Impact of Preloading Strategy With Ticagrelor on Periprocedural Myocardial Injury in Patients With Non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Early Invasive Strategy.

ABSTRACT: Pretreatment with an oral P2Y12 receptor blocker (before coronary angiography) versus treatment in the catheterization laboratory has been a matter of debate in patients presenting with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). The primary aim of this study was to assess the impact of an immediate preloading strategy with ticagrelor on periprocedural myocardial injury in patients with NSTEMI treated with an early invasive strategy. NSTEMI patients who underwent coronary angiography and subsequent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) within 24 hours after hospital admission were divided into 2 groups: the first group (pretreatment group) included patients who received ticagrelor pretreatment as soon as possible after admission and the second group (no pretreatment group) included patients who received a loading dose of ticagrelor after coronary angiography. The pretreatment group included 232 patients, and the no pretreatment group included 87 patients. Male patients represented the majority of the patients. The 2 groups were similar in baseline characteristics, except for a greater incidence of hypertension ( P = 0.014) and higher hemoglobin levels ( P = 0.01) in the pretreatment group in comparison with the no pretreatment group. Patients in the ticagrelor pretreatment group had less myocardial injury until coronary angiography based on troponin measurements collected at 12 hours after admission ( P = 0.025). Patients in the ticagrelor pretreatment group also had fewer periprocedural myocardial injuries based on troponin measurements taken between 12 and 24 hours after the PCI ( P = 0.026 and P = 0.022, respectively). Our findings suggested that ticagrelor pretreatment reduces periprocedural myocardial injury in NSTEMI patients who underwent PCI within 24 hours after admission.

Diagnostic accuracy of Apple Watch Series 6 recorded single-lead ECGs for identifying supraventricular tachyarrhythmias: a comparative analysis with invasive electrophysiological study.

BACKGROUND: The advancements in wearable technology have made the detection of arrhythmias more accessible. While smartwatches are commonly used to detect patients with atrial fibrillation, their effectiveness in the differential diagnosis of supraventricular tachycardias (SVT) lacks consensus. METHODS: A study was conducted on 47 patients with documented SVTs on a 12-lead ECG. All patients in the cohort underwent electrophysiology study with induction of SVT. A 6th generation Apple Watch was used to record ECG tracings during baseline sinus rhythm and during induced SVT. Cardiology residents and attending cardiologists evaluated these recordings to diagnose the differential diagnosis of SVT. RESULTS: The evaluation revealed 27 cases of typical atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT), 11 cases of atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT), and 9 cases of atrial tachycardia/atrial flutter (AT/AFL) among the induced tachycardias. Attending physicians achieved an accuracy of 66.0 to 76.6%, and residents demonstrated accuracy rates between 68.1 and 74.5%. Interrater reliability was assessed using Fleiss's Kappa method, resulting in a moderate level of agreement between residents (Kappa = 0.465, p < 0.001, 95% CI 0.30-0.63) and attendings (Kappa = 0.519, p < 0.001, 95% CI 0.35-0.68). The overall Kappa value was 0.417 (p < 0.001, 95% CI 0.34-0.49). CONCLUSIONS: Smartwatch recordings demonstrate moderate feasibility in diagnosing SVT when following a pre-specified algorithm. However, this diagnostic performance was lower than the accuracy obtained from 12-lead ECG tracings when blinded to procedure outcomes.

The Long-Term Impact of Ionizing Radiation on DNA Damage in Patients Undergoing Multiple Cardiac Catheterizations.

Ionizing radiation (IR) exposures have increased exponentially in recent years due to the rise in diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. A number of small-scale studies investigated the long-term effect of IR on health workers or immediate effects of IR on patients undergoing catheterization procedures; however, the long-term impact of multiple cardiac catheterizations on DNA damage on a patient population is not known. In this study, the effects of IR on DNA damage, based on micronuclei (MN) frequency and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) as markers in peripheral lymphocytes, were evaluated in patients who previously underwent multiple cardiac catheterization procedures. Moreover, genetic polymorphisms in genes PARP1 Val762Ala, OGG1 Ser326Cys, and APE1 Asn148Glu as a measure of sensitivity to radiation exposure were also investigated in the same patient population. The patients who underwent ≥ 3 cardiac catheterization procedures revealed higher DNA injury in comparison to the patients who underwent ≤ 2 procedures, documented with the presence of higher level of MN frequency (6.4 ± 4.8 vs. 9.1 ± 4.3, p = 0.002) and elevated serum 8-OHdG levels (33.7 ± 3.8 ng/mL vs. 17.4 ± 1.9 ng/mL, p = 0.001). Besides, OGG1 Ser326Cys and APE1 Asn148Glu heterozygous and homozygous polymorphic types, which are related with DNA repair mechanisms, were significantly associated with MN frequency levels (p = 0.006 for heterozygous and p = 0.001 for homozygous with respect to OGG1 Ser326Cys, p = 0.007 for heterozygous and p = 0.001 for homozygous with respect to APE1 Asn148Glu). There was no significant difference in terms of PARP1 Val762Ala gene polymorphism between two groups.

