Factors associated with readmission after long-term administration of tolvaptan in patients with congestive heart failure.

Introduction: We investigated the factors associated with readmission in patients with congestive heart failure (HF) receiving long-term administration of tolvaptan (TLV) to support treatment decisions for HF. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 181 patients with congestive HF who received long-term administration of TLV. Long-term administration of TLV was defined as the administration of TLV for 60 days or longer. The outcome was a readmission event for worsening HF within 1 year after discharge. Significant factors associated with readmission were selected using multivariate analysis. To compare the time to readmission using significant factors extracted in a multivariate analysis, readmission curves were constructed using the Kaplan-Meier method and analysed using the log-rank test. Results: The median age was 78 years (range, 38-96 years), 117 patients (64.6%) were males, and 77 patients (42.5%) had a hospitalisation history of HF. Readmission for worsening HF within 1 year after long-term TLV treatment occurred in 62 patients (34.3%). In the multivariate analysis, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <30 mL/min/1.73 m2 (odds ratio, 3.22; 95% confidence interval, 1.661-6.249; P = 0.001) was an independent significant factor. When eGFR at discharge was divided into two groups (eGFR < 30 vs. eGFR ≥ 30), readmission rates within 1 year were 53.3% vs. 25.4%, respectively (P = 0.001). Conclusion: We revealed that eGFR was strongly associated with readmission in patients with HF who received long-term administration of TLV. Furthermore, we showed that eGFR is an important indicator in guiding treatment of HF in patients receiving TLV.

The Impact of Aortic Valvular Calcium on Transcatheter Heart Valve Distortion.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between the eccentric calcification of aortic valve and transcatheter heart valve (THV) distortion and the impact of THV distortion on echo parameters and clinical outcomes. BACKGROUND: The effects of eccentric calcification of the aortic valve on the THV distortion and the relationship between THV distortion and clinical impact were not fully understood. METHODS: Patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis who were undergoing THV implantation were enrolled. Patients underwent preprocedural, postprocedural multislice computed tomography (MSCT), and follow-up transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE). Delta calcium score (ΔCS) is defined as the difference between the maximum and minimal calcium scores of the three cusps, while valve distortion score (VDS) is defined as the difference between the longest and shortest stent frame, as obtained using MSCT. Patients were divided into two groups according to ΔCS: "noneccentric calcification group" and "eccentric calcification group." RESULTS: A total of 118 patients were enrolled (59 patients in noneccentric and 59 in eccentric calcification groups). VDS was significantly lower in the noneccentric calcification group than in the eccentric calcification group (1.31 ± 0.82 mm vs. 1.73 ± 0.76 mm, p=0.004). VDS was not associated with the degree of paravalvular leak (PVL) and aortic valvular mean pressure gradient (AVPG) at 30-day and 1-year follow-up TTE and the cumulative rates of all-cause death and rehospitalization at 2-year clinical follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Eccentric valvular calcification was associated with longitudinal THV distortion. However, THV distortion was not associated with PVL, AVPG, and adverse clinical events during midterm follow-up.

Off-label use of Angio-Seal vascular closure device for the repair of femoral pseudoaneurysm after transfemoral coronary intervention.

Pseudoaneurysm was caused at the puncture site of the left groin after percutaneous coronary intervention. Balloon tamponade was attempted for hemostasis at the aneurysmal site. However, hemostasis was not achieved. Next, direct puncture of the pseudoaneurysm was tried. A 0.014-inch guidewire was crossed from the neck of the pseudoaneurysm to the left common femoral artery. The wire was replaced with a 0.035-inch guidewire. An 8F Angio-Seal (Terumo Interventional Systems, Somerset, NJ) was inserted, and a collagen plug was deployed at the neck of the pseudoaneurysm. Final angiography revealed completion of hemostasis. Three-dimensional computed tomography angiography after 8 months revealed no evidence of recurrence.

