Safety and Efficacy of Everolimus-Eluting Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold Versus Second-Generation Drug-Eluting Stents in Real-World Practice

Background@#The risk of device thrombosis and device-oriented clinical outcomes with bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) was reported to be significantly higher than with contemporary drug-eluting stents (DESs). However, optimal device implantation may improve clinical outcomes in patients receiving BVS. The current study evaluated mid-term safety and efficacy of Absorb BVS with meticulous device optimization under intravascular imaging guidance. @*Methods@#The SMART-REWARD and PERSPECTIVE-PCI registries in Korea prospectively enrolled 390 patients with BVS and 675 patients with DES, respectively. The primary endpoint was target vessel failure (TVF) at 2 years and the secondary major endpoint was patientoriented composite outcome (POCO) at 2 years. @*Results@#Patient-level pooled analysis evaluated 1,003 patients (377 patients with BVS and 626 patients with DES). Mean scaffold diameter per lesion was 3.24 ± 0.30 mm in BVS group.Most BVSs were implanted with pre-dilatation (90.9%), intravascular imaging guidance (74.9%), and post-dilatation (73.1%) at proximal to mid segment (81.9%) in target vessel.Patients treated with BVS showed comparable risks of 2-year TVF (2.9% vs. 3.7%, adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.283, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.487–3.378, P = 0.615) and 2-year POCO (4.5% vs. 5.9%, adjusted HR, 1.413, 95% CI, 0.663–3.012,P = 0.370) than those with DES. The rate of 2-year definite or probable device thrombosis (0.3% vs. 0.5%, P = 0.424) was also similar. The sensitivity analyses consistently showed comparable risk of TVF and POCO between the 2 groups. @*Conclusion@#With meticulous device optimization under imaging guidance and avoidance of implantation in small vessels, BVS showed comparable risks of 2-year TVF and device thrombosis with DES.

Prognostic Value of Brachial-Ankle Pulse Wave Velocity According to Subjects’ Clinical Characteristics: Data From Analysis of 10,597 Subjects

Background@#To make good use of the prognostic value of arterial stiffness, it is important to identify the population with the greatest benefit. In this study, we compared the prognostic value of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) according to various clinical characteristics. @*Methods@#A total of 10,597 subjects who underwent baPWV measurement (mean age, 61.4 ± 9.5 years; female proportion, 42.5%) were retrospectively analyzed. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), defined as a composite of cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, and ischemic stroke were assessed during the clinical follow-up period. @*Results@#In the multivariate analysis, clinical variables with more than 4,000 subjects were selected as grouping variables, which were sex (men and women), age (≥ 65 and < 65 years), body mass index (BMI) (≥ 25 and < 25 kg/m 2), hypertension (presence and absence), estimated glomerular filtration rate (≥ 90 and < 90 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ), and statin use (user and non-user). During the median clinical follow-up duration of 3.58 years (interquartile range, 1.43–5.38 years), there were 422 MACEs (4.0%). In total study subjects, baseline higher baPWV was associated with increased risk of MACE occurrence (hazard ratio for baPWV ≥ 1,800 cm/s compared to baPWV < 1,400 cm/s, 4.04; 95% confidence interval, 2.62–6.21; P < 0.001). The prognostic value of baPWV was statistically significant regardless of sex, age, BMI, hypertension, renal function, and statin use. @*Conclusion@#Our results suggest that baPWV is not only effective in specific clinical situations, but can be effectively applied to predict cardiovascular prognosis in various clinical situations.

Índice de resistencia microcirculatoria y obstrucción microvascular en la resonancia magnética cardiaca tras un IAMCEST / Functional angiography-derived index of microcirculatory resistance validated with microvascular obstruction in cardiac magnetic resonance after STEMI

