Cardiovascular Outcomes Following Rotational Atherectomy: A UK Multicentre Experience.

OBJECTIVES: To identify factors associated with outcomes following rotational atherectomy (RA). BACKGROUND: RA is an effective way to mechanically modify heavily calcified lesions before stenting; however its outcomes are not well defined. METHODS AND RESULTS: Retrospective evaluation of all patients who underwent RA in three large UK centers (Leeds General Infirmary (LGI), Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (RIE) and University Hospital of North Staffordshire (UHNS)) from March 2005 to January 2013. Five hundred and eighteen patients had RA with median follow-up period of 22 months. About 68.3% were male, 28.7% had DM and 34.6% were treated because of ACS. Stents were deployed in 97.3% of the patients while 30.7% of the procedures were performed transradially. Maximum burr was ≤1.75 mm in 85.5% and the mean SYNTAX score was 19.5 ± 11.6. Peri-procedural complications occurred in 6.4% and vascular access complications in 1.9%. Outcomes in the follow-up period were: MACE 17.8%, cardiac death 7.1%, MI 11.7%, TVR 7.5%, all-cause death 13.7%, definite stent thrombosis (ST) 1.4% and stroke 2.9%. Patients with intermediate and high SYNTAX scores were more likely to suffer MACE, cardiac death, MI, all-cause death and ST. Patients with a SYNTAX score >32 were also more likely to have a peri-procedural complication. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of PVD (P = 0.026, OR = 2.0), DM (P = 0.008, OR = 2.1), ACS presentation (P = 0.011, OR = 2.1) and SYNTAX score ≥23 (P = 0.02, OR = 1.9) had a significant association with MACE. CONCLUSIONS: RA is safe and effective, with high rate of procedural success and relatively low incidence of MACE. PVD, DM, ACS presentation and SYNTAX score were significant predictors for MACE. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Bivalirudin in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction: outcomes in a large real-world population.

AIMS: Within a clinical trial population, direct thrombin inhibition using bivalirudin in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is associated with a reduction in mortality and major bleeding compared to heparin/glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibition (GPI), but a higher incidence of acute stent thrombosis (ST), particularly in the absence of pre-procedural heparin. The safety and efficacy of bivalirudin in an all-comer, real-world primary PCI setting is unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: 968 consecutive STEMI patients (mean age 63 years, 72% male, 42% anterior STEMI, 3.7% cardiogenic shock) undergoing primary PCI with bivalirudin as the recommended anticoagulation, and with heparin/GPI (abciximab) as an alternative, were prospectively followed. Bivalirudin was administered as a bolus, high-dose procedural infusion and, unlike the HORIZONS-AMI trial, as a low-dose infusion for four hours post-PCI. Additional heparin was not routinely given. Mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), major bleeding and ST were assessed at 30 days. Initial antithrombotic therapy was bivalirudin in 885 patients (91%), of whom 123 (13.9%) received additional antithrombin therapy, and 114 (11.8%) "bail-out" GPI. Outcomes for bivalirudin-treated patients were; mortality 5.2%, MACE 7.5%, major bleeding 3.8%. The incidence of acute ST was 1.0%, including in the absence of additional heparin (1.2%). Most cases of acute ST (7/9) occurred in the first four hours post-PCI. There was no significant difference in outcomes between patients treated with bivalirudin versus heparin/GPI. CONCLUSIONS: Routine use of bivalirudin in a real-world primary PCI population was associated with good 30-day outcomes. Acute stent thrombosis was infrequent, even without additional heparin. A continued low-dose infusion of bivalirudin did not appear to offer protection against very early stent thrombosis.

Homocysteine levels and MTHFR polymorphisms in young patients with acute myocardial infarction: a case control study.

INTRODUCTION: Increased levels of homocysteine are known to be associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). The most common form of genetic hyperhomocysteinemia results from MTHFR polymorphisms. To examine the role of homocysteine levels and MTHFR polymorphisms in premature CAD and acute myocardial infarction (MI) in the Cypriot population, a case control study was performed in Nicosia General Hospital. METHODS: Sixty-three male patients less than 50 years old who presented with MI in Nicosia General Hospital were compared with 54 controls without CAD. Fasting homocysteine and lipids were tested within 24 hrs from admission, while MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms were also tested. RESULTS: Mean homocysteine levels were 14.5 mol/L in patients and 12.3 mol/L in controls (p=0.017). Mutant homozygous MTHFR C677T was present in 17.7% of the patients and 19.2% of the controls (p=0.838), while mutant homozygous MTHFR A1298C was found in 16.1% of patients and 13.5% of controls (p=0.690). Mean homocysteine levels were 12.6 mol/L in patients with single-vessel CAD and 15.5 mol/L in patients with multi-vessel CAD (p=0.025). Lower HDL appeared to be associated with higher levels of homocysteine with an odds ratio of 0.901, indicating that for each unit increase in HDL, the expected odds of having high homocysteine levels decreased by approximately 10%. CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of homocysteine are associated with acute MI and multi-vessel disease in Cypriot patients under the age of 50. The existence and extent of disease are not associated with MTHFR polymorphisms. Lower HDL is associated with higher levels of homocysteine.

Detection of Helicobacter pylori: A faster urease test can save resources.