Instantaneous Wave-Free Ratio: Novel Adenosine-Free Method to Assess Intracoronary Physiology.

Fractional flow reserve assessment was accepted as a crucial strategy in stable patients undergoing coronary angiography without prior noninvasive evaluation in the presence of borderline lesions and in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease. Instantaneous wave-free ratio, measured during a specific diastolic interval, emerged as a nonhyperemic pressure ratio. Due to its advantages such as not requiring a vasodilating agent, rapidity of procedure, pullback phenomena for the assessment of individual stenosis in tandem lesions or diffusely infiltrated vessels, and virtual percutaneous coronary intervention which allows the assessment and justification 'of' optimal coronary revascularization, instantaneous wave-free ratio became a valuable option in the field of coronary physiology. This review aims to address coronary physiological concept with fractional flow reserve and emergence of instantaneous wave-free ratio through cornerstone studies as well as the use of instantaneous wave-free ratio in different clinical scenarios.

Cardiac Hydatid Disease and Peritoneal Tuberculosis Coexistence.

Hydatid cyst is a parasitic infection caused by Echinocococcus granulosus. The coexistence of tuberculosis and cardiac hydatid cyst is extremely rare and generally seen in developing coun- tries. Here, we describe a unique case of a patient presenting with cardiac and gastrointestinal symptoms, who has coexistence of cardiac hydatid cyst and peritoneal tuberculosis.

Outcomes and regional differences in practice in a worldwide coronary stent registry.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective was to assess the performance of a new generation thin-strut sirolimus-eluting coronary stent with abluminal biodegradable polymer in an all comer population. The secondary objective was to detail differences in contemporary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) practice worldwide. METHODS: e-Ultimaster was an all-comer, prospective, global registry (NCT02188355) with independent event adjudication enrolling patients undergoing PCI with the study stent. The primary outcome measure was target lesion failure (TLF) at 1 year, defined as the composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction and clinically driven target lesion revascularisation. Data were stratified according to 4 geographical regions. RESULTS: A total of 37 198 patients were enrolled (Europe 69.2%, Asia 17.8%, Africa/Middle East 6.6% and South America/Mexico 6.5%) and 1-year follow-up was available for 35 389 patients (95.1%). One-year TLF occurred in 3.2% of the patients, ranging from 2% (Africa/Middle East) to 4.1% (South America/Mexico). In patients with acute coronary syndrome, potent P2Y12 inhibitors were prescribed in 48% of patients at discharge, while at 1 year 72% were on any dual antiplatelet therapy. Lipid-lowering treatment was administered in 80.9% and 75.5% of patients at discharge and 1 year, respectively. Regional differences in the profile of the treated patients as well as in PCI practice were reported. CONCLUSIONS: In this investigation with worldwide representation, contemporary PCI using a new generation thin-strut sirolimus-eluting coronary stent with abluminal biodegradable polymer was associated with low 1-year TLF across clinical presentations and continents. Suboptimal adherence to current recommendations around antiplatelet and lipid lowering treatments was detected.

Complexity assessment and technical aspect of coronary angiogram and percutaneous coronary intervention following transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

BACKGROUND: Performing selective coronary angiogram (CA) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) post transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) may be challenging with various success rates of coronary ostia engagement. METHODS: Among all patients who underwent CA and/or PCI after TAVI from our single center TAVI registry, ostia cannulation success was reported according to the quality of ostia engagement and artery opacification, and was classified as either selective, partially selective or non-selective but sufficient for diagnosis. RESULTS: Among the 424 consecutive TAVI procedures performed at the aforementioned institution, 20 (4.7%) CA were performed in 19 (4.5%) patients at a median time of 464 days post TAVI (25-75% IQ: 213-634 days). CA were performed in 7 CoreValve, 9 Evolut R, 1 Evolut PRO and 2 Edwards Sapien 3 devices. Transradial vascular approach was attempted in 9 procedures (45%, right n = 6 and left n = 3) and was successful in 8 (40%) patients. A total of 20 left main artery ostium cannulation were attempted leading to a diagnostic CA in all of them with selective engagement in 65%. Engagement of the right coronary artery in 2 out of 15 attempted cases failed due to a low ostium in conjunction with a high implantation of a CoreValve prosthesis. 11 PCI (55% of CA) including 2 left main lesions were performed. In 4 patients (36.4% of the PCI), an extension catheter was required to engage the left main. All planned PCI were successful. CONCLUSIONS: Post TAVI CA and PCI are challenging but feasible even after supra-annular self-expandable valve implantation.

