Complex percutaneous coronary intervention in patients unable to undergo coronary artery bypass grafting during the COVID-19 pandemic: insights from the UK-ReVasc Registry.

OBJECTIVES: Cardiac surgery for coronary artery disease was dramatically reduced during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many patients with disease ordinarily treated with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) instead underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We sought to describe 12-month outcomes following PCI in patients who would typically have undergone CABG. METHODS: Between March 1 and July 31, 2020, patients who received revascularization with PCI when CABG would have been the primary choice of revascularization were enrolled in the prospective, multicenter UK-ReVasc Registry. We evaluated the following major adverse cardiovascular events at 12 months: all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, repeat revascularization, stroke, major bleeding, and stent thrombosis. RESULTS: A total of 215 patients were enrolled across 45 PCI centers in the United Kingdom. Twelve-month follow up data were obtained for 97% of the cases. There were 9 deaths (4.3%), 5 myocardial infarctions (2.4%), 12 repeat revascularizations (5.7%), 1 stroke (0.5%), 3 major bleeds (1.4%), and no cases of stent thrombosis. No difference in the primary endpoint was observed between patients who received complete vs incomplete revascularization (residual SYNTAX score £ 8 vs > 8) (P = .22). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with patterns of coronary disease in whom CABG would have been the primary therapeutic choice outside of the pandemic, PCI was associated with acceptable outcomes at 12 months of follow-up. Contemporary randomized trials that compare PCI to CABG in such patient cohorts may be warranted.

An observational study assessing the use of Sirolimus-eluting balloons for side-branch treatment in the provisional stenting of coronary bifurcations.

Background: Drug eluting balloons (DEB) are a feasible method of rapid delivery of drug to a coronary vessel wall. Their efficacy has been established for the treatment of in-stent restenosis and small vessel disease but there is limited data for their use in bifurcation lesions. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of provisional upfront side-branch DEB use in bifurcation lesions compared to a simple balloon (POBA) or upfront 2 stent bifurcation strategy. Methods: We conducted an observational study of 625 patients undergoing PCI to bifurcation lesions. All the patients had a DES deployed in the main vessel (MV). Decision on revascularization option for the side branch (SB) was made by the operator. The primary endpoint was target vessel failure. Secondary endpoints were target vessel myocardial infarction and all-cause mortality. Results: 311 patients had upfront DEB to the SB whilst the remaining were treated with either DES (188) or POBA (126). Baseline characteristics were similar aside from history of previous MI, which were higher in patients treated with DES or POBA, p = 0.009 whereas patients with previous CABG were likely to undergo DEB treatment (p = 0.004). TVF was more likely to occur in the POBA group (7.5 %) compared to the DEB (3.3 %) and DES (3.3 %) groups (p = 0.0019). There was no significant difference in TV-MI (p = 0.62) or death (p = 0.98) between the groups. Conclusion: This study suggests that provisional bifurcation stenting with upfront Sirolimus DEB use in the SB is an effective treatment for non-LMS bifurcation PCI.

Quantifying the Excess Risk of Adverse COVID-19 Outcomes in Unvaccinated Individuals With Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, Ischaemic Heart Disease or Myocardial Injury: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: More than 80% of individuals in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) are unvaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In contrast, the greatest burden of cardiovascular disease is seen in LMIC populations. Hypertension (HTN), diabetes mellitus (DM), ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and myocardial injury have been variably associated with adverse COVID-19 outcomes. A systematic comparison of their impact on specific COVID-19 outcomes is lacking. We quantified the impact of DM, HTN, IHD and myocardial injury on six adverse COVID-19 outcomes: death, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), admission to intensive care (ITUadm), acute kidney injury (AKI) and severe COVID-19 disease (SCov), in an unvaccinated population. Methodology: We included studies published between 1st December 2019 and 16th July 2020 with extractable data on patients ≥18 years of age with suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Odds ratios (OR) for the association between DM, HTN, IHD and myocardial injury with each of six COVID-19 outcomes were measured. Results: We included 110 studies comprising 48,809 COVID-19 patients. Myocardial injury had the strongest association for all six adverse COVID-19 outcomes [death: OR 8.85 95% CI (8.08-9.68), ARDS: 5.70 (4.48-7.24), IMV: 3.42 (2.92-4.01), ITUadm: 4.85 (3.94-6.05), AKI: 10.49 (6.55-16.78), SCov: 5.10 (4.26-6.05)]. HTN and DM were also significantly associated with death, ARDS, ITUadm, AKI and SCov. There was substantial heterogeneity in the results, partly explained by differences in age, gender, geographical region and recruitment period. Conclusion: COVID-19 patients with myocardial injury are at substantially greater risk of death, severe disease and other adverse outcomes. Weaker, yet significant associations are present in patients with HTN, DM and IHD. Quantifying these associations is important for risk stratification, resource allocation and urgency in vaccinating these populations. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, registration no: CRD42020201435 and CRD42020201443.

Animation-supported consent for urgent angiography and angioplasty: a service improvement initiative.

