Sharing primary percutaneous coronary intervention care: first experiences with South Limburg ST-elevation myocardial infarction network.

BACKGROUND: In the region of South Limburg, the Netherlands, a shared ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) networking system (SLIM network) was implemented. During out-of-office hours, two percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) centres-Maastricht University Medical Centre and Zuyderland Medical Centre-are supported by the same interventional cardiologist. The aim of this study was to analyse performance indicators within this network and to compare them with contemporary European Society of Cardiology guidelines. METHODS: Key time indicators for an all-comer STEMI population were registered by the emergency medical service and the PCI centres. The time measurements showed a non-Gaussian distribution; they are presented as median with 25th and 75th percentiles. RESULTS: Between 1 February 2018 and 31 March 2019, a total of 570 STEMI patients were admitted to the participating centres. The total system delay (from emergency call to needle time) was 65 min (53-77), with a prehospital system delay of 40 min (34-47) and a door-to-needle time of 22 min (15-34). Compared with in-office hours, out-of-office hours significantly lengthened system delays (55 (47-66) vs 70 min (62-81), p < 0.001), emergency medical service transport times (29 (24-34) vs 35 min (29-40), p < 0.001) and door-to-needle times (17 (14-26) vs 26 min (18-37), p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: With its effective patient pathway management, the SLIM network was able to meet the quality criteria set by contemporary European revascularisation guidelines.

Design and rationale of ischaemia-driven complete revascularisation versus usual care in patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction and multivessel coronary disease: the South Limburg Myocardial Infarction (SLIM) trial.

AIMS: To compare ischaemia-driven complete coronary revascularisation by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with usual care in patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (non-STEMI) and multivessel disease (MVD). METHODS: The South Limburg Myocardial Infarction (SLIM) trial (NCT03562572) is an investigator-initiated, prospective, multicentre, randomised controlled trial that compares fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided complete revascularisation during the index procedure with usual care in non-STEMI patients with MVD. A total of 414 patients will be randomised in a 1:1 fashion. The primary endpoint is the composite of all-cause mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and any revascularisation and stroke (MACCE) at 12 months. The secondary endpoints are: MACCE at 24 and 36 months, and the composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, any revascularisation, stroke, major bleeding and left ventricular ejection fraction below 45% at 12, 24 and 36 months. Furthermore, quality of life will be assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Short Form (36) Health Survey (SF-36) at 1 and 12 months of follow-up. CONCLUSION: The SLIM trial aims to provide evidence whether FFR-guided complete revascularisation by PCI is superior to usual care with respect to clinical outcomes (major adverse cardiovascular events) in non-STEMI patients with MVD.

Correction to: Extreme ST-segment elevations in seemingly no significant angiographic coronary artery abnormalities: a case report.

Following publication.

Multidisciplinary decision-making in mitral valve disease: the mitral valve heart team.

BACKGROUND: Although decision-making using the heart-team approach is apparently intuitive and has a class I recommendation in most recent guidelines, supportive data is still lacking. The current study aims to demonstrate the individualised clinical pathway for mitral valve disease patients and to evaluate the outcome of all patients referred to the dedicated mitral valve heart team. METHODS: All patients who were evaluated for mitral valve pathology with or without concomitant cardiac disease between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2016 were prospectively followed and included. Patients were evaluated, and a treatment strategy was determined by the dedicated mitral valve heart team. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-eight patients were included; 67 patients were treated surgically (isolated and concomitant surgery), 20 by transcatheter interventions and 71 conservatively. Surgically treated patients had a higher 30-day mortality rate (4.4%), which decreased when specified to a dedicated surgeon (1.7%) and in primary, elective cases (0%). This was also observed for major adverse events within 30 days. Residual mitral regurgitation >grade 2 was more frequent in the catheter-based intervention group (23.5%) compared to the surgical group (4.8%). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the implementation of a multidisciplinary heart team for mitral valve disease is a valuable approach for the selection of patients for different treatment modalities. Our research group will focus on a future comparative study using historical cohorts to prove the potential superiority of the dedicated multidisciplinary heart-team approach.