Periprocedural and Long-Term Outcomes of Stent Implantation for De Novo Subclavian Artery Disease.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of the current study was to investigate the periprocedural and long-term outcomes of stent implantation for de novo subclavian artery (SCA) disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively investigated consecutive patients with de novo SCA lesions undergoing elective endovascular therapy procedures at our center between April 2004 and September 2015. All patients were included in the analyses of periprocedural outcomes, including procedural and clinical success. Subsequently, patients who completed the clinical follow-up and were assessed with brachial systolic pressure differences between the diseased and the contralateral arms, or angiographic stenosis, after stent implantation with procedural success were included in the analyses of long-term outcomes, including primary patency. RESULTS: There were 62 patients (median 71.0 years, interquartile range 65.3-76.0 years; 45 men) with 62 de novo SCA lesions included in the analyses of periprocedural outcomes. There were 46 stenoses (74.2%) and 16 occlusions (25.8%). Our results indicated high procedural success rates for overall (95.2%), stenotic (97.8%), and occlusive (87.5%) lesions. Similarly, high clinical success rates were observed for overall (91.9%), stenotic (93.5%), and occlusive (87.5%) lesions. The median follow-up time was 6.0 years (interquartile range, 2.6-8.3 years). There were 48 patients with 48 de novo SCA lesions included in the analyses of long-term outcomes. Primary patency estimates were 97.7% (1 year), 97.7% (3 years), 93.1% (5 years), and 87.6% (7 years). Also, we observed a high estimate for freedom from reintervention for the target vessel (93.8%). CONCLUSION: Stent implantation for de novo SCA disease can be performed successfully and safely with favorable periprocedural and long-term outcomes.

Clinical Outcomes of Drug-Eluting Balloon for In-Stent Restenosis Based on the Number of Metallic Layers.

BACKGROUND: This study assesses clinical outcomes after drug-eluting balloon treatment for recurrent in-stent restenosis lesions based on the number of metallic layers. METHODS AND RESULTS: We enrolled 304 consecutive patients (333 lesions) treated with percutaneous coronary intervention using drug-eluting balloon for in-stent restenosis lesions between March 2014 and June 2015. Per the number of stent layers previously implanted to the lesion, the patients were categorized into 3 groups, 1 stent layer (1L), 166 patients; 2 stent layers (2L), 87 patients; and ≥3 stent layers (≥3L), 51 patients. The end points were major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including cardiac death, target lesion revascularization, myocardial infarction, and definite or probable stent thrombosis. No significant differences were observed in patients' baseline characteristics among the groups. The 1-year MACE and target lesion revascularization rates were significantly higher in the ≥3L group than those in the 1L and 2L groups (MACE: 1L, 16.9%; 2L, 16.1%; and ≥3L, 43.1%, P<0.01; target lesion revascularization: 1L, 14.5%; 2L, 14.9%; and ≥3L, 41.2%, P<0.01). The multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that the number of metallic layers (≥3L compared with 1L; hazard ratio, 3.17; [95% CI, 1.75-5.76]; P<0.01 and hemodialysis [hazard ratio, 2.21; (95% CI, 1.12-4.36); P=0.02]) were independent predictors for MACE. No significant differences were observed in the occurrence of cardiac death among the groups ( P=0.34). CONCLUSIONS: Seemingly, drug-eluting balloon is less effective for ≥3L in-stent restenosis lesions. Hemodialysis and in-stent restenosis with the number of metallic layers are independent predictors for MACE.

The Importance of Patency of Tibial Run Off Arteries on Clinical Outcomes After Stenting for Chronic Total Occlusions in the Superficial Femoro-popliteal Artery.

