Coronary spasm and vasomotor dysfunction as a cause of MINOCA.

Increasing evidence has shown that coronary spasm and vasomotor dysfunction may be the underlying cause in more than half of myocardial infarctions with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) as well as an important cause of chronic chest pain in the outpatient setting. We review the contemporary understanding of coronary spasm and related vasomotor dysfunction of the coronary arteries, the pathophysiology and prognosis, and current and emerging approaches to diagnosis and evidence-based treatment.

5-Year Outcomes After Bioresorbable Coronary Scaffolds Implanted With Improved Technique.

BACKGROUND: Bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) were designed to improve late event-free survival compared with metallic drug-eluting stents. However, initial trials demonstrated worse early outcomes with BVS, in part due to suboptimal technique. In the large-scale, blinded ABSORB IV trial, polymeric everolimus-eluting BVS implanted with improved technique demonstrated noninferior 1-year outcomes compared with cobalt chromium everolimus-eluting stents (CoCr-EES). OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate the long-term outcomes from the ABSORB IV trial. METHODS: We randomized 2,604 patients at 147 sites with stable or acute coronary syndromes to BVS with improved technique vs CoCr-EES. Patients, clinical assessors, and event adjudicators were blinded to randomization. Five-year follow-up was completed. RESULTS: Target lesion failure at 5 years occurred in 216 (17.5%) patients assigned to BVS and 180 (14.5%) patients assigned to CoCr-EES (P = 0.03). Device thrombosis within 5 years occurred in 21 (1.7%) BVS and 13 (1.1%) CoCr-EES patients (P = 0.15). Event rates were slightly greater with BVS than CoCr-EES through 3-year follow-up and were similar between 3 and 5 years. Angina, also centrally adjudicated, recurred within 5 years in 659 patients (cumulative rate 53.0%) assigned to BVS and 674 (53.3%) patients assigned to CoCr-EES (P = 0.63). CONCLUSIONS: In this large-scale, blinded randomized trial, despite the improved implantation technique, the absolute 5-year rate of target lesion failure was 3% greater after BVS compared with CoCr-EES. The risk period for increased events was limited to 3 years, the time point of complete scaffold bioresorption; event rates were similar thereafter. Angina recurrence after intervention was frequent during 5-year follow-up but was comparable with both devices.(Absorb IV Randomized Controlled Trial; NCT02173379).

Interaction Between Race and Income on Cardiac Outcomes After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background Compared with White Americans, Black Americans have a greater prevalence of cardiac events following percutaneous coronary intervention. We evaluated the association between race and neighborhood income on post-percutaneous coronary intervention cardiac events and assessed whether income modifies the effect of race on this relationship. Methods and Results Consecutive patients (n=23 822) treated with percutaneous coronary intervention from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2016, were included. All-cause mortality and major adverse cardiac event were assessed at 3 years. Extended 10-year follow-up was performed for those residing locally (n=1285). Neighborhood income was derived using median adjusted annual gross household income reported within the patient's zip code. We compared differences in treatment and outcomes, adjusting for race, income, and their interaction. In total, 3173 (13.3%) patients self-identified as Black Americans, and 20 649 (86.7%) self-identified as White Americans. Black Americans had a worse baseline cardiac risk profile and lower neighborhood income compared with White Americans. Although risk profile improved with increasing income in White Americans, no difference was observed across incomes among Black Americans. Despite similar long-term outpatient cardiology follow-up and medication prescription, risk profiles among Black Americans remained worse. At 3 years, unadjusted all-cause mortality (18.0% versus 15.2%; P<0.001) and major adverse cardiac event (37.3% versus 34.6%; P<0.001) were greater among Black Americans and with lower income (both P<0.001); race, income, and their interaction were not significant predictors in multivariable models. At 10-year follow-up, increasing income was associated with improved outcomes only in White Americans but not Black Americans. In multivariable models for major adverse cardiac event, income (hazard ratio [HR], 0.97 [95% CI, 0.96-0.98]; P=0.005), Black race (HR, 1.77 [95% CI, 1.58-1.96]; P=0.006), and their interaction (HR, 0.98 [95% CI, 0.97-0.99]; P=0.003) were significant predictors. Similar findings were observed for cardiac death. Conclusions Early 3-year post-percutaneous coronary intervention outcomes were driven by worse risk factor profiles in both Black Americans and those with lower neighborhood income. However, late 10-year outcomes showed an independent effect of race and income, with improving outcomes with greater income limited to White Americans. These findings illustrate the importance of developing novel care strategies that address both risk factor modification and social determinants of health to mitigate disparities in cardiac outcomes.