Extreme ST-segment elevations in seemingly no significant angiographic coronary artery abnormalities: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive coronary artery disease is found in approximately 97% of patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction and 92% of patients with non ST-elevation myocardial infarction (Bainey KR, Welsh RC, Alemayehu W, Westerhout CM, Traboulsi D, Anderson T, et al. Int J Cardiol 264: 12-17, 2018). Recent studies showed that myocardial infarction without obstructive coronary atherosclerosis (MINOCA) is also associated with a long-term risk of adverse events (Bainey KR, Welsh RC, Alemayehu W, Westerhout CM, Traboulsi D, Anderson T, et al. Int J Cardiol 264: 12-17, 2018).. The following case illustrates that MINOCA may also be associated with short term adverse events (depending on the underlying mechanism). CASE PRESENTATION: A 49-year old Caucasian male with no significant medical history was referred to our cardiac emergency department with acute chest pain. The ambulance ECG showed extreme ST-segment elevation anterolateral ('tombstone sign'), which had resolved completely at arrival in the hospital. Coronary angiography showed no obstructive coronary artery disease. Conservative (medical) therapy was started and patient was discharged. Two days later he presented with recurrent cardiac ischemia with ventricular fibrillation. Coronary angiography showed no changes compared with earlier presentation. During admission to the ICU his clinical condition gradually deteriorated, eventually leading to his death. Post-mortem studies showed no significant atherosclerotic lesions. Massive myocardial infarction was found, probably caused by temporary occlusion of the left main coronary artery. CONCLUSIONS: Several pathophysiological mechanisms are recognized in MINOCA, of which vasospasm is the most probable one in this case. MINOCA is associated with increased over-all mortality and risk of ventricular arrhythmias. Therefore, additional testing should be considered when there is no explanation for the mismatch between ST-elevations (STEMI) and (no significant) coronary abnormalities.

Contribution of real-time PCR to Plasmodium species identification and to clinical decisions: a nationwide study in a non-endemic setting.

Treatment choice for patients with malaria in Israeli hospitals is based on microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). Here, we demonstrate the cumulative value of real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in optimizing the treatment of malaria. Between January 2009 and December 2015, 451 samples from 357 patients were tested in our laboratory using a real-time PCR assay. Hospital laboratory results (without real-time PCR) were compared to those obtained in our laboratory. A total of 307 patients had a malaria-positive laboratory finding in the hospital. Out of those, 288 were confirmed positive and 19 negative using real-time PCR. Two negative hospital results were found to be positive by real-time PCR. More specifically, of 153 cases positive for Plasmodium falciparum by real-time PCR, only 138 (90%) had been correctly identified at the hospitals. Similarly, 66 (67%) of 99 cases positive for P. vivax, 2 (11%) of 18 cases positive for P. ovale, and 3 (30%) of 10 cases positive for P. malariae had been correctly identified. Of 10 cases of mixed infection, only one had been identified as such at the hospital. Thus, real-time PCR was required for correct identification in 81 (28%) out of 290 positive cases. In 52 (18%) of those, there was an erroneous categorization of relapsing versus non-relapsing parasites. In a nationwide study, we found that the use of real-time PCR is definitely beneficial and may change the decision regarding the choice of treatment.

