A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study Comparing Intracoronary Versus Intravenous Abciximab in Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Transradial Rescue Percutaneous Coronary Intervention After Failed Thrombolysis.

The risk and benefit ratio of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors with dual oral antiplatelet therapy after failed thrombolysis and rescue percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is unclear. Using a randomized placebo-controlled, double-blind design, we compared intravenous (IV) and intracoronary (IC) abciximab delivery in 74 patients referred for rescue transradial PCI. The primary angiographic end points were the final thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow and myocardial blush grades. Secondary end points included acute and 6-month outcomes using angiographic parameters, platelet aggregation parameters, cardiac biomarkers, cardiac magnetic resonance measurements (CMR) and clinical end points. After rescue PCI, normal thrombolysis in myocardial infarction 3 flows were obtained in 70% in the IC group, 48% in the IV group, and 71% in the placebo group, respectively (p = 0.056). Final myocardial blush grades 2 and 3 were obtained in 43% and 39% in the IC group, 48% and 26% in the IV group, and 46% and 42% in the placebo group (p = 0.67), respectively. Acutely, peak release of cardiac biomarkers, necrosis size, myocardial perfusion and no-reflow as assessed by CMR, and clinical end points were similar between the groups and did not suggest a benefit for IC or IV abciximab compared with placebo. There was no increase in bleeding or access site-related complications with abciximab compared with placebo. Clinical, angiographic, and CMR outcomes at 6 months remained comparable between the groups. In patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction presenting with failed thrombolysis undergoing transradial rescue PCI, IC or IV abciximab had no significant clinical impact.

Prediction and impact of failure of transradial approach for primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

OBJECTIVES: To determine predictors of failure of transradial approach (TRA) in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and develop a novel score specific for this population. METHODS: Consecutive patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI in a tertiary care high-volume radial centre were included. TRA-PCI failure was categorised as primary (primary transfemoral approach (TFA)) or crossover (from TRA to TFA). Multivariate analysis was performed to determine independent predictors of TRA-PCI failure, and an integer risk score was developed. Clinical outcomes up to 1 year were assessed. RESULTS: From January 2006 to January 2011, 2020 patients were studied. Primary TRA-PCI failure occurred in 111 (5%) patients and crossover to TFA in 44 (2.2%) patients. Independent predictors of TRA-PCI failure were: weight ≤65 kg (OR: 3.0; 95% CI 1.9 to 4.8, p<0.0001), physician with ≤5% TFA conversion (OR: 0.45; 95% CI 0.2 to 0.9, p=0.033), and physician with ≥10% conversion to TFA (OR: 2.2; 95% CI 1.2 to 3.7, p=0.005), intra-aortic balloon pump (OR: 2.0; 95% CI 0.9 to 4.3, p=0.066), cardiogenic shock (OR: 2.8; 95% CI 1.4 to 5.6, p=0.0035), endotracheal intubation (OR: 107; 95% CI 42 to 339, p<0.0001), creatinine >133 µmol/L (OR: 3.6; 95% CI 1.9 to 6.8, p<0.0001), age ≥75 (OR: 1.7; 95% CI 1.0 to 2.9, p=0.031), prior PCI (OR: 2.6; 95% CI 1.5 to 4.5, p=0.0009), hypertension (OR: 1.8; 95% CI 1.2 to 2.9, p=0.009). An integer risk score ranging from -1 to 12 was developed, and predicted TRA-PCI failure from 0% to 100% (c-statistic of 0.868; 95% CI 0.866 to 0.869). Mortality at 1 year remained significantly higher after TRA-PCI failure (adjusted OR 2.2; 95% CI 1.2 to 3.9, p=0.011). CONCLUSIONS: In a high-volume radial centre, the incidence of TRA-PCI failure is low and can be accurately predicted using a 9-variables risk score. Since outcomes after TRA-PCI failure remained inferior, further effort to maximise the use of radial approach for primary PCI should be investigated.

