Percutaneous versus surgical revascularization of unprotected left main coronary artery: Data from the Portuguese Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes (ProACS).

BACKGROUND: In acute coronary syndromes (ACS), the optimal revascularization strategy for unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) culprit lesion has been under-investigated. Therefore, we compared clinical characteristics and short- and medium-term outcomes of percutaneous and surgical revascularization in ACS. METHODS AND RESULTS: Of 31886 patients enrolled in a multicenter, national, prospective registry study between October 2010 and December 2020, 246 (0.8%) had ULMCA as a culprit lesion and underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) alone (n=133, 54%) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) alone (n=113, 46%). Patients undergoing PCI presented more frequently ongoing chest pain (68% versus 41%, p<0.001) and cardiogenic shock (25% versus 1%, p<0.001). Time from admission to revascularization was higher in surgical group with a median time to CABG of 4.5 days compared to 0 days to PCI (p<0.001). Angiographic success rate was 93.2% in patients who underwent PCI. Primary endpoint (all-cause death, non-fatal reinfarction and/or non-fatal stroke during hospitalization) occurred in 15.9% of patients and was more frequent in the PCI group (p<0.001). After adjustment, surgical revascularization was associated with better in-hospital prognosis (odds ratio (OR) 0.164; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.04-0.64; p=0.009). Similar results were achieved after propensity score matching. No difference was found at one-year all-cause death. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous coronary intervention was the most common revascularization strategy in the ACS with ULMCA culprit lesion. PCI was preferred in unstable patients and presented a high angiographic success. CABG was often delayed and preferred in low-risk patients. At one-year follow-up, PCI and CABG conferred a similar prognosis. The two approaches appear complementary in this high risk cohort.

Safety and efficacy of balloon pulmonary angioplasty in a Portuguese pulmonary hypertension expert center.

INTRODUCTION: Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) is an alternative therapy in patients with inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) or residual/recurrent pulmonary hypertension (PH) after surgery. The aim of this study was to assess the short-term efficacy and safety of a BPA program. METHODS: This prospective single-center study included all BPA sessions performed in CTEPH patients between 2017 and 2019. Clinical assessment including WHO functional class, plasma biomarkers, 6-min walk test (6MWT) and right heart catheterization was performed at baseline and six months after the last BPA session. RESULTS: A total of 57 BPA sessions were performed in 11 CTEPH patients (64% with inoperable disease, 82% under pulmonar vasodilator therapy). Nine patients completed both the BPA program and a minimum six-month follow-up period. There were significant improvements in WHO functional class (p=0.004) and 6MWT (mean increase of 42 m; p=0.050) and a trend for significant hemodynamic improvement: 25% decrease in mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) (p=0.082) and 42% decrease in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) (p=0.056). In the group of patients with severely impaired hemodynamics (three patients with mPAP >40 mmHg), the reduction was significant: 51% in mPAP (p=0.013) and 67% in PVR (p=0.050). Prostacyclin analogs and long-term oxygen therapy were withdrawn in all patients. Minor complications were recorded in 25% of patients. There were no major complications or deaths. CONCLUSIONS: A BPA strategy on top of pulmonary vasodilator therapy further improves symptoms, exercise capacity and hemodynamics with an acceptable risk-benefit ratio in patients with inoperable CTEPH or residual/recurrent PH after surgery.

Estratégias de Revascularização em Doentes com Infarto Agudo do Miocárdio em Choque Cardiogênico - Resultados do Registo Português de Síndromes Coronárias Agudas / Revascularization Strategies in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction and Cardiogenic Shock: Results from the Portuguese Registry on Acute Coronary Syndromes

