Cardiogoniometry Compared to Fractional Flow Reserve at Identifying Physiologically Significant Coronary Stenosis: The CARDIOFLOW Study.

Cardiogoniometry (CGM) is method of 3-dimensional electrocardiographic assessment which has been shown to identify patients with angiographically defined, stable coronary artery disease (CAD). However, angiographic evidence of CAD, does not always correlate to physiologically significant disease. The aim of our study was to assess the ability of CGM to detect physiologically significant coronary stenosis defined by fractional flow reserve (FFR). In a tertiary cardiology centre, elective patients with single vessel CAD were enrolled into a prospective double blinded observational study. A baseline CGM recording was performed at rest. A second CGM recording was performed during the FFR procedure, at the time of adenosine induced maximal hyperaemia. A significant CGM result was defined as an automatically calculated ischaemia score < 0 and a significant FFR ratio was defined as < 0.80. Measures of diagnostic performance (including sensitivity and specificity) were calculated for CGM at rest and during maximal hyperaemia. Forty-five patients were included (aged 61.1 ± 11.0; 60.0% male), of which eighteen (40%) were found to have significant CAD when assessed by FFR. At rest, CGM yielded a sensitivity of 33.3% and specificity of 63.0%. At maximal hyperaemia the sensitivity and specificity of CGM was 71.4 and 50.0% respectively. The diagnostic performance of CGM to detect physiologically significant stable CAD is poor at rest. Although, the diagnostic performance of CGM improves substantially during maximal hyperaemia, it does not reach sufficient levels of accuracy to be used routinely in clinical practice.

Inadvertent cardiac phlebography.

We are reporting a case of a 80-year-old lady with effort angina who underwent coronary angiography through the right radial artery, using a dedicated radial multipurpose 5 French Optitorque Tiger catheter. The catheter was advanced into the left ventricle and a left ventriculogram was obtained, while the catheter appeared optimally placed at the centre of the ventricle and the pressure waveform was normal. A large posterior interventricular vein draining into the right atrium was opacified, presumably because the catheter's end hole inadvertently cannulated an endocardial opening of a small thebesian vein, with subsequent retrograde filling of the epicardial vein. Our case suggests that caution is needed when a dedicated radial catheter with both an end-hole and a side hole is used for a ventriculogram, as a normal left ventricular pressure waveform does not exclude malposition of the end-hole against the ventricular wall.

Transradial primary angioplasty of anomalous right coronary artery from the left sinus of Valsalva.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of congenitally anomalous coronary arteries may be a technically challenging procedure. There is general belief that femoral approach is associated with better chances of coronary engagement and better guide support during PCI of anomalous coronary arteries. The following case supports that radial access is effective for PCI of an aberrant right coronary artery from the left sinus of Valsalva, even in an acute setting.

Data supporting the use of the radial approach as the default strategy in octogenarians undergoing primary-PCI?

BACKGROUND: There is a significant increase in the number of octogenarians undergoing Primary Percutaneous Intervention (PPCI) for ST elevation myocardial infarction Objective: To analyze one year all cause mortality in octogenarians who are admitted with a STEMI and received PPCI in a tertiary cardiac centre in the UK, and to observe the impact of the mode of vascular access on mortality. METHODS: We reviewed registry records of consecutive STEMI patients(N=2951), admitted between 2005 and 2011.Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were used to compare mortality between OG and Age group (50-79) years. RESULTS: Of the total population, 8.1% (n=241, Mean age: 85.3 yrs. (SD: 3.4)) were OG of whom 53.5% were male. Use of femoral arterial access (63%) was significantly higher among OG (P=0.04) compared to radial route. In univariate analysis, event free survival was significantly lower in OG (log rank test, P=0.001) compared to other age group. All cause mortality was significantly higher among patients who had femoral arterial access compared to radial route (log rank test, P=0.03) in OG. In Cox regression analysis conventional risk factors femoral access remained significantly associated with one year all cause mortality (Beta:-1.9(SE: 0.9, P=0.04). CONCLUSION: In our analysis, OG who received PPCI for STEMI have disproportionately higher one year all cause mortality compared to younger age group. Use of femoral arterial access appears to be independently associated with this excess mortality. Radial access preferred to be the safer and prime option in this high risk population and warrants further investigations.