Coronary intravascular brachytherapy for in-stent restenosis: A review of the contemporary literature.

Intracoronary stent restenosis (ISR) is a clinically relevant challenge in the modern era. Heterogeneity in patient- and lesion-specific factors can further compound this clinical challenge. Coronary intravascular brachytherapy (IVBT) was the standard therapeutic approach for ISR prior to the advent of drug-eluting stents (DES). Despite prospective data describing the superiority of DES over IVBT for treating de novo ISR, IVBT remains a treatment option for patients with complex disease. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the historical and contemporary literature surrounding IVBT in order to elucidate its role in modern cardiac care and to describe opportunities for future investigations to improve patient selection. Herein, we provide a review of the contemporary literature describing IVBT as a safe and effective treatment option for patients with recurrent, refractory ISR after multilayer DES and no good surgical or mechanical option. Combination therapy with emerging technologies such as DCBs may further increase efficacy.

A Validated Model to Identify Patients With Low Likelihood of High-Risk Coronary Artery Disease Anatomy.

In stable coronary artery disease (CAD), revascularization improves outcomes only for patients with high-risk coronary anatomy (HRCA). We sought to derive and validate a prediction model, incorporating clinical and exercise stress test characteristics, to identify patients with HRCA. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients undergoing exercise stress testing at Cleveland Clinic (2005 to 2014), followed by invasive coronary angiography within 3 months. We excluded patients with acute coronary syndrome, known CAD or ejection fraction <50%. HRCA was defined as left main, 3-vessel, or 2-vessel disease involving the proximal left anterior descending artery. Clinical and stress test predictors of HRCA were identified in a multivariable logistic regression model, internally validated with 1,000-fold bootstrapping. The model was then externally validated at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (2017 to 2019). The model was derived from 2,758 patients with complete data. HRCA was identified in 418 patients (15.2%) in the derivation cohort. The model consisted of 10 variables: age, male gender, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, family history of premature CAD, high-density lipoprotein, chest pain, exercise time, and Duke Treadmill Score. Bias-corrected c-statistic was 0.79 (95% confidence interval 0.77 to 0.81) with excellent calibration. In all, 762 patients (27.6%) had a predicted probability and observed prevalence of HRCA <5%. In the validation cohort, the model had a c-statistic of 0.79 (95% confidence interval 0.74 to 0.85) and 210 patients had an observed prevalence of HRCA <5% (40%). In conclusion, an externally validated prediction model, based on clinical characteristics and exercise stress test variables, can identify stable patients with CAD who have HRCA.

Incidence, treatment, and outcomes of acute myocardial infarction following transcatheter or surgical aortic valve replacement.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the incidence, treatment, and outcomes of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) following transcatheter or surgical aortic valve replacement (TAVR or SAVR). BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease is common in patients who undergo aortic valve replacement. However, little is known about differences in clinical features of post-TAVR or post-SAVR AMI. METHODS: We retrospectively identified post-TAVR or post-SAVR (including isolated and complex SAVR) patients admitted with AMI using the Nationwide Readmissions Database 2012-2017. Incidence, invasive strategy (coronary angiography or revascularization), and in-hospital outcomes were compared between post-TAVR and post-SAVR AMIs. RESULTS: The incidence of 180-day AMI was higher post-TAVR than post-SAVR (1.59% vs. 0.72%; p < 0.001). Post-TAVR AMI patients (n = 1315), compared with post-SAVR AMI patients (n = 1344), were older, had more comorbidities and more frequent non-ST-elevation AMI (NSTEMI: 86.6% vs. 78.0%; p < 0.001). After propensity-score matching, there was no significant difference in in-hospital mortality between post-TAVR and post-SAVR AMIs (14.7% vs. 16.1%; p = 0.531), but the mortality was high in both groups, particularly in ST-elevation AMI (STEMI: 38.8% vs. 29.2%; p = 0.153). Invasive strategy was used less frequently for post-TAVR AMI than post-SAVR AMI (25.6% vs. 38.3%; p < 0.001). Invasive strategy was associated with lower mortality in both post-TAVR (adjusted odds ratio = 0.40; 95% confidence interval = [0.24-0.66]) and post-SAVR groups (0.60 [0.41-0.88]). CONCLUSIONS: AMI, albeit uncommon, was more frequent post-TAVR than post-SAVR. Patients commonly presented with NSTEMI, but the mortality of STEMI was markedly high. Further studies are needed to understand why a substantial percentage of patients do not receive invasive coronary treatment, particularly after TAVR, despite seemingly better outcomes with invasive strategy.

