Left internal mammary artery side branch intervention in the management of coronary steal syndrome following coronary artery bypass grafting.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this qualitative review is to summarize the pathophysiological and clinical data behind the clinical entity of left internal mammary artery (LIMA) side branch coronary steal as well as the potential diagnostic and therapeutic modalities available. BACKGROUND: The presence of persistent unligated LIMA side branches following coronary artery bypass grafting has previously been associated with stable angina and acute coronary syndromes. However, despite numerous attempts to objectively demonstrate a coronary steal phenomenon, the pathophysiology of LIMA side branch flow diversion remains elusive and the clinical utility of intervention is not well elucidated. METHODS: A review of literature and available data including case reports, case series, and investigational studies was performed. RESULTS: Therapeutic closure of LIMA side branches has been reported in at least 44 patients and in at least 31 publications since 1990 and is associated with an 87.5% rate of freedom from angina amongst technically successful initial interventions. In all patients with pre- and post- stress testing, intervention was associated with an improvement and/or resolution of previously observed reversible ischemia. CONCLUSIONS: LIMA side branch coronary steal should remain an ongoing consideration in symptomatic patients with large unligated side branches on angiography, particularly when there is clear evidence of reversible ischemic on perfusion imaging.

Resource Utilization During Elective Robotic-Assisted Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

OBJECTIVE: Robotic percutaneous coronary intervention (R-PCI) results in comparable outcomes to manual PCI in the treatment of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). The objective of this study is to evaluate the cost and resource utilization of R-PCI compared with manual PCI. METHODS: Consecutive patients with CAD undergoing elective R-PCI or manual PCI over an 18-month period by a single operator were included. Procedure-related costs and resource utilization were analyzed and propensity adjusted to account for differences in baseline demographic and lesion characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 164 patients (mean age, 68.9 ± 10.8 years; 81% men) underwent R-PCI (n = 56) or manual PCI (n = 108). The R-PCI group demonstrated higher Syntax scores (17.8 ± 12.9% vs 11.8 ± 7.7%; P<.01) and a greater proportion of type B2/C lesions (89.3% vs 69.4%; P<.01). R-PCI was associated with higher unadjusted costs of total hospitalization ($8219.90 ± 336.60 vs $7268.50 ± 220.10; P=.02) and direct supplies ($4711.10 ± 239.90 vs $3809.40 ± 166.80; P<.01). Following propensity-matched analysis, R-PCI was associated with higher direct supply costs alone, without a significant difference in total hospitalization or catheterization laboratory cost. Furthermore, R-PCI demonstrated similar fluoroscopy time, procedural time, and total number of stents, but with a lower volume of contrast (182.7 ± 8.9 mL vs 206.8 ± 9.0 mL; P=.04). CONCLUSIONS: Costs and resources associated with R-PCI are comparable with manual PCI, with an expected increase in direct supply costs attributed to single-use robotic components.

Hemodynamic Effects of Valve Asymmetry in Sapien 3 Transcatheter Aortic Valves.

BACKGROUND: Eccentric valve deployment after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has been associated with abnormal leaflet shear stresses that may accelerate structural valve deterioration (SVD). This phenomenon has not been studied in patients receiving Sapien 3 prostheses (Edwards Lifesciences). METHODS: A retrospective cohort analysis of 100 patients who received Sapien 3 valves between 2013 and 2015 at a single institution was performed. Axial fluoroscopic images from the co-planar view were used to assess TAVR asymmetry, which was defined as a ratio of left-to-right valve heights ≤0.9 or ≥1.1. Transthoracic echocardiograms (TTEs) were obtained at follow-up to analyze peak and mean aortic valve (AV) gradients, paravalvular leak (PVL), and aortic insufficiency (AI). RESULTS: Overall, 26 mm and 29 mm valves had greater asymmetry (45.2% and 46.9%) compared to 23 mm valves (21.2%; P=.06). There was no relationship between pre-TAVR eccentricity and post-TAVR asymmetry, but greater annular calcification was associated with a higher incidence of TAVR asymmetry. Although asymmetry was associated with higher mean and peak AV gradients among 23 mm and 26 mm valves at both 1-year and 2-year follow-up exams, these results did not reach significance. There were no significant differences in PVL or AI severity between asymmetric and symmetric valves. CONCLUSIONS: Asymmetric deployment of Sapien 3 valves is common, particularly among 26 mm and 29 mm prostheses. Overall, we detected a small increase in gradients in smaller prostheses, which could reflect early subclinical SVD. Longer follow-up will be necessary to determine the extent to which eccentricity is associated with clinically significant SVD.