Collateral donor artery physiology and the influence of a chronic total occlusion on fractional flow reserve.

BACKGROUND: The presence of a concomitant chronic total coronary occlusion (CTO) and a large collateral contribution might alter the fractional flow reserve (FFR) of an interrogated vessel, rendering the FFR unreliable at predicting ischemia should the CTO vessel be revascularized and potentially affecting the decision on optimal revascularization strategy. We tested the hypothesis that donor vessel FFR would significantly change after percutaneous coronary intervention of a concomitant CTO. METHODS AND RESULTS: In consecutive patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention of a CTO, coronary pressure and flow velocity were measured at baseline and hyperemia in proximal and distal segments of both nontarget vessels, before and after percutaneous coronary intervention. Hemodynamics including FFR, absolute coronary flow, and the coronary flow velocity-pressure gradient relation were calculated. After successful percutaneous coronary intervention in 34 of 46 patients, FFR in the predominant donor vessel increased from 0.782 to 0.810 (difference, 0.028 [0.012 to 0.044]; P=0.001). Mean decrease in baseline donor vessel absolute flow adjusted for rate pressure product: 177.5 to 139.9 mL/min (difference -37.6 [-62.6 to -12.6]; P=0.005), mean decrease in hyperemic flow: 306.5 to 272.9 mL/min (difference, -33.5 [-58.7 to -8.3]; P=0.011). Change in predominant donor vessel FFR correlated with angiographic (%) diameter stenosis severity (r=0.44; P=0.009) and was strongly related to stenosis severity measured by the coronary flow velocity-pressure gradient relation (r=0.69; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Recanalization of a CTO results in a modest increase in the FFR of the predominant collateral donor vessel associated with a reduction in coronary flow. A larger increase in FFR is associated with greater coronary stenosis severity.

Resuscitated cardiac arrest and prognosis following myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether resuscitated cardiac arrest (CA) complicating ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) impacts outcome, particularly in patients surviving to discharge. BACKGROUND: Resuscitated CA complicating STEMI is associated with increased inpatient mortality. The impact on later prognosis is unclear. METHODS: We analysed data from the UK Myocardial Ischaemia National Audit Project for STEMI patients admitted during January 2008-March 2010. We used survival analyses to assess the independent impact of resuscitated CA during the index episode on inhospital, 30 days, 1 year and medium term all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Of 48 749 STEMI patients, 5308 (10.9%) were recorded as having a CA. Of these, 1557 (29.3%) died on the day of CA. In survivors, after covariate adjustment, resuscitated CA was associated with increased risk of death during the index admission (HR 4.05 (3.69 to 4.45) p<0.001). In patients surviving to discharge, a history of resuscitated CA was associated with increased risk of death to 30 days (HR 1.53 (1.18 to 2.00), p<0.001). However, beyond 30 days, resuscitated CA was not associated with increased mortality risk (1-year HR 0.95 (0.79 to 1.14, p=0.596); 3.5 years HR 0.90 (0.78 to 1.04), p=0.144). The influence of resuscitated CA on inhospital or 30-day mortality was similar whether CA occurred before or after hospital admission. Where the resuscitated CA rhythm was asystole, inhospital mortality was higher compared with ventricular arrhythmia (p<0.001) or pulseless electrical activity (p=0.011). Late resuscitated CA (occurring after the day of index STEMI) was associated with higher 30-day postdischarge mortality compared with early resuscitated CA (p=0.023). CONCLUSIONS: STEMI complicated by resuscitated CA merits careful monitoring in the early period postevent. In contemporary practice, there is no impact of resuscitated CA on longer-term prognosis.

Complete Versus culprit-Lesion only PRimary PCI Trial (CVLPRIT): a multicentre trial testing management strategies when multivessel disease is detected at the time of primary PCI: rationale and design.