Changes in CYP2C19 enzyme activity evaluated by the [(13)C]-pantoprazole breath test after co-administration of clopidogrel and proton pump inhibitors following percutaneous coronary intervention and correlation to platelet reactivity.

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with clopidogrel and aspirin is used for the prevention of cardiovascular events following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). These agents increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. To prevent these events, proton pump inhibitors (PPI) are routinely prescribed. It has been reported that with the exception of pantoprazole and dexlanzoprazole, PPIs can impede conversion of clopidogrel by cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) to its active metabolite, a critical step required for clopidogrel efficacy. Changes in CYP2C19 enzyme activity (phenotype) and its correlation with platelet reactivity following PPI therapy has not yet been fully described. In this study we attempted to determine if the [ (13)C]-pantoprazole breath test (Ptz-BT) can evaluate changes in CYP2C19 enzyme activity (phenoconversion) following the administration of PPI in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients treated with DAPT after PCI. Thirty (30) days after successful PCI with stent placement, 59 patients enrolled in the Evaluation of the Influence of Statins and Proton Pump Inhibitors on Clopidogrel Antiplatelet Effects (SPICE) trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00930670) were recruited to participate in this sub study. Patients were randomized to one of 4 antacid therapies (omeprazole, esomeprazole. pantoprazole or ranitidine). Subjects were administered the Ptz-BT and platelet function was evaluated by vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) phosphorylation and light transmittance aggregometry before and 30 d after treatment with antacid therapy. Patients randomized to esomeprazole and omeprazole had greater high on-treatment platelet reactivity and lowering of CYP2C19 enzyme activity at Day 60 after 30 d of PPI therapy. Patients randomized to ranitidine and pantoprazole did not show any changes in platelet activity or CYP 2C19 enzyme activity. In patients treated with esomeprazole and omeprazole, changes in CYP2C19 enzyme activity (phenoconversion) correlated well with changes in platelet reactivity. Co-administration of omeprazole or esomeprazole in patients treated with clopidogrel results in lower CYP2C19 enzyme activity and increased platelet reactivity as measured by VASP phosphorylation test while patients given pantoprazole or ranitidine did not show any significant changes in CYP2C19 enzyme activity and platelet reactivity.

No major impact of skin aging on the response of skin blood flow to a submaximal local thermal stimulus.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to investigate how aging affects dermal microvascular reactivity in skin areas differentially exposed to sunlight, and therefore to different degrees of photoaging. METHODS: We assessed, in young (18-30 years, n = 13) and aged males (≥60 years, n = 13), the thigh, forearm, and forehead's skin vasodilatory response to local heating (LTH) with a LDI. In each subject and at each location, local Tskin was brought from 34°C (baseline) to 39 or 41°C for 30 minutes, to effect submaximal vasodilation, with maximal vasodilation then elicited by further heating to 44°C. RESULTS: The CVCs evaluated at baseline and after maximal vasodilation (CVCmax ) were higher in the forehead than in the two other anatomical locations. On all locations, CVCmax decreased with age but less markedly in the forehead compared to the two other locations. When expressed in % of CVCmax , the plateau increase of CVCs in response to submaximal temperatures (39 and 41°C) did not vary with age, and minimally so with location. CONCLUSION: Skin aging, whether intrinsic or combined with photoaging, reduces the maximal vasodilatory capacity of the dermal microcirculation, but not its reactivity to local heating.

Five-year follow-up of the plaque sealing with paclitaxel-eluting stents vs medical therapy for the treatment of intermediate nonobstructive saphenous vein graft lesions (VELETI) trial.