Contemporary Antiplatelet Pharmacotherapy in the Management of Acute Coronary Syndromes.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Antiplatelet therapies are pivotal treatments in the management of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) with or without revascularization. In recent years, the use of P2Y12 antagonists prior to catheterization, so-called pretreatment, has been questioned, particularly in patients who may be at higher bleeding risks. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the current literature on contemporary and novel antiplatelet therapy in the pretreatment and treatment of ACS. RECENT FINDINGS: The P2Y12 receptor antagonists are associated with substantial reductions in morbidity and mortality for all types of ACS but only clopidogrel and ticagrelor have sufficient evidence for use in the pretreatment setting. The data regarding prasugrel support the use in patients undergoing percutaneous intervention (PCI). The glycoprotein IIa/IIIb antagonists are the most optimal for use in high-risk ACS as an adjuvant therapy during and after PCI. In summary, although all P2Y12 antagonists have morbidity- and mortality-reducing effects in ACS, only clopidogrel and ticagrelor have sufficient evidence in the pretreatment setting. Newer antiplatelet therapies, most notably the protease-activated receptor 1 antagonists, are evolving and promising but are associated with greater bleeding risks.

Robotic-assisted percutaneous coronary intervention.

Performance of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with several occupational hazards including radiation exposure and musculoskeletal injury. Current methods to mitigate these risks range from suspended radiation suits to adjustable lead-lined glass shields. Robotic-assisted PCI is a novel approach to PCI that utilizes remote-controlled technology to manipulate catheters thereby significantly reducing radiation exposure to the operator and catheterization laboratory staff. Although limited, current evidence indicates that robotic-assisted PCI is associated with a high technical success rate and may have additional advantages over conventional PCI, such as a decreased incidence of geographical miss. However, as the technology is nascent, further studies including larger, randomized controlled trials are needed to expand on the long-term clinical and safety outcomes.

Catechins as Potential Mediators of Cardiovascular Health.

The impact of diet on cardiovascular disease has become an increasingly relevant topic as ongoing epidemiological evidence continues to demonstrate clear associations with disease burden and mortality. Certain diets, such as those high in sodium and saturated fat, are associated with cardiovascular disease states, while other diets can be cardioprotective. However, there is limited knowledge on how the micro- and macronutrients within such cardioprotective diets afford their benefits. One such micronutrient is the catechin class, which are naturally occurring compounds in plant foods, such as teas, cocoa, wine, pears, and apples. Recent evidence reveals that catechins may be a key mediator in cardiovascular health via mechanisms of blood pressure reduction, flow-mediated vasodilation, and atherosclerosis attenuation. This review evaluates the current literature on the interplay between catechins and cardiovascular disease, which may have important implications for nutrition counseling and pharmaceutical drug development.

Comparison of Instrumented and Noninstrumented Surgical Treatment of Severe Vertebral Osteomyelitis.

The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of instrumented versus noninstrumented (decompression) surgical treatment of vertebral osteomyelitis. The study population included 104 patients with spinal osteomyelitis who were treated at the authors' institution between 2004 and 2012. This included 62 men and 42 women who underwent either instrumented (n=57) or noninstrumented (n=47) surgery. Mean patient age was 59 years, and mean follow-up was 38 months (range, 12-78 months). Specifically, the following criteria were assessed: mortality rates, infection clearance rates, clinical outcomes measured by Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), mean length of stay, and baseline differences between the 2 cohorts. Although patients in the instrumented cohort had more instability, more neurologic symptoms, and larger volume infection, they had similar clearance of infection (54% vs 42.5%; odds ratio [OR], 1.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.61-3.9; P=.35), mortality rate (9% vs 17%; OR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.14-1.54; P=.21), and ODI scores (40 vs 45 points; P=.32) compared with patients in the noninstrumented group. However, mean length of stay (19 vs 13 days; P=.02) was significantly higher for patients in the instrumented group. Even in more severe cases of vertebral osteomyelitis, instrumentation resulted in comparable outcomes to decompression. [Orthopedics. 2016; 39(3):e504-e508.].