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: The aim was to evaluate the impact of patent tibial arteries on stenting for chronic total occlusions (CTO) in superficial femoropopliteal artery (SFA) lesions. Additionally, the efficacy of additive tibial percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) was evaluated. METHODS: A total of 238 limbs in 199 patients with de novo SFA CTO lesions treated with bare nitinol stents between 2009 and 2015 were retrospectively identified. These limbs were divided into two groups (group A [number of patent tibial arteries at baseline angiogram ≥ 2, 127 limbs in 104 patients] vs. group B [number of patent tibial arteries at baseline angiogram ≤ 1, 111 limbs in 95 patients]). Furthermore, the efficacy of additive tibial PTA on stenting for SFA CTO lesions was evaluated by comparing subgroups (group B with tibial PTA vs. without tibial PTA). The primary end point was freedom from major adverse limb events (MALE) two years after PTA, defined as a composite of ischaemic driven target lesion revascularisation (TLR) and major amputation. RESULTS: Group A had a significantly higher MALE free survival rate two years after PTA compared with group B (80.9% vs. 43.5%; p < .001), which was mainly driven by higher TLR free survival rates (80.9% vs. 45.9%; p < .001). In subgroup analysis, patients in group B with tibial PTA had significantly higher MALE free survival rate at two years compared with those without tibial PTA (65.5% vs. 26.2%; p = .001). CONCLUSION: The presence of patent tibial arteries was an important predictor of MALE after PTA for SFA CTO lesions. Furthermore, additional tibial PTA on SFA CTO stenting might be beneficial for clinical outcomes.

Association of skin autofluorescence with plaque vulnerability evaluated by optical coherence tomography in patients with cardiovascular disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) can be measured non-invasively by skin autofluorescence (SAF) whose values are elevated in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an intravascular imaging modality that could allow visualization of plaque composition. We aim to examine the relationship between SAF and plaque composition evaluated by frequency-domain OCT in patients with CVD. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 108 patients with CVD, who underwent OCT images during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We divided the population into two groups: high SAF group (greater than or equal to 2.6) and low SAF one (less than 2.6). OCT findings were then compared between high and low SAF groups. RESULTS: The high SAF group showed much more thin cap fibroatheroma (TCFA), and calcified or ruptured plaques compared to the low SAF group. In multivariable analysis, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL) (odds ratio: 1.15; 95% confidence interval: 1.00 to 1.32; p = 0.043), TG (OR for 10 mg/dl increase: 1.04; 95% confidence interval: 1.01 to 1.13; p = 0.016), and SAF (4.28; 1.86 to 9.84; p < 0.001) were independent correlates of TCFA, whereas SAF (2.61; 1.02 to 6.70; p = 0.047), estimated glomerular filtration rate (0.68; 0.49 to 0.93; p = 0.017) and LDL (1.19; 1.01 to 1.41; p = 0.037) were independent predictors of ruptured plaques. SAF and diabetes were independently associated with calcified plaques. CONCLUSIONS: High SAF were associated with plaque vulnerability in patients with CVD, thus suggesting the clinical utility of SAF measurement in identifying high-risk patients for future cardiovascular events.

In-hospital outcomes after rotational atherectomy in patients with low ejection fraction.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated angiographic success and in-hospital outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with rotational atherectomy (RA) in patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). DESIGN: Between January 2010 and March 2014, 272 consecutive patients with heavily calcified lesions underwent elective PCI with RA. Of these, 33 patients had LVEF ≤35% (low LVEF group), whereas 237 patients had LVEF >35% (preserved LVEF group). The primary endpoint was angiographic success and in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE). MACE included death from any cause, postprocedure onset MI, emergency coronary artery bypass grafting, and target vessel revascularization. The secondary endpoints were MACE and the components within 30days after PCI. The components of MACE were evaluated. RESULTS: Angiographic success, defined as <30% residual stenosis with thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow 3 at final angiography, was achieved in all patients without fatal complications. Intra-aortic ballon pumping (IABP) was used significantly more frequently in the low LVEF group compared with the preserved LVEF group (15.2% vs. 2.1%, p = .003). There were no significant differences between groups regarding in-hospital and clinical outcomes within 30 days following PCI. CONCLUSION: If medications and mechanical support were appropriately performed, the angiographic success rate and in-hospital MACE rate of PCI with RA in patients with low LVEF could be expected to have good outcomes similar to those for patients with preserved LVEF.

Impact of Chronic Kidney Disease on Outcomes After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Chronic Total Occlusions (from the Japanese Multicenter Registry).