BACKGROUND: Very few data exist on the long-term follow-up of patients with intermediate nonobstructive saphenous vein graft (SVG) lesions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the 5-year clinical outcomes of the patients enrolled in the Moderate Vein Graft Lesion Stenting With the Taxus Stent and Intravascular Ultrasound (VELETI) and the factors associated with SVG disease progression and outcomes. METHODS: Patients with ≥ 1 intermediate SVG lesion (30%-60% diameter stenosis) were randomized to either stenting the SVG lesion with a paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES group, n = 30) or to medical treatment alone (MT group, n = 27). All patients were followed yearly up to 5 years. RESULTS: Major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) (cardiac death, myocardial infarction [MI], revascularization) related to the target SVG lesion tended to be lower in the PES group (17% vs 33%; P = 0.146) due to a lower lesion revascularization rate (13% vs 33%; P = 0.072), with no difference in cardiac death or MI between groups. MACEs related to the target SVG and global MACEs were similar between groups (P > 0.20 for both). A higher cholesterol level at baseline was the only independent predictive factor of MACEs related to the target SVG (P = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Over a 5-year period, one third of intermediate lesions in old SVGs progressed, leading to a cardiac event. Stenting these lesions with PESs tended to improve clinical outcomes by reducing lesion progression but not SVG failure. Higher cholesterol levels were associated with SVG disease progression and clinical events. This pilot study provides the basis for a larger trial to determine the efficacy of intermediate SVG lesion plaque sealing.

Interaction of chronic total occlusion and chronic kidney disease in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Chronic total occlusion (CTO) in a non-infarct-related artery and chronic kidney failure (CKD) are associated with worse outcomes after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The aim of this study was to investigate the interaction of CTO and CKD in patients who underwent primary PCI for acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Patients with STEMIs with or without CKD, defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 ml/min/1.73 m(2), were categorized into those with single-vessel disease and those with multivessel disease with or without CTO. The primary outcomes were the incidence of 30-day and 1-year mortality. Among 1,873 consecutive patients with STEMIs included between 2006 and 2011, 336 (18%) had CKD. The prevalence of CTO in a non-infarct-related artery was 13% in patients with CKD compared with 7% in those without CKD (p = 0.0003). There was a significant interaction between CKD and CTO on 30-day mortality (p = 0.018) and 1-year mortality (p = 0.013). Independent predictors of late mortality in patients with CKD were previous myocardial infarction (hazard ratio [HR] 1.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01 to 2.79), age >75 years (HR 1.86, 95% CI 1.19 to 2.95), a left ventricular ejection fraction after primary PCI <40% (HR 2.20, 95% CI 1.36 to 3.63), left main culprit artery (HR 4.46, 95% CI 1.64 to 10.25), and shock (HR 7.44, 95% CI 4.56 to 12.31), but multivessel disease with CTO was not a predictor. In contrast, multivessel disease with CTO was an independent predictor of mortality in patients without CKD (HR 3.30, 95% CI 1.70 to 6.17). In conclusion, in patients with STEMIs who underwent primary PCI, with preexisting CKD, the prevalence of CTO in a non-infarct-related artery was twice as great. In these patients, the clinical impact of CTO seems to be overshadowed by the presence of CKD.

Successive transradial access for coronary procedures: experience of Quebec Heart-Lung Institute.

BACKGROUND: Transradial approach (TRA) for cardiac catheterizations and interventions improves clinical outcomes compared with transfemoral access, and its use is increasing worldwide. However, there are limited data on successive use of same artery for repeat procedures. METHODS: Between May 2010 and May 2011, all consecutive patients undergoing a repeat TRA procedure (≥2) were retrospectively identified. Success rates and reasons for failure to use ipsilateral radial artery for repeat access were identified. RESULTS: A total of 519 patients underwent 1,420 procedures. In 480 patients (92%), right radial artery was used as initial access, and left radial artery, in 39 patients. All patients underwent ≥2 procedures; 218 patients, ≥3; 87 patients, ≥4; 39 patients, ≥5; 19 patients, ≥6; 11 patients, ≥7; and 5 patients, ≥8 procedures. Two patients had, respectively, 9 and 10 procedures. The success rate for second attempt was 93%, 81% for third, and declining to 60% for ≥8. Linear regression analysis estimated a 5% failure rate for each repeat attempt (R(2) = 0.87, P = .007). The main reason for failure was related to clinical radial artery occlusion (RAO) including absent or faint pulse, poor oximetry, and failed puncture. All patients with clinical RAO were asymptomatic. By multivariate analysis, female gender (odds ratio [OR] 3.08, 95% CI 1.78-5.39, P < .0001), prior coronary artery bypass graft (OR 5.26, 95% CI 2.67-10.42, P < .0001), and repeat radial access (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.70-2.76, P < .0001) were independent predictors of radial access failure. CONCLUSION: Successive TRA is both feasible and safe in most cases for up to 10 procedures. However, failure rate for TRA increases with successive procedures, primarily due to clinical RAO. Strategies to minimize the risks of chronic clinical RAO and allow repeat use of ipsilateral radial artery need to be further defined.