Prognostic implications and outcomes of cardiac arrest among contemporary patients with STEMI treated with PCI.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac arrest (CA) complicating ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is associated with a disproportionately higher risk of mortality. We described the contemporary presentation, management, and outcomes of CA patients in the era of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: We reviewed 1,272 consecutive STEMI patients who underwent PCI between 1/1/2011-12/31/2016 and compared characteristics and outcomes between non-CA (N = 1,124) and CA patients (N = 148), defined per NCDR definitions as pulseless arrest requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation and/or defibrillation within 24-hr of PCI. RESULTS: Male gender, cerebrovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, in-hospital STEMI, left main or left anterior descending culprit vessel, and initial TIMI 0 or 1 flow were independent predictors for CA. CA patients had longer door-to-balloon-time (106 [83,139] vs. 97 [74,121] minutes, p = 0.003) and greater incidence of cardiogenic shock (48.0% vs. 5.9%, p < 0.001), major bleeding (25.0% vs. 9.4%, p < 0.001), and 30-day mortality (16.2% vs. 4.1%, p < 0.001). Risk score for 30-day mortality based on presenting characteristics provided excellent prognostic accuracy (area under the curve = 0.902). However, over long-term follow-up of 4.5 ± 2.4 years among hospital survivors, CA did not portend any additional mortality risk (HR: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.56-1.82, p = 0.97). CONCLUSIONS: In a contemporary cohort of STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI, CA occurs in >10% of patients and is an important mechanism of mortality in patients with in-hospital STEMI. While CA is associated with adverse outcomes, it carries no additional risk of long-term mortality among survivors highlighting the need for strategies to improve the in-hospital care of STEMI patients with CA.

Optimal dual antiplatelet therapy duration for bioresorbable scaffolds: an individual patient data pooled analysis of the ABSORB trials.

BACKGROUND: Compared with everolimus-eluting metallic stents, the Absorb bioresorbable scaffold (BRS) results in increased rates of myocardial infarction (MI) and scaffold thrombosis (ST) during its three-year bioresorption phase. It is unknown whether prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) duration might decrease the risk of ischaemic events. AIMS: We sought to evaluate the impact of DAPT duration on ischaemic and bleeding outcomes following BRS implantation. METHODS: We conducted an individual patient data pooled analysis from four ABSORB randomised trials and one prospective ABSORB registry. Study endpoints were MI, ST, bleeding, and death up to three-year follow-up. Propensity score-adjusted Cox regression analysis was used to account for baseline differences related to DAPT duration. RESULTS: The five ABSORB studies included 2,973 patients. DAPT use was 91.7%, 53.2%, and 48.0% at 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively. DAPT use within the first year after BRS implantation was associated with markedly lower risks of MI (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.17, 95% CI: 0.10-0.32; p<0.0001) and ST (aHR 0.08, 95% CI: 0.03-0.19; p<0.0001). Conversely, DAPT use between 1 and 3 years did not significantly affect the risk of MI (aHR 1.04, 95% CI: 0.70-1.55; p=0.84) or ST (aHR 0.86, 95% CI: 0.42-1.75; p=0.67). DAPT did not have major effects upon bleeding or death in either period. CONCLUSIONS: DAPT use during the first year after BRS implantation was strongly associated with lower risks of ST and MI. However, a benefit of ongoing DAPT use between 1 and 3 years after BRS implantation was not apparent.

