281) of the populations being females, who were significantly older and had a more pronounced history of hypertension (P < 0.001). Males on the other hand showed a higher incidence of diabetes (P = 0.004), coronary artery disease (P < 0.001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P < 0.001) and renal failure requiring renal replacement therapy (P = 0.018). Patients were followed up for a median of 391 days with a 100% complete follow-up at one year. The primary outcome (all-cause mortality) occurred in 6.8% (n = 37) and 15% (n = 82) of patients at 30 days and one year, respectively. The 30-day all-cause mortality outcome did not significantly differ between females (7.5%) and males (6.0%) (P = 0.619), but one year all-cause mortality occurred significantly more in males than in females (18.7% vs. 11.7%, P < 0.037). CONCLUSION: After TAVI implantation for severe aortic stenosis, males have a less favorable long-term (one year) mortality outcome than females.

Rotational Atherectomy in Acute STEMI with Heavily Calcified Culprit Lesion is a Rule Breaking Solution.

BACKGROUND: Calcified coronary lesions represent technical challenges during percutaneous coronary intervention and are associated with a high frequency of restenosis and target lesion revascularization. Rotational atherectomy has been shown to increase procedural success in severely calcified lesions, facilitate stent delivery in undilatable lesions and ensure complete stent expansion. However, rotational atherectomy in ST-elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) is traditionally avoided given the concern for slow or no reflow and considered a contraindication in lesions with a visible thrombus by its manufacturer (Rotablator, Boston Scientific). CONCLUSION: This case demonstrates the successful use of rotational atherectomy to facilitate dilation and revascularization of a heavily calcified culprit lesions in a patient with acute anterior STEMI with ongoing chest pain.

Short-Term Outcome After Left Main Interventions in Patients Presenting With Acute Coronary Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of coronary left main (LM) disease interventions in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) as compared to those without LM coronary artery disease. METHODS: A total of 2899 patients with ACS, enrolled in the prospective Swiss Program University Medicine ACS (SPUM-ACS) cohort, were included. The primary endpoints of independently adjudicated major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular event (MACCE) and net adverse clinical event (NACE) were determined at 30-day follow-up. RESULTS: Seventy-one (2.0%) of the 2899 ACS patients had significant LM disease. At 30-day follow-up, the primary outcomes of MACCE and NACE occurred in 140 patients (4.8%) and 272 patients (9.4%), respectively. Compared to those without LM disease, patients in the LM group were significantly older (P<.001), had a higher incidence of hypertension (P<.001) and diabetes (P=.013), and more often had a history of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery (P<.001). Analyses on non-matched populations showed a nearly significant trend toward a higher incidence of MACCE (P=.06) and NACE (P=.10) in patients with LM disease compared to those without LM disease. This trend, however, disappeared after matching the populations for all significant confounding variables on a 3:1 basis. This subanalysis showed MACCE rates of 10.0% in the LM group and 7.3% in the non-LM group (P=.61). Notably, the matched patients with LM disease treated with percutaneous coronary intervention had a lower NACE incidence when compared to those undergoing urgent CABG surgery (P<.01). CONCLUSIONS: In ACS patients with LM disease, revascularization with PCI is feasible and safe, with short-term outcomes comparable to ACS patients without significant LM disease.