OBJECTIVE: Patient understanding of angiography and angioplasty is often incomplete at the time of consent. Language barriers and time constraints are significant obstacles, particularly in the urgent setting. We introduced digital animations to support consent and assessed the effect on patient understanding. METHODS: Multi-language animations explaining angiography and angioplasty (www.explainmyprocedure.com/heart) were introduced at nine district hospitals for patients with acute coronary syndrome before urgent transfer to a cardiac centre for their procedure. Reported understanding of the reason for transfer, the procedure, its benefits and risks in 100 consecutive patients were recorded before introduction of the animations into practice (no animation group) and in 100 consecutive patients after their introduction (animation group). Patient understanding in the two groups was compared. RESULTS: Following introduction, 83/100 patients reported they had watched the animation before inter-hospital transfer (3 declined and 14 were overlooked). The proportions of patients who understood the reason for transfer, the procedure, its benefits and risks in the no animation group were 58%, 38%, 25% and 7% and in the animation group, 85%, 81%, 73% and 61%, respectively. The relative improvement (ratio of proportions) was 1.5 (95% CI 1.2 to 1.8), 2.1 (1.6 to 2.8), 2.9 (2.0 to 4.2) and 8.7 (4.2 to 18.1), respectively (p<0.001 for all comparisons). CONCLUSION: Use of animations explaining angiography and angioplasty is feasible before urgent inter-hospital transfer and was associated with substantial improvement in reported understanding of the procedure, its risks and its benefits. The approach is not limited to cardiology and has the potential to be applied to all specialties in medicine.

Grossly elevated plasma BNP does not exclude the diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis.

Pericardial effusion with constrictive physiology describes a condition in which the pericardial fluid and thickened and dense pericardium limit left ventricular (LV) diastolic filling and prevent ventricular stretch. This leads to equalization of the end-diastolic pressure in cardiac chambers and poor ventricular filling. We report two patients, who presented with symptoms and signs of severe heart failure and with significantly raised BNP levels who were subsequently diagnosed to have pericardial effusion with constrictive physiology. When VATS pericardial window procedure was performed, the BNP values transiently increased even more in both patients, and returned to pre-operative levels at 5 days post-op. We therefore propose that in contrast to current evidence, grossly elevated BNP levels can coexist with a diagnosis of constrictive pathology. Further studies into constrictive pericarditis should take into account the transient changes in BNP observed in our study that may reveal more regarding the pathophysiology of constrictive pericarditis.

Managing acromio-clavicular joint pain: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Shoulder pain secondary to acromioclavicular joint pain is a common presentation in primary and secondary care but is often poorly managed as a result of uncertainty about optimal treatment strategies. Osteoarthritis is the commonest cause. Although acromioclavicular pain can be treated non-operatively and operatively, there appears to be no consensus on the best practice pathway of care for these patients, with variations in treatment being common place. The present study comprises a scoping review of the current published evidence for the management of isolated acromioclavicular pain (excluding acromioclavicular joint dislocation). METHODS: A comprehensive search strategy was utilized in multiple medical databases to identify level 1 and 2 randomised controlled trials, nonrandomised controlled trials and systematic reviews for appraisal. RESULTS: Four systematic reviews and two randomised controlled trials were identified. No direct studies have compared the benefits or risks of conservative versus surgical management in a controlled environment. CONCLUSIONS: High-level studies on treatment modalities for acromioclavicular joint pain are limited. As such, there remains little evidence to support one intervention or treatment over another, making it difficult to develop any evidenced-based patient pathways of care for this condition.Level of evidence: 2A.

Abiotrophia defectiva Endocarditis Complicated by Ventricular Tachycardia.

A 78-year-old man was admitted to the authors' hospital with a short history of shortness of breath and pyrexia. He had long-standing moderate mitral regurgitation and stable coronary artery disease. Blood cultures grew Abiotrophia defectiva coccobaccili. Transesophageal echocardiography confirmed the diagnosis of mitral valve endocarditis that necessitated treatment with intravenous benzylpenicillin and gentamicin for six weeks. At nine days after admission the patient developed several episodes of self-limiting monomorphic ventricular tachycardia, without ischemic cardiac pain, associated with hemodynamic compromise requiring treatment with intravenous amiodarone and inotropic support in the Intensive Care Unit. The patient made an uneventful recovery. This case report demonstrates that patients with A. defective endocarditis may be associated with life-threatening ventricular tachycardia, and more so if they have underlying coronary artery disease. Hence, these patients are better managed in the Coronary Care Unit with continuous electrocardiogram monitoring, especially in the early stages of the antibiotic treatment.

Idiopathic Intractable Diarrhoea Leading to Torsade de Pointes.

An 81-year-old lady was admitted to our hospital with a 3-year history of noninfective diarrhoea and recurrent syncopal events over the last 3 months. Her initial electrocardiogram (ECG) revealed trigeminy and prolonged QTc interval. She had a structurally normal heart with no coronary artery disease. Investigations revealed low potassium at 3.0 mmol/L. Sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy suggested a possible diagnosis of diverticulitis. Soon after admission she had an unresponsive episode with spontaneous recovery. Telemetry and Holter analysis confirmed multiple episodes of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (Torsade de Pointes). Following electrolyte supplementation the episodes of polymorphic VT improved. Due to the protracted nature of the diarrhoea, the recurrent syncopal events, and recurrent hypokalaemia documented over recent years, an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) was sanctioned by the multidisciplinary team (MDT). In summary, chronic diarrhoea may result in life threatening polymorphic VT due to hypokalaemia and QTc prolongation. In these patients an ICD may be considered.