Intravascular ultrasound predictors of long-term outcomes following ABSORB bioresorbable scaffold implantation: A pooled analysis of the ABSORB III and ABSORB Japan trials.

BACKGROUND: The long-term prognostic impact of IVUS findings following Absorb BVS implantation remains uncertain. This study aimed to identify the IVUS predictors of long-term clinical outcomes following ABSORB bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) implantation from the pooled IVUS substudy cohorts of the ABSORB III and Japan trials. METHODS: A total of 298 lesions in 286 patients were enrolled with 2:1 randomization to ABSORB BVS vs. cobalt-chromium everolimus-eluting stents. This sub-analysis included 168 lesions of 160 patients in the Absorb arm whose post-procedural quantitative IVUS were available. The primary endpoint of this analysis was device-oriented composite endpoint (DOCE) of target lesion failure, including cardiac death, target vessel-related myocardial infarction, or ischemia-driven target lesion revascularization. The median follow-up duration was 4.9 [3.1-5.0] years. RESULTS: During follow-up, DOCE occurred in 10.1% of lesions treated with Absorb BVS. Among several post-procedural IVUS indices associated with DOCE, non-uniform device expansion (defined as uniformity index = minimum / maximum device area) (hazard ratio 0.47 per 0.1 increase [95%CI 0.28 to 0.77]; p = 0.003) and residual reference plaque burden (hazard ratio 4.01 per 10% increase [95%CI 1.50 to 10.77]; p = 0.006) were identified as independent predictors of DOCE by Cox multivariable analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Nonuniform device expansion and substantial untreated residual plaque in reference segments were associated with long-term adverse events following BVS implantation. Baseline imaging to identify the appropriate device landing zone and procedural imaging to achieve uniform device expansion if possible (e.g. through post-dilatation) may improve clinical outcomes of BVS implantation. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01751906 (ABSORB III); NCT01844284 (ABSORB Japan).

Successful modeling of long term outcomes in end-stage renal disease patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to identify and model risk factors for major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and all-cause mortality among patients with ESRD treated with PCI using DES. BACKGROUND: Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have poor long-term outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) compared with non-ESRD patients. However, there is a paucity of literature regarding risk factors associated with outcomes of ESRD patients after PCI with drug-eluding stents (DES). METHODS: This retrospective cohort study includes all patients with ESRD who underwent first-time PCI with DES at a single, high-volume hospital between 1/1/2005 and 12/31/2015, with follow-up through 9/1/2019. Primary outcomes were MACE (cardiac death, myocardial infarction, or unplanned revascularization) and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Five-year MACE was 83.0% and five-year morality was 77.9% in patients with ESRD (n = 285). Among ESRD patients, factors independently associated with MACE were C-reactive peptide level, SYNTAX score, peripheral vascular occlusive disease, hemoglobin, and treatment of a restenotic lesion (c-index = 0.66). Factors independently associated with mortality in ESRD patients were age, SYNTAX score, non-use of statins at baseline, insulin-dependent diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), peripheral vascular occlusive disease, and platelet count (c-index = 0.65). CONCLUSIONS: Despite relatively poor 1-and 5-year outcomes among ESRD patients after PCI, risk of MACE and mortality among this cohort can be successfully modelled, which meaningfully informs clinicians regarding management of ESRD patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Further investigations are necessary to determine whether or not outcomes might be improved through risk profile modification.

Implementation of a Myocardial Perfusion Imaging Risk Algorithm to Inform Appropriate Downstream Invasive Testing and Treatment.