Cardiac shockwave therapy in patients with chronic refractory angina pectoris.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac shockwave therapy (CSWT) might improve symptoms and decrease ischaemia burden by stimulating collateral growth in chronic ischaemic myocardium. This prospective study was performed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of CSWT. METHODS: We included 33 patients (mean age 70 ± 7 years, mean left ventricular ejection fraction 55 ± 12 %) with end-stage coronary artery disease, chronic angina pectoris and reversible ischaemia on myocardial scintigraphy. CSWT was applied to the ischaemic zones (3-7 spots/session, 100 impulses/spot, 0.09 mJ/mm(2)) in an echocardiography-guided and ECG-triggered fashion. The protocol included a total of 9 treatment sessions (3 treatment sessions within 1 week at baseline, and after 1 and 2 months). Clinical assessment was performed using exercise testing, angina score (CCS class), nitrate use, myocardial scintigraphy, and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) 1 and 4 months after the last treatment session. RESULTS: One and 4 months after CSWT, sublingual nitrate use decreased from 10/week to 2/week (p < 0.01) and the angina symptoms diminished from CCS class III to CCS class II (p < 0.01). This clinical improvement was accompanied by an improved myocardial uptake on stress myocardial scintigraphy (54.2 ± 7.7 % to 56.4 ± 9.4 %, p = 0.016) and by increased exercise tolerance at 4-month follow-up (from 7.4 ± 2.8 to 8.8 ± 3.6 min p = 0.015). No clinically relevant side effects were observed. CONCLUSION: CSWT improved symptoms and reduced ischaemia burden in patients with end-stage coronary artery disease without relevant side effects. The study provides a solid basis for a randomised multicentre trial to establish CSWT as a new treatment option in end-stage coronary artery disease.

Multivessel revascularisation versus infarct-related artery only revascularisation during the index primary PCI in STEMI patients with multivessel disease: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: There are controversial data regarding infarct-related artery only (IRA-PCI) revascularisation versus multivessel revascularisation (MV-PCI) in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients with multivessel disease undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We performed a meta-analysis comparing outcome in same stage MV-PCI versus IRA-PCI in STEMI patients with multivessel disease. METHODS: Systematic searches of studies comparing MV-PCI with IRA-PCI in the MEDLINE and the Cochrane Database of systematic reviews were conducted. A meta-analysis was performed of all available studies. Primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Secondary endpoints were re-infarction, revascularisation, bleeding and major adverse cardiac events (MACE). RESULTS: A total of 15 studies were identified with a total number of 35,975 patients. Mortality rate was significantly higher in the MV-PCI group compared with the IRA-PCI group, odds ratio (OR): 1.64 (1.46-1.85). Both the incidence of re-infarction and re-PCI were significantly lower in the MV-PCI group compared with the IRA-PCI group: OR 0.54 (0.34-0.88) and OR 0.67 (0.48-0.93), respectively. Bleeding complications occurred more often in the MV-PCI group as compared with the IRA-PCI group: OR 1.24 (1.08-1.42). Rates of MACE were comparable between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: MV-PCI during the index of primary PCI in STEMI patients is associated with a higher mortality rate, a higher risk of bleeding complications, but lower risk of re-intervention and re-infarction and comparable rates of MACE.

Venous graft perforation leading to cardiac tamponade.

We describe a cardiac tamponade after venous graft perforation due to stent inflation. The complications and therapeutic options are discussed.

An association between Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease and Guillain-Barré syndrome.

PURPOSE: To describe an association between Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease and Guillain-Barré syndrome. METHODS: Case series, describing three patients. RESULTS: In two patients, the disorders had their onsets within 2 weeks of each other; in the third patient, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease occurred after 3 months, as Guillain-Barré syndrome resolved. All three patients had bilateral panuveitis typical of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease. Each also developed well-accepted manifestations of Guillain-Barré syndrome, including paresis of the lower extremities (all patients), paresis of the upper extremities (two patients), paresis of cranial nerves (two patients), areflexia (all patients), and abnormal electromyography findings (two patients). CONCLUSIONS: Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease may follow or occur simultaneously with Guillain-Barré syndrome. The fact that these two autoimmune disorders occur together in some patients suggest that they may share common disease mechanisms.