The impact of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and potential pharmacologic intervention on clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusions (CTOs) remains unknown. A total of 1,463 patients underwent successful CTO-PCI between August 2004 and December 2014. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) defined as the composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction and target lesion revascularization, cardiac death, and stent thrombosis were compared between patients with and without CKD (555 and 908 patients, respectively). The results demonstrated higher risks of MACE (log-rank p = 0.015), all-cause death (log-rank p <0.001), and cardiac death (log-rank p <0.001) in the CKD group compared with the non-CKD group. Multivariable analyses demonstrated that CKD was an independent predictor for MACE (hazard ratio 1.23, 95% confidence interval 1.02 to 1.47, p = 0.03). With regard to pharmacotherapy, statin use was associated with significantly lower rates of MACE in the CKD group (log-rank p = 0.003). In conclusion, the presence of CKD would be an important predictor of long-term clinical outcomes in patients who underwent CTO-PCI, and use of statin may influence in reducing the adverse clinical outcomes.

Independent predictors of in-stent restenosis after drug-eluting stent implantation for ostial right coronary artery lesions.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the angiographic patterns and predictors of in-stent restenosis (ISR) for ostial lesions of the right coronary artery (RCA) to clarify the mechanism of insoluble restenosis. BACKGROUND: Although ISR of the RCA still occurs, limited data is available regarding the associated angiographic findings. METHODS: Between January 2005 and September 2013, we recruited consecutive patients undergoing routine angiography 6-18months after implantation of a drug-eluting stent (DES). Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent predictors of ISR, and the adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated. RESULTS: Routine angiography revealed that 45 of 131 patients (34.3%) had RCA-ISR, which were classifiable by occlusion type into ostial (24 cases), proximal (17 cases), diffuse (3 cases), and total (1 case). By multivariable analysis, early generation DES was the only independent predictor of overall ISR (aOR, 3.54; 95% CI, 1.59-7.87; p=0.002). In a subgroup analysis of each focal ISR pattern, early generation DES (aOR, 7.76; 95% CI, 2.15-28.0; p=0.002) was associated with increased risk of ostial ISR. On the contrary, larger stent (aOR, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.05-0.84; p=0.027) was associated with decreased risk of ostial ISR. Furthermore, a ratio of the stent to post-balloon size >1.10 (aOR, 3.93; 95% CI, 1.30-11.8; p=0.002) and good left ventricular contractility (ejection fraction >60%) (aOR, 8.27; 95% CI, 1.76-39.0; p=0.008) were associated with increased risk of proximal ISR when stent fracture was observed. CONCLUSION: The focal pattern of RCA-ISR was mostly observed after DES implantation, and the mechanisms of proximal and ostial ISR differed.

Difference in vascular response between sirolimus-eluting- and everolimus-eluting stents in ostial left circumflex artery after unprotected left main as observed by optical coherence tomography.

BACKGROUND: Kissing-balloon technique (KBT) is commonly performed during percutaneous coronary intervention of distal unprotected left main coronary artery (ULM) aiming at obtaining optimal opening of the side branch (left circumflex artery; LCX) ostium. Nonetheless, detailed evaluation of vascular response to stents in LCX ostium is lacking. We therefore evaluated the vascular response to different drug-eluting stents (DES) in ostial LCX after ULM by means of optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 38 consecutive patients with ULM disease, who were treated with single-stent procedure using DES, crossover the ULM-left anterior descending artery (LAD) followed by KBT. Twelve patients were treated with sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) and 26 patients were treated with everolimus-eluting stents (EES). OCT was conducted at post-PCI and 9-month follow-up. We evaluated the DES-vessel interactions and number of stent struts at the side branch (LCX) ostium (SO) at post-PCI, and compared the narrowing of ostial area at LCX between SES and EES. RESULTS: Post-procedure, the number of stent struts at SO was significantly higher in SES compared to EES (median 14.47% vs 0.19%, p<0.001). The narrowing of LCX ostial area at follow-up was more pronounced in SES compared with EES (29.16% vs 2.46%, respectively, p<0.001). Linear regression analysis showed a high correlation between the number of stent struts in LCX ostium and ostial area narrowing (r=0.771, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: OCT showed differences between EES- and SES-vessel interactions at ULM bifurcation PCI. Number of LCX ostium struts at post-PCI impacted the narrowing of ostial area at 9-month follow-up.