Telephone contact to improve adherence to dual antiplatelet therapy after drug-eluting stent implantation.

BACKGROUND: Many patients delay or interrupt dual antiplatelet therapy (DAT) after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation, which increases the risk of stent thrombosis and death. OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that simple telephone contact made by nurses would improve adherence to and persistence of DAT. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTION: A total of 300 patients (mean±SD 64±10 years, 73% male) were recruited immediately after DES implantation performed between June 2009 and June 2010. The last patient recruited reached the 1-year follow-up time point in June 2011. Patients were randomised to one of two groups: intervention, with four telephone follow-ups, versus a control group. In the intervention group, phone calls were made within 7 days of the DES implantation and at 1, 6 and 9 months to support drug adherence. Control patients were followed as per usual clinical practice. Pharmacy data were collected to assess drug prescription filling and refill. SETTING: Tertiary care university cardiovascular centre and community. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary end point was the proportion of days covered with aspirin and clopidogrel over the year after discharge as assessed by pharmacy refill data. Secondary outcome measures included persistence of aspirin and clopidogrel treatment, defined as no gaps longer than 14 days during follow-up. RESULTS: Most patients (73%) underwent DES implantation in the context of an acute coronary syndrome. All patients had drug insurance cover, either from the public plan (59%) or through private plans (41%). Complete pharmacy follow-up data were available for 96% of the cohort. At 12 months, median scores (25th-75th centile) for adherence to aspirin and clopidogrel were 99.2% (97.5-100%) and 99.3% (97.5-100%), respectively, in the intervention group compared with 90.2% (84.2-95.4%) and 91.5% (85.1-96.0%), respectively, in the control group (p<0.0001 for aspirin and clopidogrel). Patients in the intervention group were significantly more persistent in the aspirin and clopidogrel treatment than those in the control group. For clopidogrel, 87.2% of patients in the intervention group were still persistent at 12 months compared with only 43.1% in the control group (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: A simple approach of four telephone calls to patients after DES implantation significantly improved 1-year drug adherence to near-perfect scores. Persistence of DAT was also significantly improved by the intervention.

Deadly association of cardiogenic shock and chronic total occlusion in acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The association between cardiogenic shock and 1 or >1 chronic total occlusion (CTO) in unselected patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (MI) (STEMI) has not been characterized. METHODS: Patients with STEMI referred with or without cardiogenic shock were categorized into no CTO, 1 CTO, and >1 CTO. The primary end point was the 30-day mortality. RESULTS: Between 2006 and 2011, 2,020 consecutive patients were included. A total of 141 patients (7%) presented with cardiogenic shock on admission. The prevalence of 1 CTO and >1 CTO in a non-infarct-related artery was 23% and 5%, respectively, among patients with shock compared with 6% and 0.5% in patients without shock (P < .0001). Independent predictors of cardiogenic shock included left main-related MI (odds ratio [OR] 6.55, 95% CI 1.39-26.82, P = .019), CTO (OR 4.20, 95% CI 2.64-6.57, P < .001), creatinine clearance <60 mL/min (OR 3.41, 95% CI 2.32-4.99, P < .0001), and left anterior descending-related MI (OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.51-3.23, P < .0001). Thirty-day mortality was 100% in shock patients with >1 CTO, 65.6% with 1 CTO, and 40.2% in patients without CTO (P < .0001). After adjustment for left ventricular ejection fraction and renal function, CTO remained an independent predictor for 30-day mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.83; 95% CI 1.10-3.01, P = .02). CONCLUSION: In patients with STEMI, CTO was strongly associated with cardiogenic shock on admission. In this setting, mortality was substantially higher in patients with 1 CTO and exceedingly high in those with >1 CTO. The presence of CTO was an independent predictor of early mortality.