Occurrence and Impact of Time Delay to Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate the occurrence, duration and impact of time delays to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: A total of 357 consecutive STEMI patients enrolled in the prospective Special Program University Medicine ACS (SPUM-ACS) cohort were included. In order to identify the causes behind a possible treatment delay, we constructed four different time points which included: 1) symptom onset to hospital arrival, 2) hospital arrival to arrival in the catheterization laboratory, 3) hospital arrival to first balloon inflation, and 4) time from arrival in the catheterization laboratory to first balloon inflation in addition to total ischemic time. Patients were stratified according to a delay > 3 h, > 30 min, > 90 min and > 1 h, respectively and major adverse events at 0, 30 and 365 days were analyzed. RESULTS: Resuscitated STEMI patients (23 patients) and STEMI patients presenting at weekends (101 patients) and to lesser extent at night hours (100 patients) experienced more time delays than stable patients and those presenting at office hours. Median door-to-balloon time averaged 93 min in resuscitated, but 65 min in stable patients. Median door-to-balloon time at weekends and public holidays was 89 min, but 68 min at office hours. Median time from hospital arrival to cathlab arrival at weekends and public holidays was 30 min, but 15 min during office hours. Corresponding times for resuscitated patients was 45 and 15 min in stable patients. Of note, resuscitated patients were late presenters as regards time from symptoms onset to hospital arrival with a median time of 180 min compared to 155 min in stable patients. Median total ischemic time was 225 min for all patients, 223 min at day hours, 239 at night hours, 244 min at weekends, 233 min at office days, 220 min in stable patients and 273 min in resuscitated patients. Patients with STEMI who arrived > 3 h after symptom onset had a higher rate of myocardial infarction (MI) at 1 year (1.6% vs. 9% in < 3 h; P = 0.008). Furthermore, STEMI patients who had a delay of > 1 h from cathlab arrival to first balloon inflation had a higher rate of in hospital reinfarction at 0 day (0.6% vs. 0% in < 1 h; P = 0.007), MI at 30 days (0.8% vs. 0% in < 1 h; P = 0.001) and MI at 1 year (1.4% vs. 1.1% in < 1 h; P = 0.012). Similarly, in these patients, cardiac deaths at 0 day (0.8% vs. 0.6% in < 1 h; P = 0.035) and at 30 days (0.8% vs. 0.6% in < 1 h; P = 0.035) were higher as were major adverse cardiovascular events (MACCE) at 0 day (1.4% vs. 0.8% in < 1 h; P = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Resuscitated STEMI patients and those presenting at weekends and to lesser extent at night hours experienced more time delays and longer ischemic time than stable patients and those presenting at office hours. In STEMI patients, any delay in treatment increased their risk of MACCE. Efforts should focus on improving patient's awareness along with minimizing in-hospital transfer to the catheterization laboratory especially at weekends and in resuscitated patients.

STEMI Due to Big Ostial Left Main Thrombus Extending Into Aorta: Challenging Situation With No Clear Guidelines.

Extensive left main (LM) coronary artery thrombus is a rare and life-threatening angiographic finding with usual dramatic clinical presentation including hemodynamic instability and sudden cardiac death. The proper management of a big LM thrombus extending into aorta remains a challenging issue with no clear guidelines. In the following case report we present a 45-year-old patient with no apparent risk factors for coronary artery disease who presented with acute infero-lateral ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The examination was performed using a right transfemoral approach and it revealed the presence of a large mobile, hazy mass within the left main coronary artery (LMCA) extending into the aorta. To confirm the extension of that structure we performed intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) which revealed a circumferential mass in the LMCA extending with its two-thirds into the aorta with no evidence of atherosclerotic plaques. After a long discussion within our Heart team we decided to transfer the patient for urgent surgical removal. Such decision was made with regard to the large size of the mass and in order to avoid systemic or distal embolization into coronary arteries. Perioperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) confirmed diagnosis and excluded presence of patent foramen ovale (PFO). Surgical removal was done successfully with complete resolution of ST-segment elevation and rapid fall of cardiac enzymes to normal levels. Postoperative course was uneventful. The mass was defined as a thrombus by pathophysiology examination. Patient was discharged well from our hospital after 1 week.

Percutaneous Intervention of a Single Coronary Artery in the Setting of Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Performing intervention of a single coronary artery (SCA) is challenging and technically difficult since a severe complication may be catastrophic if occurred. It requires a proper selection of instruments and well experienced operator to perform the intervention. However, a definitive standardization treatment for those patients is difficult; each case should be treated individually, according to the anatomical variations. We present three rare cases of SCA in setting of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and culprit lesion in right coronary artery (RCA), treated successfully with percutaneous coronary intervention.