Potential advantages of the GuideLiner® catheter: insights from optical coherence tomography.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been reported as promising not only for the evaluation of lesion morphology, but also for better clinical outcomes; however, in some cases with severe vessel tortuosity or angulated bifurcation, it is difficult to advance an intravascular imaging catheter. We report a case in which a GuideLiner® catheter facilitated obtaining better angiographic and OCT images with the sub-selective injection of minimal contrast medium, even in a case with a tortuous vessel or angulated bifurcation. Furthermore, OCT assessment of a vessel through the catheter may be other potential advantage of this device.

Novel "baby-in-mother" technique with the GuideLiner in the bifurcation coronary intervention with the protect-wire kept in the side branch.

We report a case of percutaneous coronary intervention in a bifurcation lesion involving the left anterior descending artery and the first-diagonal branch. The lesion was calcified with vessel tortuosity. Despite adequate lesion preparation using scoring balloon, the stent was not deliverable, even with deep intubation of 7Fr-guiding catheter. The use of 6-in-7 guiding extension catheter would have required removal of wire from the diagonal branch. To avoid this situation, we down-sized the extension catheter to 5Fr, which was successful in delivering the stent without removal of the wire from diagonal branch. We have also demonstrated this novel technique on ex vivo bench testing.

Double-barrel coronary artery after subintimal stenting for chronic total occlusion.

A 70-year-old man with a medical history of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes was referred to our hospital for effort angina. Coronary angiography revealed chronic total occlusion (CTO) of the proximal right coronary artery (RCA) that had been collateralized by septal branches from the left anterior descending coronary artery, left circumflex coronary artery, and an antegrade bridge. Three everolimus-eluting stents (Xience-Alpine: 3.0 × 38 mm, 2.75 × 38 mm, and 2.5 × 38 mm; Abbott-Vascular Co., Abbott Park, IL, USA; Fig. 1D, indicated by yellow lines) were implanted with stent overlap. Post-procedural angiography showed double-barrel flow through the RCA. Repeat angiography after 10 months showed double-barrel flow through the RCA, the stented lumen, and the non-stented lumen. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) demonstrated subintimal stenting. OCT revealed that the entry point from the true lumen (TL) was the proximal segment of the RCA, and the re-entry point to the TL was the distal segment of the RCA. Additionally, OCT showed smooth and thin neointimal proliferation inside the deployed stent, and there was no evidence of an intraluminal thrombus. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing a subintimal stenting of CTO lesion involved with double-barrel coronary artery with OCT assessment.

Comparison Between 1- and 2-Stent Strategies in Unprotected Distal Left Main Disease: The Milan and New-Tokyo Registry.

BACKGROUND: There are only little data available on the comparison of clinical outcomes between a 1-stent strategy (1-SS) and a 2-stent strategy (2-SS) for percutaneous coronary intervention in unprotected distal left main disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between April 2005 and August 2011, we recruited 937 consecutive unprotected distal left main patients treated with drug-eluting stents (1-SS, 608 patients; 2-SS, 329 patients). Major adverse cardiovascular events were defined as all-cause death, myocardial infarction, or target lesion revascularization (TLR) during the median follow-up period of 1592 days. Furthermore, the individual components of major adverse cardiovascular events, cardiac death, and stent thrombosis were evaluated. More complex lesions were seen with 2-SS than with 1-SS. Cardiac death occurred more frequently with 1-SS than with 2-SS (propensity score-adjusted hazard ratio, 0.52; 95% confidence interval, 0.29-0.64; P=0.03), whereas TLR occurred more frequently with 2-SS than with 1-SS (propensity score-adjusted hazard ratio, 1.59; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-2.20; P=0.005). TLR was mainly driven by revascularizations after restenosis at the ostial left circumflex artery (propensity score-adjusted hazard ratio, 1.94; 95% confidence interval, 1.33-2.82; P=0.001). However, there were no differences in major adverse cardiovascular events, all-cause death, stent thrombosis, and myocardial infarction. Of the 139 pairs that were propensity score matched, only TLRs were significantly higher in the 2-SS group (hazard ratio, 1.59; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-2.53; P=0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The difference between 1-SS and 2-SS in percutaneous coronary intervention for unprotected distal left main disease may be summarized by the high incidence of TLR, mainly because of restenosis at the ostial left circumflex artery in the 2-SS group.