AIMS: Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is the preferred strategy for acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), with evidence of improved clinical outcomes compared to fibrinolytic therapy. However, there is no consensus on how best to manage multivessel coronary disease detected at the time of PPCI, with little robust data on best management of angiographically significant stenoses detected in non-infarct-related (N-IRA) coronary arteries. CVLPRIT will determine the optimal management of N-IRA lesions detected during PPCI. METHODS AND RESULTS: CVLPRIT (Complete Versus culprit-Lesion only PRimary PCI Trial) is an open-label, prospective, randomised, multicentre trial. STEMI patients undergo verbal "assent" on presentation. Patients are included when angiographic MVD has been detected, and randomised to culprit (IRA)-only PCI (n=150) or in-patient complete multivessel PCI (n=150). Cumulative major adverse cardiac events (MACE) - all-cause mortality, recurrent MI, heart failure, need for revascularisation (PCI or CABG) will be recorded at 12 months. Secondary endpoints include safety endpoints of confirmed ischaemic stroke, intracranial haemorrhage, major non-intracranial bleeding, and repair of vascular complications. A cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) substudy will provide mechanistic data on infarct size, myocardial salvage index and microvascular obstruction. A cost efficacy analysis will be undertaken. CONCLUSIONS: The management of multivessel coronary artery disease in the setting of PPCI for STEMI, including the timing of when to perform non-culprit-artery revascularisation if undertaken, remains unresolved. CVLPRIT will yield mechanistic insights into the myocardial consequence of N-IRA intervention undertaken during the peri-infarct period.

Predicting angiographic outcome in contemporary percutaneous coronary intervention: a lesion-specific logistic model.

BACKGROUND: Previous angiographic lesion classification systems were derived from analysis of outcomes and lesion complexity in the early stent era. Advances in equipment design and techniques have altered the association between lesion and target vessel characteristics and procedural outcome in modern percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We evaluated the precise relationship between lesion characteristics and technical outcome on a lesion by lesion basis in a large dataset. We developed a multivariate model to predict technical failure in PCI. METHODS: Analysis of prospectively collected data on 10,800 lesions in 6,719 consecutive PCI cases between January 2000 and December 2004. Multivariate logistic regression was undertaken to identify predictors of angiographic outcome at each treated lesion (success/failure). Statistical model validation was carried out using data from a further 3,340 treated lesions in 1,940 consecutive cases. RESULTS: Independent variables associated with an increased risk of technical failure included total occlusion, severe calcification, proximal vessel tortuosity >90 degrees, lesion in a degenerate vein graft, and lesion angulation > or =90 degrees. The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve for the predicted probability of technical failure was 0.85. Failure occurred in 2.2% of treated lesions in the validation set (ROC curve 0.82, model predicted 2.5%). CONCLUSIONS: We have re-evaluated the association between lesion characteristics and technical outcome in modern PCI. We have thereby developed a contemporary prediction model for angiographic outcome at each treated lesion.

Retrograde approach to chronic total occlusions: can septal vessels be used more than once?

Chronic total occlusions constitute about one-third of all coronary artery lesions, and remains a significant challenge for the interventionist. Over the last few years, several new developments have emerged. The retrograde approach is one of those new developments and certainly, in experienced hands, has improved success rates significantly. This approach, however, often requires more than one attempt and potentially uses the same septal branch between the donor and the occluded artery. We present 2 cases where a second attempt at the retrograde approach was unsuccessful because of changes in the septal collateral, which having previously allowed passage of the balloon, failed to do so on the subsequent attempt.

Reduction in mortality and target-lesion revascularisation at 2 years: a comparison between drug-eluting stents and conventional bare-metal stents in the "real world".