Introducción y objetivos El índice de resistencia microcirculatoria (IRM) medido tras una angioplastia primaria (ICPp) por infarto agudo de miocardio con elevación del segmento ST (IAMCEST) se asocia con la aparición de obstrucción microvascular (OMV) y eventos clínicos adversos. Para evaluar la OMV tras una ICPp exitosa por IAMCEST sin guías de presión ni administración de agentes hiperémicos, variables que parecen limitar la adopción del IRM en el laboratorio de hemodinámica, se investiga la viabilidad y la utilidad de la medición del IRM mediante resonancia magnética cardiaca (RMC) (angio-IRM). Métodos El estudio incluyó a 285 pacientes con IAMCEST sometidos a ICPp y RMC. Con un programa informático comercial, se calculó el angio-IRM del vaso culpable tras la ICPp exitosa. Se evaluaron la OMV, el tamaño del infarto y el índice de rescate miocárdico medidos una mediana de 3 [rango intercuartílico, 3-5] días después de la ICPp. Resultados De la población total, 154 pacientes (54,0%) mostraron valores de angio-IRM elevados (> 40 U) en el vaso culpable. La OMV fue significativamente más frecuente en los pacientes con angio-IRM> 40 U que en aquellos con angio-IRM ≤ 40 U (el 88,3 frente al 32,1%; p <0,001). El tamaño del infarto, la extensión de la OMV y el área en riesgo fueron significativamente mayores en los pacientes con angio-IRM> 40 U que con angio-IRM ≤ 40 U (p <0,001 para todas las comparaciones). El angio-IRM mostró una capacidad de discriminación de OMV significativamente mayor que el grado de flujo TIMI o de blush miocárdico (área bajo la curva, 0,821, 0,504 y 0,496 respectivamente; p <0,001). Conclusiones El angio-IRM se asoció significativamente con el tamaño del infarto, la extensión de la OMV y el área en riesgo. Cifras altas del angio-IRM (> 40 U) tras una ICPp por IAMCEST fueron muy predictivas de OMV en la RMC (AU)

Introduction and objectives The index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) measured after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is associated with microvascular obstruction (MVO) and adverse clinical events. To evaluate MVO after successful primary PCI for STEMI without pressure wires or hyperemic agents, we investigated the feasibility and usefulness of functional angiography-derived IMR (angio-IMR). Methods The current study included a total of 285 STEMI patients who underwent primary PCI and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). Angio-IMR of the culprit vessel after successful primary PCI was calculated using commercial software. MVO, infarct size, and myocardial salvage index were assessed using CMR, which was obtained a median of 3.0 days [interquartile range, 3.0-5.0] after primary PCI. Results Among the total population, 154 patients (54.0%) showed elevated angio-IMR (> 40 U) in the culprit vessel. MVO was significantly more prevalent in patients with angio-IMR> 40 U than in those with angio-IMR ≤ 40 U (88.3% vs 32.1%, P <.001). Infarct size, extent of MVO, and area at risk were significantly larger in patients with angio-IMR> 40 U than in those with angio-IMR ≤ 40 U (P <.001 for all). Angio-IMR showed a significantly higher discriminatory ability for the presence of MVO than thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow grade or myocardial blush grade (area under the curve: 0.821, 0.504, and 0.496, respectively, P <.001). Conclusions Angio-IMR was significantly associated with CMR-derived infarct size, extent of MVO, and area at risk. An elevated angio-IMR (> 40 U) after primary PCI for STEMI was highly predictive of the presence of MVO in CMR (AU)

A case of ruptured hepatic angiomyolipoma in a young male

A 31-year-old male visited a local hospital due to sudden-onset severe abdominal pain. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a solid cystic mass with a size of approximately 12 cm and exhibiting both hemorrhage and fluid collection in the pelvic cavity. Emergency angiography and embolization were performed, and a large hepatic tumor was subsequently surgically resected. The tumor cells stained positive for human melanoma black-45 and smooth-muscle actin, and the pathologic diagnosis was hepatic angiomyolipoma. This case report also discusses the spontaneous rupture of a hepatic angiomyolipoma.

Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Device Implantation in a Patient with Cardiogenic Shock under Percutaneous Mechanical Circulatory Support

65-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with acute decompensated heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction and severe mitral regurgitation. Electrocardiography revealed a typical left bundle branch block and atrial fibrillation. Her condition deteriorated despite administering high-doses of inotropes and vasopressors. Pending a decision to therapy, venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was performed when the patient underwent a cardiogenic shock. Although the hemodynamic status stabilized with ECMO support, weaning the patient from ECMO was not possible. Thus, we decided to perform cardiac resynchronization with defibrillator implantation as a “rescue” therapy. Five days post-implantation, the patient was successfully weaned from ECMO.