Giant left ventricular aneurysm mimicking myocardial bridge.

An 81-year-old woman was admitted due to acute pulmonary edema. The electrocardiogram showed new Q-waves in anterior leads with ST-elevation in anterolateral leads. Coronary angiogram showed a 100% occluded second diagonal branch with an image of systolic and diastolic compression of the mid-to-distal portion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) causing a long "bridgelike" effect. Ventriculography revealed a giant aneurysm of the anterolateral wall. A 3-dimensional volume-rendered cardiac computed tomography scan suggested that the aneurysm produced extrinsic compression of the LAD.

Importance of diffuse atherosclerosis in the functional evaluation of coronary stenosis in the proximal-mid segment of a coronary artery by myocardial fractional flow reserve measurements.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of diffuse coronary atherosclerosis on the functional evaluation of moderate coronary lesions in the proximal-mid segment of a coronary artery and its clinical implications. This was a prospective study including 100 consecutive patients with a moderate lesion (45 ± 9% diameter stenosis) in the proximal-mid coronary segment who were evaluated with fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurement. No patient had any other angiographic stenosis distal to the evaluated coronary stenosis. FFR measurements were obtained just distal (~2 to 3 cm) to the lesion (FFR proximal measurement [FFR-PM]) and as distally as possible in the artery (FFR distal measurement [FFR-DM]) after administration of the same dose of intracoronary adenosine. Thirty-nine patients underwent dipyridamole or exercise myocardial single-photon emission computed tomography within 3 months of the FFR study. Mean FFR-PM was significantly higher compared to FFR-DM (0.84 ± 0.08 vs 0.78 ± 0.09, median gradient 0.06, 25th to 75th interquartile range 0.02 to 0.10, p <0.0001). FFR-DM was <0.75 in 33% of patients with FFR-PM ≥0.75, leading to the decision of revascularization in these patients. Performing FFR measurement in the left main/left anterior descending artery predicted a higher gradient between FFR-DM and FFR-PM (odds ratio 4.58, 95% confidence interval 1.4 to 15.03, p = 0.007). FFR-DM exhibited a better correlation with results of myocardial single-photon emission computed tomography compared to FFR-PM (kappa 0.33 vs 0.22, p <0.0001). In conclusion, significant differences between FFR-DM and FFR-PM were observed in patients with moderate coronary stenosis in the proximal-mid segment of a coronary artery, with FFR-DM exhibiting a better correlation with results of noninvasive functional tests. These differences influenced the treatment decision in about 1/3 of patients and highlight the potential clinical relevance of coronary pressure wire positioning for functional evaluation of lesions in the proximal-mid segment of the coronary arteries.

A LEOPARD mimicking ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

A 47-year-old man was referred because of an acute anterolateral ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography showed marked ectasia of the coronary arteries, with no obstructive lesions. Ventriculography strongly suggested severe left ventricular hypertrophy, later confirmed by cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging. Complete clinical investigation showed that the patient also had multiple lentigines, ocular hypertelorism, and deafness. These associations led to the diagnosis of LEOPARD (Lentigines, Electrocardiographic anomalies, Ocular hypertelorism, Pulmonary stenosis, Anomalies of the genitalia, Retarded growth, and Deafness [sensorineural]) syndrome. Although uncommon, LEOPARD syndrome is important to recognize because it can be associated with serious adverse cardiac events, particularly in patients with severe left ventricular hypertrophy.