BACKGROUND: Long-term safety of drug-eluting stent (DES) is still a concern. We aimed to assess the impact of DES use on all-cause mortality and target-lesion revascularisation (TLR) in routine clinical practice. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of all patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation at our institution between January 2003 and December 2004. To account for differences in patient characteristics, logistic regression was used to produce a propensity score for DES group membership. Patients receiving DES were then matched to patients receiving bare metal stents (BMS) with identical propensity scores. These two groups were then compared with respect to the incidence of TLR and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: During the study period 995 patients received DES. Of these, 82 patients had combined DES and BMS use and were therefore excluded; leaving 913 DES patients compared to 2105 BMS patients. Patients who received DES were more likely to be diabetic, hypertensive, had more lesions treated, restenotic lesions treated, left anterior descending and left main stem interventions, long lesions treated, small diameter lesions treated, and American Heart Association C-type lesions treated. After performing propensity-matching, to account for differences in patient characteristics, we were able to successfully match 777 DES patients to 777 BMS patients. The TLR rates at 24 months were significantly lower for DES patients (DES-4.2% vs BMS-9.2%, p<0.001). All-cause mortality was also significantly lower for DES patients (DES-1.8% vs BMS-4.0%, p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In routine clinical practice DES implantation continued to demonstrate a significant reduction in the need for repeat intervention at 24 months. All-cause and cardiac mortality was also significantly lower for DES patients compared to BMS patients.

Lesion complexity and angiographic outcomes in radial access percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is increasingly performed from the radial arterial (RA) access site. Few studies have examined the interaction between a default radial approach, lesion complexity, and angiographic outcome. This study investigates lesion complexity, arterial access route, and angiographic outcome in routine clinical practice by default radial operators. METHODS: All cases of PCI over a 12-month period (Jan 2005 to Jan 2006) at our regional cardiac center were prospectively entered into a database detailing arterial access route, target vessel and lesion characteristics, and lesion-specific angiographic outcome. Angiographic success was defined as residual stenosis <50% for balloon angioplasty alone or <20% for a stented lesion in the presence of TIMI 3 flow in the target vessel. All procedures carried out by default radial operators were selected for further retrospective analysis. Reasons for not completing a case via the radial route were recorded. Radial and femoral cases by default radial operators were evaluated on grounds of lesion complexity and angiographic outcome for each treated lesion. RESULTS: RA was the intended route in 91.5% of 1,324 procedures (91.5% of 2,239 lesions), and the final route in 90.1% of procedures (90.2% of lesions). There were 19 crossover procedures (30 lesions), all from radial to femoral access (FA). Crossovers were due to failed radial artery cannulation or sheath placement (9 procedures), inability to advance the guide catheter into the aortic root (7 procedures), and other guide catheter handling or support issues (3 procedures). Counting crossovers as failures, angiographic success rate was 96% among lesions for which RA was the primary intention. Complexity of cases was high (80.1% of RA lesions ACC/AHA type B2 or C). CONCLUSIONS: A default radial approach is compatible with successful treatment of a wide range of coronary lesions, with a low incidence of crossover to femoral access. When the radial approach fails, it is usually due to access problems rather than issues of guide catheter handling and support.

High-speed rotational atherectomy during transradial percutaneous coronary intervention.