Differential Effects of Newer-Generation Ultrathin-Strut Versus Thicker-Strut Drug-Eluting Stents in Chronic and Acute Coronary Syndromes.

OBJECTIVES: The authors sought to compare the differential effects of ultrathin-strut and thicker-strut drug-eluting stents (DES) in patients with chronic (CCS) versus acute (ACS) coronary syndromes. BACKGROUND: Newest-generation ultrathin-strut DES reduce target lesion failure (TLF) compared with thicker-strut second-generation DES in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for randomized controlled trials comparing newer-generation ultrathin-strut (<70 µm) versus thicker-strut (≥70 µm) DES. Patients were divided based on baseline clinical presentation (CCS versus ACS). The primary endpoint was TLF, a composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, or clinically indicated target lesion revascularization (TLR). RESULTS: A total of 22,766 patients from 16 randomized controlled trials were included, of which 9 trials reported TLF rates in ACS patients. At a mean follow-up of 12.2 months, the risk of TLF was lower among patients treated with ultrathin-strut compared with thicker-strut DES (risk ratio [RR]: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.75-0.95; P = 0.006). The difference was driven by a lower risk of clinically-indicated TLR (RR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.63-0.89; P < 0.001) among patients treated with ultrathin-strut DES. The treatment effect was consistent between patients presenting with CCS and ACS (relative RR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.73-1.31; P for interaction = 0.854). In patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, TLF risk was lower among those treated with ultrathin- compared with thicker-strut DES (RR: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.54-0.99; P = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrathin-strut DES reduce the risk of TLF compared with thicker-strut second-generation DES in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, a difference caused by a lower risk of ischemia-driven TLR. The treatment effect was consistent among patients with CCS and ACS.

Temporal trends in cardiovascular risk factors' prevalence in patients with myocardial infarction.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Little is known about changes in cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) profile over time in patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: We assessed changes in age and CVRF profile in consecutive AMI patients enrolled in the Swiss nationwide AMIS Plus registry between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2018. RESULTS: A total of 57 995 AMI patients were included in the analysis. Mean age at presentation was 71.5 ± 11.3 years for women and 63.9 ± 12.8 years for men and did not change over time. Overall, the mean (standard deviation) number of CVRF increased from 1.76 (1.07) in 1997/98 to 2.26 (1.10) in 2017/18 in men (Ptrend  < .001), while the corresponding rates in females were 1.83 (1.11) and 2.24 (1.08) (Ptrend  < .001). In terms of active smoking, no significant trend was detected for males, while there was a significant increase in females (P < .001). As a result, the gap in smoking rates between men and women presenting with AMI decreased from 19.9% (45.3% vs 25.4%) in 1997/98 to 7.9% (41.2% vs 33.3%) in 2017/18. Reassuring was the stability in terms of diabetes prevalence for both genders. Obesity was more prevalent over time in men, while the prevalence of hypertension and dyslipidemia increased in both genders. CONCLUSION: Among patients with AMI in Switzerland over two decades, age at presentation remained stable, while the mean number of CVRF increased in both men and women. Striking was the increase in the prevalence of smoking in women, leading to a reduction of the gender gap over time.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on acute coronary syndromes.

AIM: To assess the impact of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on acute coronary syndromes and on the delay from symptom onset to first medical contact among patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), as well as to investigate whether there were patient-related reasons related to COVID-19 for delaying first medical contact. METHODS AND RESULTS: All patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at the Geneva University Hospitals for acute coronary syndromes (ACS) during the first COVID-19 wave were compared with a control group consisting of all ACS patients who underwent PCI during the same period in 2019 and those treated in the period immediately preceding the pandemic. The primary outcome measure was the difference in the delay from symptom onset to first medical contact in the setting of STEMI between the COVID-19 period and the control period. Secondary outcome measures were the difference in ACS incidence and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients’ decisions to call the emergency services, assessed using a questionnaire. Delay from symptom onset to first medical contact was longer among patients suffering from STEMI in the COVID-19 period compared with the control period (112 min vs 60 min, p = 0.049). The incidence rate of ACS was lower during the COVID-19 period (incidence rate ratio 0.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.449–0.905). ACS patients delayed their call to the emergency services mainly because of fear of contracting or spreading COVID-19 following hospital admission, as well as of adding burden to the healthcare system. CONCLUSION: We observed prolonged delays from symptom onset to first medical contact and a decline in overall ACS incidence during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a higher threshold to call for help among ACS patients.

