Coronary stenting using the radial approach in two women with situs viscerum inversus and acute myocardial infarction.

A situs inversus with dextrocardia (DC) is a rare condition in adults. Usually, patients have structurally normal hearts and normal life expectancy. The incidence of coronary artery disease in this setting is similar to that in the general population. Coronary revascularization may present potential difficulties related to the unusual anatomy. Although the radial artery is a safe and effective site of access for coronary interventions, some anatomical variations may make this procedure more complicated. We describe two cases of patients with situs viscerum inversus and acute myocardial infarction who underwent successful transradial percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We will show that coronary angioplasty with stent application via the radial approach in patients with DC is feasible and effective also in emergency and urgent care.

Antithrombotic management and 1-year outcome of patients on oral anticoagulation undergoing coronary stent implantation (from the Registro Regionale Angioplastiche Emilia-Romagna Registry).

Current recommendations for the antithrombotic management of patients receiving oral anticoagulation (OAC) who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation (PCI-S) are based on limited and relatively weak data. To broaden and strengthen available evidence, the management and 1-year outcomes of OAC patients who underwent PCI-S and were included in a prospective, multicenter registry from 2003 to 2007 were evaluated. Among the 632 patients receiving OAC, mostly because of atrial fibrillation (58%), who underwent PCI-S, mostly because of acute coronary syndromes (63%), dual-antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel was the most frequently prescribed at discharge (48%), followed by triple therapy with OAC, aspirin, and clopidogrel (32%) and OAC plus aspirin (18%). The choice of antithrombotic therapy largely matched the thromboembolic risk profiles of patients, with the prescription of regimens including OAC predicted by the presence of non-low-risk features. The cumulative 1-year occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events was as high as 27% and was not significantly different among the 3 treatment groups. Stroke and stent thrombosis were limited to 2% and 3%, respectively, and although no significant differences were found among the 3 groups, stroke was 4 times less frequent when OAC, with either 1 or 2 antiplatelet agents, was administered. Major bleeding was also limited to 3%, with no significant differences among the 3 groups. In conclusion, these findings suggest overall real-world management of OAC patients who undergo PCI-S that is in accordance with their clinical risk profiles and give further support to the reported efficacy and safety of triple therapy for the optimal treatment of these patients.

Left ventricular function after ST-elevation myocardial infarction in patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention and abciximab or tirofiban (from the Facilitated Angioplasty with Tirofiban or Abciximab [FATA] Trial).

Abciximab therapy during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has shown to ameliorate left ventricular (LV) function recovery in patients with ST elevated myocardial infarction. High-dose bolus tirofiban has similar effect on platelet inhibition. Whether this is associated with comparable efficacy on LV function recovery remains unclear. We sought to evaluate the impact on LV function of high-dose bolus tirofiban or abciximab in patients undergoing primary PCI with the predictors of favorable (> or = 50%) LV ejection fraction (EF) and LV function recovery at 30 days. We studied 314 patients (abciximab n = 154; tirofiban n = 160) undergoing primary PCI in the randomized Facilitated Angioplasty with Tirofiban or Abciximab (FATA) Trial. LVEF was assessed within 48 hours and at 30 days after primary PCI. In patients with systolic dysfunction at baseline, LV function recovery was defined by either increase of LVEF > or = 10% compared with baseline or LVEF > or = 50%. Similar LVEF was observed in the 2 groups postprocedure (abciximab 49.7 +/- 10.1% vs tirofiban 49.3 +/- 10.1%, p = 0.9) and at 30 days (abciximab 53.1 +/- 9.8% vs tirofiban 52.5 +/- 10.2%, p = 0.6). Independent predictors of 30-day LVEF > or = 50% were preprocedure Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction flow class >0 (odds ratio = 2.4, 95% confidence interval 1.32 to 4.34), anterior location (odds ratio = 0.25, 95% confidence interval 0.15 to 0.42), and age (odds ratio = 0.97, 95% confidence interval 0.95 to 0.99). Preprocedure Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction flow grade >0 was the only predictor of LV function recovery (odds ratio = 6.73, 95% confidence interval 2.69 to 16.88). In conclusion, this study showed no difference in LV function recovery in patients undergoing primary PCI treated either with abciximab or high-dose bolus tirofiban. Preprocedure Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction flow grade >0 seems to be the most important predictor of favorable LVEF and LV function recovery at 30 days.

Time to treatment and ST-segment resolution in high-risk patients with acute myocardial infarction transferred from community hospitals for coronary angioplasty after pharmacological treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of symptom-onset-to-balloon delay on ST-segment resolution (STR) in patients with acute myocardial infarction transferred from community hospitals for angioplasty after pharmacological treatment. The study design was prospective, single centre registry. METHODS: Between October 2000 and December 2003, 330 consecutive patients aged < or =75 years with high-risk myocardial infarction were considered; 193 patients underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (group P), whereas 137 patients were given pharmacological therapy and were immediately transferred to the hospital with PCI facilities (group F). RESULTS: Compared with group P, group F showed a longer time to treatment (253 +/- 136 vs. 195 +/- 141 min; P < 0.0001) and a higher percentage of Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction flow grade 2-3 at pre-PCI angiography (107 [78.1%] vs. 48 [24.8%]; P < 0.0001). The rate of STR > or =70% was similar in groups P and F (121 [62.7%] vs. 94 [68.6%]; P = 0.41). Even after accounting for baseline variables, STR <70% was not significantly related to the transfer strategy (adjusted hazard ratio 0.94, 95% confidence interval 0.94-1.77; P = 0.8). Patients with incomplete STR showed a higher six-month mortality compared with patients with complete STR (10 [8.85%] vs. 6 [2.76%]; P = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: The STR index predicts survival in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated with angioplasty either directly or after pharmacological treatment and hospital transfer. Pharmacological facilitation seems to be able to counterbalance the negative consequences of the transfer-related time delay on myocardial reperfusion as evaluated by the STR index.