Impact of a combination of full coverage stenting and proximal optimization technique on long term outcome for unprotected distal left main disease.

BACKGROUND: There is no consensual opinion regarding the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedure for unprotected distal left main (UDLM) lesion. METHODS: Between April 2005 and August 2011, 586 consecutive patients with UDLM stenosis treated with drug-eluting stents were recruited for this study to clarify the impact of combination of full-coverage stenting and proximal optimization technique (POT) for UDLM lesion. An optimal strategy of full-coverage stenting and POT was performed in 353 patients and the other 233 patients were not optimally treated. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) were defined as all-cause death, myocardial infarction, or target lesion revascularization (TLR) during follow-up period. TLRs were also evaluated for main branch (MB) restenosis. RESULTS: At 1615days of follow-up, MACE occurred in 166 (28.3%) patients. The occurrence of MACE and TLR had a trend to being lower in the optimal strategy [propensity score-adjusted HR, 0.73 (95% CI, 0.53-1.01), p=0.05 and propensity score-adjusted HR, 0.69 (95% CI, 0.46-1.02), p=0.06, respectively]. TLR of the MB occurred significantly less frequently in the optimal strategy [propensity score-adjusted HR, 0.34 (95% CI, 0.15-0.76), p=0.008]. Cardiac death occurred in 28 (4.8%) patients. There was no significant difference in cardiac death between the two groups. These results were sustained after propensity-score matching. CONCLUSIONS: An optimal PCI strategy of full-coverage stenting and POT might be effective for UDLM lesion to reduce the occurrence of MACE, especially driven by TLR of the MB.

Optical coherence tomography assessment of in-stent restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention with two-stent technique in unprotected left main.

BACKGROUND: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has contributed to a better understanding of in-stent restenosis (ISR); however, studies evaluating ISR pattern after two-stent technique in unprotected left main (ULM) are lacking. We aim to evaluate the ISR pattern of proximal LAD and LCX after two-stent technique in ULM. METHODS: We performed OCT in 26 patients with isolated or combined ISR (identified by angiography as >50%) after two stent implantation in the proximal LCX and LAD. Finally, 13 LAD and 22 LCX ISR lesions underwent OCT assessments. OCT analyses were undertaken in the proximal segments of the LAD and LCX. In addition, we compared OCT findings in the flow divider (FD) and lateral wall (LW). RESULTS: In both the LAD and LCX, the distance from the ostium to the minimum lumen area (MLA; LAD, 2.00mm [1.00, 3.00]; LCX, 1.00mm [0.00, 1.80] distal to ostium) was short. Uncovered struts were more common on the FD side compared with the LW in the LAD (6.25% [0.00, 20.00] vs 0.00% [0.00, 0.00], respectively, p=0.016) and LCX (11.32% [0.00, 19.44] vs 0.00% [0.00, 4.55], respectively, p<0.001). Conversely, neointimal hyperplasia (NIH) was significantly thicker on the FD side compared with the LW in the LCX (0.31mm [0.19, 0.47] vs 0.15mm [0.09, 0.31], p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: While uncovered struts were more commonly found on the FD side of both arteries, NIH was significantly thicker on the FD side compared with the LW in the LCX. These unique findings might indicate inferior outcomes after two-stent techniques in ULM bifurcation lesions.