The Subcutaneous Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator.

The subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD) is a subcutaneous alternative to conventional transvenous ICD (TV-ICD) systems, which have previously been shown to treat life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias in cardiac disease patients. A review of the literature reveals that S-ICDs have similar shock efficacy rates for both induced and spontaneous ventricular tachyarrhythmias when compared with TV-ICDs. Furthermore, S-ICDs seem to have a higher specificity for withholding therapy when supraventricular tachycardia is present compared with TV-ICDs. The advantages of the S-ICD system are numerous: fewer vascular complications including thrombosis and hemothorax, avoidance of fluoroscopy, and an easier means of lead replacement. These advantages make the S-ICD system most suitable for younger patients who may require replacements in later life, those with abnormal venous anatomy, and individuals prone to infection and/or central vein thrombosis. However, S-ICDs are not without their complications and are associated with a higher incidence of inappropriate shocks secondary to T wave oversensing. S-ICDs also lack antitachycardia pacing, making them a suboptimal device in patients with recurrent monomorphic ventricular tachycardia who would otherwise benefit from the antitachycardia pacing offered in TV-ICDs. Lastly, the limited number of long-term randomized, head-to-head studies involving direct comparison with TV-ICDs poses a challenge in the implementation of the S-ICD.

Ultra-low-dose recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 for 3-level anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion.

This study evaluated the safety of 3-level anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion (ACDF) with ultra-low-dose recombinant bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2). Thirty-seven consecutive patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy who were treated with 3-level ACDF and rhBMP-2 were evaluated. Complications such as airway or cervical swelling or hematoma were not observed. The rate of dysphagia was no different at 1, 2, and 6 months postoperatively compared with reports in the literature without rhBMP-2. There were significant improvements in VAS neck/arm pain, Oswestry Neck Disability Index, and cervical lordosis. The use of ultra-low-dose rhBMP-2 for 3-level ACDF may be efficacious for surgically addressing 3-level spondylotic myelopathy.

Comparison of residual shunt rates in five devices used to treat patent foramen ovale.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effective closure rate among devices used for transcatheter patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure, and to discuss the management of patients with large residual shunts. BACKGROUND: Several devices are used off-label for transcatheter closure of a PFO in the United States. The rate of residual shunting after PFO closure varies by device. Failure of effective closure poses risk of a recurrent cerebrovascular event, persistent migraine, or recurrent orthodeoxia. METHODS: Patients who underwent PFO closure in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at UCLA between 2001 and 2013 and had baseline and adequate follow-up transcranial Doppler studies following device placement were enrolled in the study. RESULTS: Of 167 patients whose records were analyzed, effective PFO closure occurred in 90% (150/167) of patients. The highest effective closure rate was with the Amplatzer Septal Occluder (ASO; 100%), followed by the Amplatzer Cribriform (93%), Gore Helex (90%), Amplatzer PFO (86%), and CardioSEAL (86%) device. The highest rate of residual shunting was observed after placement of the 30-mm Gore Helex device (55%). Of the 17 patients with a residual shunt, three required a repeat PFO closure procedure due to a significant residual shunt associated with recurrent pulmonary emboli or profound orthodeoxia. All three patients received an ASO which successfully closed the residual shunt. CONCLUSIONS: Transcatheter PFO closure has a high success rate, but a moderate residual shunt occurs in about 10% of cases. The observed incidence of residual shunting after PFO closure is significantly larger with the 30-mm Helex device. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.