Effects of aspiration thrombectomy on necrosis size and ejection fraction after transradial percutaneous coronary intervention in acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The use of routine aspiration thrombectomy in primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains controversial. METHODS: Patients in the EArly Discharge after Transradial Stenting of CoronarY Arteries in Acute Myocardial Infarction (n = 105) study were treated with aspirin, clopidogrel, and abciximab within 6 hr of symptoms onset. Operators were allowed to use 6 Fr Export aspiration catheter at their discretion. In this observational analysis, we compared acute and late results in patients treated with and without thrombectomy using cardiac biomarkers, angiographic, cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), and clinical parameters. RESULTS: Patients in the thrombectomy group (n = 44) had longer symptoms to balloon time (196 ± 86 min vs. 164 ± 62, P = 0.039) and higher incidence of preprocedural TIMI flow grade 0 or 1 (84% vs. 64%, P = 0.028). Following PCI, both groups had similar incidence of TIMI flow grade 3 (93 vs. 92%, P = 0.73) and myocardial blush grade 2 or 3 (80 vs. 77%, P = 0.86), respectively. Patients in thrombectomy group had significantly higher post-PCI maximum values of creatine kinase-MB (P = 0.0007) and troponin T (P = 0.0010). Accordingly, post-PCI myocardial necrosis by CMR was higher (P = 0.0030) in patients in the thrombectomy group. At 6-month follow-up, necrosis size remained higher (20.7% ± 13.3% vs. 13.5% ± 11.1%, P = 0.012) in the thrombectomy group. Ejection fraction at 6 months was 65% ± 9% in patients in thrombectomy group compared to 70% ± 11% in patients without (P = 0.070). Results were not affected by initial TIMI flow or symptoms to balloon time. Clinical events remained comparable in both groups at 12 months follow-up. CONCLUSION: In patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction presenting within 6 hr of symptoms and undergoing primary angioplasty with maximal antiplatelet therapy, acute and late results did not suggest significant benefit for additional aspiration thrombectomy, irrespective of initial TIMI flow or total ischemic time.

Impact of thrombus aspiration on angiographic and clinical outcomes in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) may be limited by thrombus embolization. Export aspiration catheter (EAC) is a thrombectomy device which may enhance angiographic results, but its impact on clinical outcomes is unclear. This trial objective was to assess the impact of EAC on angiographic and clinical outcomes in patients with STEMI. METHODS: All STEMI patients undergoing primary or rescue PCI in a tertiary care center were included. Patients were divided in two groups according to the use of the EAC. Patients were followed up prospectively for death, reinfarction, revascularization, or stroke. Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow in the culprit vessel was assessed before and after PCI. RESULTS: Included in the analysis were 535 patients. EAC was used in 165 patients before angioplasty (Group 1) and 370 patients underwent PCI without thrombus aspiration (Group 2). More patients in Group 1 had initial TIMI flow 0-1 compared to Group 2 (88% vs. 62%, P<.001). Proportion of patients with a final TIMI flow 3 was the same in both groups (89.1% vs. 87.6% for Groups 1 and 2, respectively; P=.67). An analysis restricted to patients with initial TIMI flow 0-1 yielded similar results. No difference in clinical outcomes was observed between the two groups (P=.70). CONCLUSIONS: Selective use of the EAC based on the judgment of operators results in excellent angiographic and clinical results. Further clinical investigation is needed to definitely answer whether thromboaspiration needs to be performed in all STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI.