AIM: To investigate whether differences in the rapidity of a positive result for Helicobacter pylori can save resources, by comparing two commercially available urease kits. METHODS: One hundred and eighty-five adults (130 outpatients, 55 inpatients) undergoing gastroscopy were entered prospectively. Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 (if they were not on PPIs, antibiotics, H2A, bismuth or sucralfate for up to 14 d prior to the endoscopy) and Group 2 (if they were on, or had been on, any of the above medication in the previous 14 d). At endoscopy two sets of biopsies, taken in random order, were placed in the wells of the Campylobacter-like organism (CLO) test (Kimberly-Clark, Utah, USA) and the Quick test (Biohit Plc, Helsinki, Finland). Five additional gastric biopsies were taken for histology/Giemsa and immunohistochemical study. The two urease test slides were read at 2 min, 30 min, 2 h and 24 h. Sensitivity and specificity at 24 h were determined. RESULTS: At 24 h, for all patients, there was no difference in sensitivity (100% vs 97.5%), specificity (99.3%), positive (97.5%) and negative predictive values (100% vs 99.3%) between the CLO and Quick tests, respectively. There was a positive result at 30 min in 17/41 (41.5%) CLO tests, and in 28/40 (70%) Quick tests, P = 0.05. Quick test enabled the prescription of eradication therapy before discharge in all 28/40 patients. Only 12 (30%) follow-up appointments were needed. If the CLO test had been used alone, only 17 (41.5%) prescriptions would have been possible prior to discharge and 24 (58%) follow-up appointments would be needed (P = 0.001). Of 2000 gastroscopies performed annually at our unit, a saving of 123 follow-up appointments (total: 8856 Euros or 11 808 USD) would be achieved if we switched to the Quick test. CONCLUSION: Direct comparison of locally available urease test kits is worthwhile, since the appropriate choice results in a significant saving of resources. Local costs and follow-up protocols will determine the magnitude of these savings.

Nicosia General Hospital cardiac arrest team: first year's practice and outcomes of in-hospital resuscitation.

INTRODUCTION: In 2007, Nicosia General Hospital implemented a resuscitation policy. 378 nurses and 120 doctors were successfully trained in advanced life support (ALS) in order to staff cardiac arrest teams. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of cardiac arrest and resuscitation outcomes in Nicosia General Hospital and assess any associations between the survival rate and the patient's characteristics. We also aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of in-hospital resuscitation in order to detect ways of improvement. METHODS: We prospectively analyzed the data on all cardiac arrest calls in Nicosia General Hospital between January and December 2007. Data were collected using the Utstein style. RESULTS: The cardiac arrest team (CAT) was called 83 times, of which 10 were false alarms. Cardiac arrest was identified in 69 calls, while 4 calls were respiratory arrests. The patients' mean age was 70.8 years (95% CI: 66.6-75.1). In 86% the initial rhythm was asystole/pulseless electrical activity (PEA) and in 14% ventricular fibrillation/tachycardia (VF/VT). Return of spontaneous circulation was achieved in 52% of the cases. Survival to discharge was achieved in 17.8% of the patients with arrest and in 14.5% of cardiac arrests. Patients with an initial rhythm of asystole/PEA were discharged in 5% and patients with VF/VT in 70% of cases. About 36% of the patients less than 60 years old and 12% of the patients older than 60 were discharged. The CAT arrived within 1.6 minutes, first shock in VF/VT was delivered within 1.5 minutes and the first adrenaline dose in asystole/PEA was given within 2.7 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: It is more likely for our patients to survive to discharge if they are less than 60 years old, they are hospitalized in the cardiology department and the initial rhythm is VF/VT. Our outcomes are similar to survival rates in larger studies. However, points of improvement have been identified and interventions need to be made in order to improve documentation and outcomes of in-hospital arrests.

The need for quality management in primary health care in Cyprus: results from a medical audit for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the quality of clinical management regarding metabolic and blood pressure control in a cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes in the primary health care setting of Cyprus. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Medical care, received by 296 patients with type 2 diabetes from 4 primary care health centers in Cyprus, was assessed for 1 year. Data were collected retrospectively using chart review and a telephone survey. Most recent values of HbA1c, fasting blood glucose, blood pressure, and lipid values were used to assess attainment to internationally accepted treatment targets. RESULTS: Mean age was 70 years, 75% of patients being older than 65. Average diabetes duration was 13 years. Almost 90% of patients had visited a general practitioner during 1 year, on average 8.3 times. Hypertension and hyperlipidemia were present in 67% and 32% of patients, respectively. Overall, diabetes care provided by the 4 primary care health centers appeared to be suboptimal with regard to frequency of metabolic and blood pressure measurements as well as targets reached. Only 10.5% of all patients had at least 1 HbA1c value recorded, and 77.4% of them had HbA1c levels of 8% or more. Of the patients who had a low-density lipoprotein cholesterol measurement during the examined year (29.4%), only 20.7% had a value less than 100 mg/dL. Only 34.5% of patients used lipid-lowering agents, and only 15.9% were receiving aspirin. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the management of type 2 diabetes is suboptimal in the primary health care setting of Cyprus. A multifaceted intervention, already in progress in 2 health centers, is expected to improve the quality of diabetes care.