BACKGROUND: To risk stratify patients undergoing single-photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (SPECT-MPI) in accordance with appropriate use criteria for referral to coronary angiography, we developed a risk classification algorithm incorporating appropriate use criteria-defined risk features. We evaluated the association between this algorithm with downstream angiography, revascularization, and all-cause mortality. METHODS: We studied consecutive patients who underwent SPECT-MPI from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2017, and assigned a scan risk of low, intermediate, high, or indeterminate. With this stratification, we assessed referral for angiography and revascularization within 3 months of SPECT-MPI and intermediate-term mortality. RESULTS: Among 12 799 patients, the mean age was 66 years, and a majority were men (56.8%). Most patients were low risk (83.6%) followed by intermediate (9.9%) and high risk (5.2%). Compared with low-risk patients, intermediate- and high-risk patients were more frequently referred for angiography (14.8% and 13.6% versus 2.0%; P<0.001) and revascularization (7.7% and 6.8% versus 0.7%; P<0.001). In 1008 propensity-matched patients, scan risk was independently associated with angiography after adjustment for ischemia, scar, or stress ejection fraction. At a mean follow-up of 2.3 years, mortality was higher with increased scan risk (high, 10.4%; intermediate, 7.1%; low, 4.1%; P<0.001). Compared with low scan risk, intermediate (hazard ratio, 1.37 [95% CI, 1.09-1.72]; P=0.008) and high scan risk (hazard ratio, 1.98 [95% CI, 1.53-2.56]; P<0.001) were associated with mortality in multivariable analysis. Similar findings were observed for those undergoing pharmacological and exercise SPECT-MPI with comparatively worse prognosis among pharmacological patients. CONCLUSIONS: This appropriate use criteria-derived risk classification algorithm for SPECT-MPI guided referral for coronary angiography and revascularization and was significantly associated with mortality. This algorithm may serve as an important tool to reaffirm appropriate use criteria and direct management of patients with stable ischemic heart disease undergoing stress testing.

Prediabetic Patient Outcomes 8 to 15 Years After Drug-Eluting Coronary Stenting.

Guidelines suggest differential management of diabetics and nondiabetics with coronary artery disease (CAD) referred for revascularization, but pre-diabetics, who now comprise up to 20% to 30% of CAD patients, have been excluded from the diabetic group. To address this, we studied long-term cardiac outcomes in 1,323 consecutively drug-eluting stent (DES)-stented patients from prespecified local zip codes, dividing patients into normal-glycemic patients, prediabetics and diabetics, based upon conventional definitions. Patient age was 63±11 years, 65.5% male, mean baseline SYNTAX score of 10.2±6.8 and residual SYNTAX score=3.0±4.6. Only 2.9% of patients were lost to follow up at 10 years. Duration of follow up for alive patients was 124±33 mos. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) by Kaplan Meier (KM) was similar for normal glycemics and prediabetics (42.9±2.5% vs 38.6±3.1% at 10 years, p=0.35), whereas that for diabetics was worse (56.7±2.6% at 10 years, p<0.001 vs prediabetics). KM cardiac death rates at 10 years were 14.2±1.8%, 16.0±2.4% and 31.2±2.3% for normal glycemics, prediabetics, and diabetics, respectively (p=0.34 and p<0.001 [covariate adjusted p=0.018] for prediabetics versus normal glycemics and versus diabetics, respectively). We found that prediabetics have long-term post-DES outcomes far more similar to those of normal-glycemic patients than diabetics.

Five years of a comprehensive ST-elevation myocardial infarction protocol and its association with sex disparities.

Aims: To determine whether a comprehensive ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) protocol is associated with reduced sex disparities over 5 years. Methods and results: This was an observational cohort study of 1833 consecutive STEMI patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) before (1 January 2011-14 July 2014, control group) and after (15 July 2014-15 July 2019, protocol group) implementation of a protocol for early guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT), rapid door to balloon time (D2BT), and use of trans-radial PCI. In the control group, females had less GDMT (77.1% vs. 68.1%, P = 0.03), similarly low trans-radial PCI (19.0% vs. 17.6%, P = 0.73), and longer D2BT [104 min (79, 133) vs. 112 min (85, 147), P = 0.02] corresponding to higher in-hospital mortality [4.5% vs. 10.3%, odds ratio (OR) 2.44 (1.34-4.46), P = 0.004], major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events [MACCE, 9.8% vs. 16.3%, OR 1.79 (1.14-2.84), P = 0.01], and net adverse clinical events [NACE, 16.1% vs. 28.3%, OR 2.06 (1.42-2.99), P < 0.001]. In the protocol group, no significant sex differences were observed in GDMT (87.2% vs. 86.4%, P = 0.81) or D2BT [85 min (64-106) vs. 89 min (65-111), P = 0.06], but trans-radial PCI was used less in females (77.6% vs. 71.2%, P = 0.03). In-hospital mortality [2.5% vs. 4.4%, OR 1.78 (0.91-3.51), P = 0.09] and MACCE [9.0% vs. 11.1%, OR 1.27 (0.83-1.92), P = 0.26] were similar between sexes, but higher NACE in females approached significance [14.8% vs. 19.4%, OR 1.38 (0.99-1.92), P = 0.05] due to higher bleeding risk [7.2% vs. 11.1%, OR 1.60 (1.04-2.46), P = 0.03]. Conclusions: A comprehensive STEMI protocol was associated with sustained reductions for in-hospital ischaemic outcomes over 5 years, but higher bleeding rates in females persisted.