Predicting late myocardial recovery and outcomes in the early hours of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction traditional measures compared with microvascular obstruction, salvaged myocardium, and necrosis characteristics by cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine whether a very early imaging strategy improves the prediction of late systolic dysfunction and poor outcomes in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) compared with traditional predictors. BACKGROUND: Earlier prediction of poor outcomes after STEMI is desirable, because it will allow tailored therapy at the earliest possible time, when benefits might be greatest. METHODS: One hundred and three patients with acute STEMI were studied by contrast-enhanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance within 12 h of primary angioplasty and at 6 months and followed >2 years. The primary end point was left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, whereas poor outcomes were a key secondary end point. RESULTS: Traditional risk factors were only modest predictors of late LV dysfunction. Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) volume maintained a stronger association to LV ejection fraction change than infarct transmurality, microvascular obstruction, or myocardial salvage during STEMI (p = 0.02). Multivariable logistic regression identified LGE volume during STEMI as the best predictor of late LV dysfunction (odds ratio: 1.36, p = 0.03). An LGE >or=23% of LV during STEMI accurately predicted late LV dysfunction (sensitivity 89%, specificity 74%). The LGE volume provided important incremental benefit for predicting late dysfunction (area under the curve = 0.92, p or=23% carried a hazard ratio of 6.1 for adverse events (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: During the hyperacute phase of STEMI, LGE volume provides the strongest association and incremental predictive value for late systolic dysfunction and discerns poor late outcomes.

[Tumescent local anesthesia]. / Anesthésie locale par tumescence.

Tumescent anesthesia is a local anesthesia produced by the infiltration of a large volume of very dilute anesthetic solution into the subcutaneous tissue. Many surgical procedures (liposuction, facelift, varicose vein surgery, etc.), which were previously performed under general or locoregional anesthesia, can now be achieved with local tumescent anesthesia. This type of anesthesia has many advantages: reduction of both anesthetic risks and surgical complications (bleeding, hematoma), prolonged anesthesia reducing the need for postoperative analgesia, and costs reduction because all these surgical procedures can be performed on an outpatient basis.

Intracoronary compared to intravenous Abciximab and high-dose bolus compared to standard dose in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing transradial primary percutaneous coronary intervention: a two-by-two factorial placebo-controlled randomized study.

Platelet aggregation inhibition (PAI) of > or =95% has been associated with improved outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor treatment. A greater thrombotic burden in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) might require higher doses and/or intracoronary delivery of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors to achieve optimal PAI. Using a 2 x 2 factorial placebo-controlled design, 105 patients with STEMI who had been referred for primary PCI within 6 hours of symptom onset were randomized to intracoronary (IC) or intravenous (IV) delivery of an abciximab bolus at a standard dose (0.25 mg/kg) or high dose (> or =0.30 mg/kg) of abciximab. The primary end point was PAI measured at 10 minutes after the bolus of abciximab. Secondary end points included the acute and 6-month outcomes using angiographic parameters, cardiac biomarkers, cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging, and clinical end points. At 10 minutes after the bolus, the proportion of patients with > or =95% PAI was not different between the IC and IV groups (53% vs 54%, p = 1.00) nor between the high-dose and standard-dose bolus groups (56% vs 51%, p = 0.70). Acutely, the angiographic myocardial blush grades, peak release of cardiac biomarkers, necrosis size, myocardial perfusion, and no reflow as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging, and clinical end points were similar between the groups and did not suggest a benefit for IC compared to IV or high-dose versus standard-dose bolus of abciximab. No increase occurred in bleeding complications with the high-dose bolus or IC delivery. The clinical, angiographic and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging outcomes at 6 and 12 months were similar between the 4 groups. In conclusion, in patients with STEMI presenting with symptom onset <6 hours and undergoing transradial primary PCI, PAI remained suboptimal, despite a higher dose bolus of abciximab. A higher dose bolus or IC delivery of abciximab bolus was not associated with improved acute or late results compared to the standard IV dosing and administration.

Improving myocardial salvage in late presentation acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction with proximal embolic protection.