Economic appraisal of the angioplasty procedures performed in 2004 in a high-volume diagnostic and interventional cardiology unit.

OBJECTIVE: Growing interest in the use of drug-eluting stents (DESs) in coronary angioplasty has prompted the Healthcare Agency of the Emilia Romagna Region to draw up recommendations for their appropriate clinical use in high-risk patients. Since the adoption of any new technology necessitates economic appraisal, we analysed the resource consumption of the various types of angioplasty procedures and the impact on the budget of a cardiology department. METHODS: A retrospective economic appraisal was carried out on the coronary angioplasty procedures performed in 2004 in the Department of Interventional Cardiology of Reggio Emilia. On the basis of the principles of activity-based costing, detailed hospital costs were estimated for each procedure and compared with the relevant diagnosis-related group (DRG) reimbursement. RESULTS: In 2004, the Reggio Emilia hospital performed 806 angioplasty procedures for a total expenditure of euro 5,176,268. These were 93 plain old balloon angioplasty procedures (euro 487,329), 401 procedures with bare-metal stents (euro 2,380,071), 249 procedures with DESs (euro 1,827,386) and 63 mixed procedures (euro 481,480). Reimbursements amounted to euro 5,816,748 (11% from plain old balloon angioplasty, 50% from bare-metal stent, 31% from DES and 8% from mixed procedures) with a positive margin of about euro 680,480 between costs incurred and reimbursements obtained, even if the reimbursement for DES and mixed procedures was not covering all the incurred costs. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of the case-mix of procedures revealed that an overall positive margin between costs and DRG reimbursements was achieved. It therefore emerges that adherence to the indications of the Healthcare Agency of the Emilia Romagna Region for the appropriate clinical use of DESs is economically sustainable from the hospital enterprise point of view, although the DRG reimbursements are not able to differentiate among resource consumptions owing to the adoption of innovative technologies.

Acute myocardial infarction due to spontaneous coronary artery dissection treated with primary coronary angioplasty: a case report.

We report the case of a young woman referred to our hospital for anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction to be treated with primary coronary angioplasty. Angiography showed total dissection of the left anterior descending coronary artery, which was successfully treated with primary coronary angioplasty and multiple coronary stent implantation. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is an unusual cause of acute coronary syndrome, which occurs more frequently in women with many pregnancies (our patient had eight sons before hospital admission for acute myocardial infarction). Although technically challenging, primary coronary angioplasty is a good strategy for treating coronary artery dissection.

Successful treatment of long-standing post-stroke dysphagia with botulinum toxin and rehabilitation.

Cricopharyngeal myotomy is the most common treatment used to restore normal swallowing in patients with persistent (>6 months) cricopharyngeal muscle dysfunction post-stroke. We describe 2 patients whose dysphagia was due to cricopharyngeal muscle over-activity and who significantly improved after a percutaneous botulinum toxin injection in the cricopharyngeal muscle in combination with a rehabilitation treatment (dietary modifications, postural techniques, airflow protection manoeuvres). Swallowing was assessed clinically and by fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing and videofluoroscopy; the degree of dysphagia was scored using the penetration-aspiration scale. Two months after the botulinum toxin injection the patients, who were previously fed via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, returned to independent oral feeding and at 6, 12 and 24 months follow-up, both were still able to maintain an adequate oral intake with no signs of aspiration (by videofluoroscopy) or clinical complications. No further botulinum toxin injections or rehabilitation treatments were required. Our findings strongly suggest that even long-standing dysphagia can improve dramatically in selected patients. To the best of our knowledge, there are no other reports with such a long follow-up.

Angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction after low-dose alteplase and abciximab in transferred patients. A comparison with primary angioplasty on site.

BACKGROUND: The most important limitation in primary percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the small number of catheterization laboratories and their non-homogeneous territorial distribution. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of an organizational model based on a network including tertiary referral centers and community hospitals for the treatment of AMI with alteplase plus abciximab followed by PCI. METHODS: From October to November 2002, 232 patients < or = 75 years with AMI at high risk (84 transferred from four community hospitals and 148 patients admitted directly at the tertiary center) underwent PCI at our Institution. We compared procedural results and clinical outcome in patients with AMI undergoing PCI with or without transfer to tertiary centers. RESULTS: Patient transferal from community hospitals determines a greater door-to-balloon time (120 vs 55 min, p < 0.001), while complications observed during transportation are limited (5.9%). Transferred patients have a greater percentage of infarct-related artery patency (77 vs 22%, p < 0.001) and of ST-segment resolution 90 min post-PCI (77 vs 57%, p < 0.005) in comparison with direct-access patients. The incidence of clinical events (death, reinfarction, angina) was not different between the two groups at 30 days and at 6 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience the integrated model between tertiary centers and community hospitals represents a valid network system offering homogeneous therapeutic (alternatives) options to all patients with AMI regardless of the hospital where they are first admitted.