Resumo Fundamento: Em doentes com infarto agudo do miocárdio (IAM), choque cardiogênico (CC) e doença multivaso (DMV) persistem dúvidas sobre a intervenção nas artérias não responsáveis. Objetivos: 1) caracterizar a amostra de doentes com IAM, CC e DMV incluídos no Registo Nacional Português de Síndromes Coronárias Agudas (RNSCA); 2) comparar os eventos associados a diferentes estratégias de revascularização; e 3) identificar preditores de mortalidade intra-hospitalar nesta amostra. Métodos: Estudo observacional retrospetivo de doentes com IAM, CC e DMV incluídos no RNSCA entre 2010 e 2018. Compararam-se duas estratégias de revascularização: completa durante o procedimento índice (grupo 1); e completa diferida ou incompleta durante o internamento (grupo 2-3). O endpoint primário foi a ocorrência de reinfarto ou morte intra-hospitalar. A significância estatística foi definida por um valor p < 0,05. Resultados: Identificaram-se 127 doentes com IAM, CC e DMV (18,1% no grupo 1 e 81,9% no grupo 2-3), com idade média de 70 ± 12 anos e 92,9% com IAM com supradesnivelamento do segmento ST. O endpoint primário ocorreu em 47,8% dos doentes do grupo 1 e em 37,5% do grupo 2-3 (p = 0,359). As taxas de mortalidade intra-hospitalar, reinfarto, acidente vascular cerebral e hemorragia major foram também semelhantes nos dois grupos. Os preditores de mortalidade intra-hospitalar nesta amostra foram a presença na admissão de disfunção ventricular esquerda (OR 16,8), bloqueio completo de ramo direito (OR 7,6) e anemia (OR 5,2), (p ≤ 0,02). Conclusões: Entre os doentes com IAM, CC e DMV, incluídos no RNSCA, não se verificou diferença significativa entre revascularização completa no evento índex e completa diferida ou incompleta durante o internamento, relativamente à ocorrência de morte intra-hospitalar ou reinfarto. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2021; 116(5):867-876)

Abstract Background: In patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI), cardiogenic shock (CS), and multivessel disease (MVD) questions remain unanswered when it comes to intervention on non-culprit arteries. Objective: This article aims to 1) characterize patients with MI, CS and MVD included in the Portuguese Registry on Acute Coronary Syndromes (ProACS); 2) compare different revascularization strategies in the sample; 3) identify predictors of in-hospital mortality among these patients. Methods: Observational retrospective study of patients with MI, CS and MVD included in the ProACS between 2010 and 2018. Two revascularization strategies were compared: complete during the index procedure (group 1); and complete or incomplete during the index hospitalization (groups 2-3). The primary endpoint was a composite of in-hospital death or MI. Statistical significance was defined by a p-value <0.05. Results: We identified 127 patients with MI, CS, and MVD (18.1% in group 1, and 81.9% in groups 2-3), with a mean age of 7012 years, and 92.9% of the sample being diagnosed with ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI). The primary endpoint occurred in 47.8% of the patients in group 1 and 37.5% in group 2-3 (p = 0.359). The rates of in-hospital death, recurrent MI, stroke, and major bleeding were also similar. The predictors of in-hospital death in this sample were the presence of left ventricle systolic dysfunction on admission (OR 16.8), right bundle branch block (OR 7.6), and anemia (OR 5.2) (p ≤ 0.02 for both). Conclusions: Among patients with MI, CS, and MVD included in the ProACS, there was no significant difference between complete and incomplete revascularization during the index hospitalization regarding the occurrence of in-hospital death or MI. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2021; 116(5):867-876)

Safety and efficacy of balloon pulmonary angioplasty in a Portuguese pulmonary hypertension expert center. / Segurança e eficácia da angioplastia pulmonar por balão em Portugal num centro de referência em hipertensão pulmonar.

INTRODUCTION: Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) is an alternative therapy in patients with inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) or residual/recurrent pulmonary hypertension (PH) after surgery. The aim of this study was to assess the short-term efficacy and safety of a BPA program. METHODS: This prospective single-center study included all BPA sessions performed in CTEPH patients between 2017 and 2019. Clinical assessment including WHO functional class, plasma biomarkers, 6-min walk test (6MWT) and right heart catheterization was performed at baseline and six months after the last BPA session. RESULTS: A total of 57 BPA sessions were performed in 11 CTEPH patients (64% with inoperable disease, 82% under pulmonary vasodilator therapy). Nine patients completed both the BPA program and a minimum six-month follow-up period. There were significant improvements in WHO functional class (p=0.004) and 6MWT (mean increase of 42 m; p=0.050) and a trend for significant hemodynamic improvement: 25% decrease in mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) (p=0.082) and 42% decrease in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) (p=0.056). In the group of patients with severely impaired hemodynamics (three patients with mPAP >40mmHg), the reduction was significant: 51% in mPAP (p=0.013) and 67% in PVR (p=0.050). Prostacyclin analogs and long-term oxygen therapy were withdrawn in all patients. Minor complications were recorded in 25% of patients. There were no major complications or deaths. CONCLUSIONS: A BPA strategy on top of pulmonary vasodilator therapy further improves symptoms, exercise capacity and hemodynamics with an acceptable risk-benefit ratio in patients with inoperable CTEPH or residual/recurrent PH after surgery.