BACKGROUND: Late-presenting ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients possess larger, more organized coronary thrombus leading to greater ventricular remodeling and arrhythmia despite angioplasty and pharmacological therapies. We hypothesized that myocardial injury would be reduced in late STEMI by proximal embolic protection (PEP). METHODS: 31 patients with first STEMI 12-24 hr after pain onset and TIMI 0-1 flow were treated with or without PEP (cohort design matched for age, gender, and infarct-related artery). Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance determined myocardial function, area at risk, necrosis, salvaged myocardium, and arrythmogenic peri-infarct region. Clinical follow-up was performed. RESULTS: Pain to balloon time was 18 hr (95% CI 15.5-21.2 h), and Q waves were present in 87%. Angioplasty was performed with PEP in 15 and without in 16. Left ventricular (LV) volumes and ejection fraction were similar (EF 46.9% vs. 49.0% without PEP, P = 0.9). Although myocardial necrosis was similar (32.5 vs. 37.3% of LV, P = 0.3), PEP improved microvascular obstruction (8.7 vs. 11.2% of LV, P = 0.02) salvaged myocardium (39.6% vs. 29.6% of area at risk, P = 0.001), and the peri-infarct region (20.9 vs. 29.6% of infarct, P < 0.0001). On multivariate analysis, the use of PEP was an independent predictor of decreased arrythmogenic peri-infarct region and greater myocardial salvage. CONCLUSION: In this pilot study, PEP improved myocardial salvage and the arrythmogenic peri-infarct region in late-presentation STEMI. Randomized trials are required to assess the clinical impact of improving salvaged myocardium and the peri-infarct region with PEP.

Comparison of plaque sealing with paclitaxel-eluting stents versus medical therapy for the treatment of moderate nonsignificant saphenous vein graft lesions: the moderate vein graft lesion stenting with the taxus stent and intravascular ultrasound (VELETI) pilot trial.

BACKGROUND: The presence of moderate saphenous vein graft (SVG) lesions is a major predictor of cardiac events late after coronary artery bypass grafting. We determined the effects of sealing moderate nonsignificant SVG lesions with paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES) on the prevention of SVG atherosclerosis progression. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with at least 1 moderate SVG lesion (30% to 60% diameter stenosis) were randomized either to stenting the moderate SVG lesion with a PES (n=30, PES group) or to medical treatment alone (n=27, medical treatment group). Patients had an angiographic and intravascular ultrasound evaluation of the SVG at baseline and at 12-month follow-up. The primary end points were (1) the ultrasound SVG minimal lumen area at follow-up and (2) the changes in ultrasound atheroma volume in an angiographically nondiseased SVG segment. Mean time from coronary artery bypass grafting was 12+/-6 years, and mean low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was 73+/-31 mg/dL. A total of 70 moderate SVG lesions (39+/-7% diameter stenosis) were evaluated. Significant disease progression occurred in the medical treatment group at the level of the moderate SVG lesion (decrease in minimal lumen area from 6.3+/-3.0 to 5.6+/-3.1 mm(2); P<0.001), leading to a severe flow-limiting lesion or SVG occlusion in 22% of the patients compared with none in the PES group (P=0.014). In the PES group, mean minimal lumen area increased (P<0.001) from 6.1+/-2.2 to 8.6+/-2.9 mm(2) at follow-up (P=0.001 compared with the medical treatment group at 12 months). There were no cases of restenosis or stent thrombosis. No significant atherosclerosis progression occurred at the nonstented SVG segments. At 12-month follow-up, the cumulative incidence of major adverse cardiac events related to the target SVG was 19% in the medical treatment group versus 3% in the PES group (P=0.091). CONCLUSIONS: Stenting moderate nonsignificant lesions in old SVGs with PES was associated with a lower rate of SVG disease progression and a trend toward a lower incidence of major adverse cardiac events at 1-year follow-up compared with medical treatment alone, despite very low low-density lipoprotein cholesterol values. This pilot study supports further investigation into the role of plaque sealing in SVGs. Clinical Trial Registration- URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT002289835.