Embolization to Two Different Vascular Territories in a Patient With Bicuspid Aortic Stenosis Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

We describe the case of an 81-year-old man with symptomatic severe bicuspid aortic valve stenosis. Transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation was performed with a cerebral embolic protection device. During valve deployment, the 29-mm Evolut PRO prosthesis (Medtronic) popped out 3 times and exchanged for a 34-mm Evolut R. Large valvular debris were captured in the embolic protection device. Subsequently, the patient developed chest pain and electrocardiogram modification. An emergency coronary angiography showed an occlusion of the middle circumflex artery. This case demonstrates technical challenges and possible complications in patients with bicuspid aortic valve stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Nous décrivons le cas d'un homme de 81 ans présentant une sténose grave et symptomatique de la valve aortique bicuspide. L'implantation valvulaire aortique par cathéter par la voie transfémorale a été réalisée avec un dispositif de protection embolique cérébrale. Pendant le déploiement de la valve, la prothèse Evolut PRO de 29mm (Medtronic) a été sortie en 3 fois et remplacée par une Evolut R de 34 mm. Les gros débris valvulaires ont été capturés dans le dispositif de protection embolique. Par la suite, le patient a développé des douleurs thoraciques et un changement de son électrocardiogramme. Une coronarographie d'urgence a montré une occlusion de l'artère circonflexe. Ce cas illustre les défis techniques et les complications possibles chez les patients présentant une sténose de la valve aortique bicuspide et subissant une implantation valvulaire aortique par cathéter.

[Spontaneous coronary artery dissection†: primum nihil nocere]. / Dissection coronaire spontanée†: primum nihil nocere.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an important cause of acute coronary syndrome, myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death, among young patient with little/no traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Historically SCAD was considered as a rare pathology, associated primarily with pregnancy and the peripartum period. In recent years, SCAD diagnosis improved thanks to data derived from large registries, thanks to the increased use of diagnostic coronary angiography and the availability of intracoronary imaging. To date there are no randomized trials dedicated to SCAD. However, thanks to global efforts to build national SCAD registries, knowledge of SCAD has tremendously increased during the last years, demonstrating that SCAD is a distinct pathophysiological entity, and presents key differences in management and outcomes compared to ACS of atherosclerotic aetiology.

La dissection coronaire spontanée est une cause importante de syndrome coronarien aigu, d'infarctus du myocarde et de mort subite, chez des patients jeunes, présentant peu ou pas de facteurs de risque cardiovasculaire traditionnels. Historiquement elle était considérée comme une pathologie rare, survenant essentiellement en association avec la grossesse et le peripartum. Il n'existe à l'heure actuelle pas d'études randomisées concernant la dissection coronaire spontanée. Toutefois, grâce à un effort international visant à établir de larges registres nationaux répertoriant les patients atteints de dissection coronaire spontanée, les connaissances concernant cette pathologie ont largement évolué au cours des dernières années, permettant de mettre en évidence que la dissection coronaire spontanée constitue une entité physiopathologique distincte, et que son traitement et son évolution clinique sont distincts du syndrome coronarien aigu d'origine athérosclérotique.

Assessment of atrial electromechanical delay and P wave dispersion in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) and reduced forced expiratory volume (FEV1) is an independent predictor for new onset AF. The aims of this study were (1) to analyze the atrial electromechanical delay (AEMD) and P wave dispersion which are two predictors of AF development in patients with COPD and without any cardiovascular disease, and (2) to assess the relationship of those with pulmonary functions as quantified by FEV1 measurements. METHODS: The study included 41 patients with COPD (33 male; mean age: 51 years) and 32 healthy controls. P wave dispersion was calculated as the difference between the maximum and minimum P wave duration in a 12-lead surface electrocardiography (ECG) recording. AEMD, defined as the time interval from the P wave onset on the ECG to the initiation of the late diastolic (Am) wave using a tissue Doppler examination, was measured from the lateral mitral annulus (LAEMD), septal annulus (SAEMD), and tricuspid lateral annulus (TAEMD). RESULTS: P wave dispersion was significantly longer in the COPD group than those in the controls (76±19 ms vs. 45±10 ms; p<0.001). All of the AEMD measurements demonstrated significant prolongation in patients with COPD (LAEMD: 74±9 ms vs. 64±11 ms; SAEMD: 66±10 ms vs. 57±12 ms; and TAEMD: 65±9 ms vs. 46±7 ms; p<0.001 for all). The only correlation with FEV1 was observed in the TAEMD values of the COPD group (rs: -401; p<0.009). CONCLUSION: Both P wave dispersion and AEMD parameters were significantly longer in COPD patients without any established structural or functional cardiac abnormalities, indicating an increased tendency for AF development, beginning from the initial stages of the disease.

Covered Stents for the Percutaneous Management of Delayed Coronary Wall Rupture Following Subadventitial Rotational Atherectomy.

We present herein the case of a delayed covered coronary wall rupture occurring as a rare complication of rotational atherectomy performed in the subintimal space after antegrade dissection reentry for percutaneous recanalization of a long and heavily calcified left anterior descending chronic total occlusion, which was successfully managed percutaneously with the implantation of 2 covered stents. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).