End-stage renal disease as an independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality after coronary drug-eluting stenting: Understanding and modeling the risk.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to compare in-hospital outcomes between patients with and without end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing coronary drug-eluting stent (DES) placement and to model risk of in-hospital adverse postpercutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) events in ESRD patients. BACKGROUND: The effect of ESRD on the risk of in-hospital complications after DES PCI is relatively unclear, as is the ability to prospectively stratify risk in this population. METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing first-time DES between April 1, 2003 and June 30, 2018 at a single tertiary care hospital were included in a prospective registry. Outcomes in those with ESRD were compared to those without ESRD. The primary endpoint was in-hospital all-cause mortality; secondary endpoints included in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE)-defined as cardiac death, myocardial infarction, or unplanned revascularization-and major bleeding. Multivariate logistic regression modeling was used to identify factors associated with each outcome and to generate risk scores. RESULTS: Among 18,134 patients in the study population, 382 (2.1%) had ESRD. ESRD was associated with increased risk of in-hospital mortality (7.1 vs. 2.9%, p < .001), in-hospital MACE (6.3 vs. 2.1%, p < .001), and major bleeding (12.0 vs. 2.6%, p < .001). After multivariable risk adjustment, ESRD was independently associated with in-hospital mortality (odds ratio: 1.83, 95% confidence interval: 1.04-3.23, p = .04) but not MACE or major bleeding. Among patients with ESRD, risks of MACE and major bleeding were successfully modeled (c-statistics = .72 and .85, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: ESRD is independently associated with increased risk of in-hospital mortality after coronary DES. Future studies are necessary to validate risk models derived to identify high-risk ESRD patients.

Outcomes of Early Coronary Angiography or Revascularization After Cardiac Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Early coronary ischemic events are uncommon after cardiac surgery, with little known about their management or associated outcomes. We evaluated clinical outcomes of patients undergoing coronary angiography ± percutaneous coronary intervention or redo coronary artery bypass grafting for suspected coronary ischemia within 3 weeks after index cardiac surgery. METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study based on data from 53,287 patients who underwent cardiac surgery at our institution (1996-2017); 180 patients (0.34%) satisfied the inclusion criteria. The primary outcome was 1-year all-cause mortality. Statistical evaluation involved χ2, analysis of variance, Kaplan-Meier, and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses. RESULTS: Most coronary angiography ± percutaneous coronary intervention and redo coronary artery bypass grafting procedures occurred in the first 2 weeks after index cardiac surgery. Patients presenting with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)/non-STEMI had the lowest 1-year mortality (13.5%), followed by patients with ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (28.1%), and patients with non-ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation arrest or hemodynamic instability alone the worst (38.6%) (χ2 = 17.3, P = .001). Peak troponin T level after cardiac surgery was strongly predictive of 1-year mortality (area under the curve, 0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.65-0.84; P < .001) but did not predict the presence of coronary compromise. For acute graft failure, 1-year mortality was better with percutaneous coronary intervention (18.2%) than redo coronary artery bypass grafting (23.5%) or no indicated/feasible intervention (29.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Although suspected myocardial ischemia requiring coronary angiography or intervention early after cardiac surgery was rare, mortality was high, particularly in presentations other than STEMI/non-STEMI. In patients with overt signs and symptoms of myocardial ischemia after index cardiac surgery, troponin T was not a reliable marker of underlying coronary or graft obstruction but was a robust predictor of 1-year mortality.