Ten-year experience with early angioplasty in 759 patients with acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVES: How effective and safe is rescue percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty [PTCA] compared with primary PTCA, and is it cost effective? BACKGROUND: In acute myocardial infarction (AMI), primary PTCA has been shown to be beneficial in terms of clinical outcome. In contrast, the value of rescue PTCA has not been established. METHODS: In a retrospective analysis, we compared the angiographic and clinical outcomes of 317 consecutive patients who had rescue PTCA approximately 90 min after failed thrombolysis and 442 patients treated with primary PTCA. An estimation of interventional costs was compared with the strategies of primary and rescue PTCA or with the strategy of thrombolysis with rescue PTCA, when indicated. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics between primary and rescue PTCA were comparable for most variables. Treatment delay was longer for patients who had rescue PTCA: 240 min. versus 195 min. Coronary patency after PTCA was comparable: 90.2% for rescue PTCA and 91.4% for primary PTCA (p = 0.67, power 71.9%). In-hospital mortality rates were 4.7% and 6.6%, respectively (p = 0.37). Also, the other complications were fairly similar during the in-hospital phase and during one-year follow-up. Predictors of death were age, infarct size, localization of AMI, failed PTCA and left main stem occlusion. The estimated interventional costs during one-year follow-up were $7,377 for primary PTCA and $8,246 for rescue PTCA: difference $869 (11.7%). CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective analysis of 759 patients with AMI, rescue angioplasty early after failed thrombolysis seems to be as effective and safe as primary PTCA. In the present evaluation, interventional costs of primary PTCA are less than those of rescue PTCA (p = 0.0001).

Value of the electrocardiogram in localizing the occlusion site in the left anterior descending coronary artery in acute anterior myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVES: The study assessed the value of the electrocardiogram (ECG) as predictor of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) occlusion site in relation to the first septal perforator (S1) and/or the first diagonal branch (D1) in patients with acute anterior myocardial infarction (AMI). BACKGROUND: In anterior AMI, determination of the exact site of LAD occlusion is important because the more proximal the occlusion the less favorable the prognosis. METHODS: One hundred patients with a first anterior AMI were included. The ECG showing the most pronounced ST-segment deviation before initiation of reperfusion therapy was evaluated and correlated with the exact LAD occlusion site as determined by coronary angiography. RESULTS: ST-elevation in lead aVR (ST elevation(aVR)), complete right bundle branch block, ST-depression in lead V5 (ST depression(V5)) and ST elevation(V1) > 2.5 mm strongly predicted LAD occlusion proximal to S1, whereas abnormal Q-waves in V4-6 were associated with occlusion distal to S1 (p = 0.000, p = 0.004, p = 0.009, p = 0.011 and p = 0.031 to 0.005, respectively). Abnormal Q-wave in lead aVL was associated with occlusion proximal to D1, whereas ST depression(aVL) was suggestive of occlusion distal to D1 (p = 0.002 and p = 0.022, respectively). For both the S1 and D1, inferior ST depression > or = 1.0 mm strongly predicted proximal LAD occlusion, whereas absence of inferior ST depression predicted distal occlusion (p < or = 0.002 and p < or = 0.020, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In anterior AMI, the ECG is useful to predict the LAD occlusion site in relation to its major side branches.

Effects of acute volume changes on P wave characteristics: correlation with echocardiographic findings in healthy men.

INTRODUCTION: This study was performed to determine the effect on the P wave of different hemodynamic loads to the heart. METHODS AND RESULTS: Signal-averaged P wave ECG and atrial echocardiographic measurements were obtained from eight healthy male volunteers at rest and after infusion of 1000 mL of plasma expander (Haemaccel) over 15 minutes. These measurements were repeated 24 hours later at rest and after 0.8 mg of nitroglycerin given sublingually. The effect of positional changes was also studied. At rest the amplitude of the P wave and the time of the maximal the P wave amplitude were reproducible. Sitting increased heart rate variability; no significant changes of the P wave were found. Volume overload decreased the heart rate and increased the atrial size on echocardiography with changes in lead V1 (earlier appearance of the first positive deflection). Nitroglycerin administration increased heart rate and decreased the echocardiographic size of the atria, the latter not reaching statistical significance. Administration of nitroglycerin induced P wave amplitude rise in leads I and II. The maximal power in fast Fourier transformation for calculated orthogonal leads X and Y increased as well. CONCLUSIONS: Amplitude behavior in leads I, II, and V1 appears to correlate with load conditions, particularly with volume redistribution. In healthy men subtle changes in the P wave morphology after volume changes can be detected by the signal-averaged ECG. Application of these findings in patients following acute changes in circulation needs further investigation.