UNLABELLED: There has been an exponential growth in the number of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures carried out via the transradial route. Traditionally, high-speed rotational atherectomy (HSRA) has been performed through 8 and 9 Fr catheters, which has limited its use during radial PCI. AIM: To review the applicability and outcomes of HSRA as a primary debulking tool during radial PCI. METHODS: Case-note review and retrospective analysis of all patients undergoing HSRA during transradial PCI. Twenty-nine consecutive procedures in 28 patients were performed between January 2005 and April 2007. RESULTS: Eighteen (64%) of the patients were males, and the mean age was 71 +/- 9.4 years (46-89). Three procedures were urgent, and 14 proceeded to HSRA, though this was not the initial strategy. The majority of procedures, 23 (79.3%), were carried out using a 6 Fr system, and a 7 Fr system was used in the remainder of cases. There were 15 lesions in the left anterior descending artery, 11 in the right coronary artery and 3 in the left circumflex. Lesion classification was type C in 21, and type B2 in 5. HSRA was carried out successfully in all cases, with uneventful subsequent stent deployment. A 1.5 mm burr was used in 25 lesions, 1.25 mm in 4, and 1.75 mm in 2 lesions. The vessel diameter was 2.7 +/- 0.5 mm (range 2.25-4.0 mm), and the mean length of stents used was 23.5 +/- 6.7 mm (range 18-63 mm). The mean procedure time was 94 +/- 35 minutes (range 50-180). CK-MB postprocedure was available in 26 patients; no patients experienced a greater than two-fold rise in CK-MB. There were no major procedural complications. One patient had evidence of minor brachial artery dissection when the guide catheter was upsized to 7 Fr, but there were no sequelae. Another patient had evidence of pericardial effusion after the procedure that was treated successfully with pericardial drain with no consequences. There were no major adverse cardiac events. CONCLUSION: Transradial HSRA can be carried out safely with good results. In this series, the procedure was not the initial strategy in the majority of patients, but allowed successful revascularization. Use of the transradial route should not preclude consideration of HSRA in suitable patient subgroups.

Impact of periprocedural creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme release on long-term mortality in contemporary percutaneous coronary intervention.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence of periprocedural creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) release and its impact on longterm mortality in contemporary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at a tertiary referral center. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 4,958 patients undergoing PCI with deployment of at least 1 stent at our center between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2005. Patients admitted with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction or cardiogenic shock (n = 617), and patients with no available CK-MB levels (n = 477) were excluded, leaving 3,864 patients for analysis. The outcome measure was all-cause mortality obtained from the National Strategic Tracing Service with patients followed up to June 30, 2006 (mean follow up 22 months). The association between CK-MB level and mortality was examined using Cox proportional hazards analysis. RESULTS: CK-MB elevation above the upper limit of normal (ULN) was detected in 29.4% patients. A total of 127 deaths were observed during follow up. By multivariate analysis, periprocedural CK-MB was independently associated with an increased risk of death (adjusted hazard ratio for every 10 units: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.05-1.12; p < 0.001). The relationship between the level of CK-MB and mortality was further examined by applying strata of CK-MB levels to the multivariate analysis (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.30, 1.76 and 2.26 for CK-MB levels of 1-3, 3-5 and > 5 the ULN, respectively). CONCLUSION: In the current era of PCI, periprocedural myonecrosis, evidenced by CK-MB elevation, is common and is associated with less favorable long-term mortality.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing and its application.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) has become an important clinical tool to evaluate exercise capacity and predict outcome in patients with heart failure and other cardiac conditions. It provides assessment of the integrative exercise responses involving the pulmonary, cardiovascular and skeletal muscle systems, which are not adequately reflected through the measurement of individual organ system function. CPET is being used increasingly in a wide spectrum of clinical applications for evaluation of undiagnosed exercise intolerance and for objective determination of functional capacity and impairment. This review focuses on the exercise physiology and physiological basis for functional exercise testing and discusses the methodology, indications, contraindications and interpretation of CPET in normal people and in patients with heart failure.

Beta-blockers use in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and concomitant cardiovascular conditions.

The mortality and incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and coronary heart disease increase with age. Despite the clear evidence of beta blockers (BBs) effectiveness, there is a general reluctance to use them in patients with COPD due to a perceived contraindication and fear of inducing adverse reactions and bronchspasm. BBs are well tolerated in patients with cardiac disease and concomitant COPD with no evidence of worsening of respiratory symptoms or FEV1, and the safety of BBs in patients with COPD has been demonstrated, but their use in this group of patients remains low. The cumulative evidence from trials and meta-analysis indicates that cardioselective BBs should not be withheld in patients with reactive airway disease or COPD. Patients with COPD have a high incidence of cardiac events necessitating careful consideration of prophylactic treatment. The benefits of beta blockade in this group appear to outweigh any potential risk of side effects according to the available evidence. In this article, we will discuss the use of BBs in patients with COPD and review the evidence for their use and safety in this group of patients.