Revascularization Strategies in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction and Cardiogenic Shock: Results from the Portuguese Registry on Acute Coronary Syndromes. / Estratégias de Revascularização em Doentes com Infarto Agudo do Miocárdio em Choque Cardiogênico ­ Resultados do Registo Português de Síndromes Coronárias Agudas.

BACKGROUND: In patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI), cardiogenic shock (CS), and multivessel disease (MVD) questions remain unanswered when it comes to intervention on non-culprit arteries. OBJECTIVE: This article aims to 1) characterize patients with MI, CS and MVD included in the Portuguese Registry on Acute Coronary Syndromes (ProACS); 2) compare different revascularization strategies in the sample; 3) identify predictors of in-hospital mortality among these patients. METHODS: Observational retrospective study of patients with MI, CS and MVD included in the ProACS between 2010 and 2018. Two revascularization strategies were compared: complete during the index procedure (group 1); and complete or incomplete during the index hospitalization (groups 2-3). The primary endpoint was a composite of in-hospital death or MI. Statistical significance was defined by a p-value <0.05. RESULTS: We identified 127 patients with MI, CS, and MVD (18.1% in group 1, and 81.9% in groups 2-3), with a mean age of 7012 years, and 92.9% of the sample being diagnosed with ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI). The primary endpoint occurred in 47.8% of the patients in group 1 and 37.5% in group 2-3 (p = 0.359). The rates of in-hospital death, recurrent MI, stroke, and major bleeding were also similar. The predictors of in-hospital death in this sample were the presence of left ventricle systolic dysfunction on admission (OR 16.8), right bundle branch block (OR 7.6), and anemia (OR 5.2) (p ≤ 0.02 for both). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with MI, CS, and MVD included in the ProACS, there was no significant difference between complete and incomplete revascularization during the index hospitalization regarding the occurrence of in-hospital death or MI. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2021; 116(5):867-876).

FUNDAMENTO: Em doentes com infarto agudo do miocárdio (IAM), choque cardiogênico (CC) e doença multivaso (DMV) persistem dúvidas sobre a intervenção nas artérias não responsáveis. OBJETIVOS: 1) caracterizar a amostra de doentes com IAM, CC e DMV incluídos no Registo Nacional Português de Síndromes Coronárias Agudas (RNSCA); 2) comparar os eventos associados a diferentes estratégias de revascularização; e 3) identificar preditores de mortalidade intra-hospitalar nesta amostra. MÉTODOS: Estudo observacional retrospetivo de doentes com IAM, CC e DMV incluídos no RNSCA entre 2010 e 2018. Compararam-se duas estratégias de revascularização: completa durante o procedimento índice (grupo 1); e completa diferida ou incompleta durante o internamento (grupo 2-3). O endpoint primário foi a ocorrência de reinfarto ou morte intra-hospitalar. A significância estatística foi definida por um valor p < 0,05. RESULTADOS: Identificaram-se 127 doentes com IAM, CC e DMV (18,1% no grupo 1 e 81,9% no grupo 2-3), com idade média de 70 ± 12 anos e 92,9% com IAM com supradesnivelamento do segmento ST. O endpoint primário ocorreu em 47,8% dos doentes do grupo 1 e em 37,5% do grupo 2-3 (p = 0,359). As taxas de mortalidade intra-hospitalar, reinfarto, acidente vascular cerebral e hemorragia major foram também semelhantes nos dois grupos. Os preditores de mortalidade intra-hospitalar nesta amostra foram a presença na admissão de disfunção ventricular esquerda (OR 16,8), bloqueio completo de ramo direito (OR 7,6) e anemia (OR 5,2), (p ≤ 0,02). CONCLUSÕES: Entre os doentes com IAM, CC e DMV, incluídos no RNSCA, não se verificou diferença significativa entre revascularização completa no evento índex e completa diferida ou incompleta durante o internamento, relativamente à ocorrência de morte intra-hospitalar ou reinfarto. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2021; 116(5):867-876).