Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in a 52-year-old patient with porcelain aorta and calcified coronaries: A case report.

Porcelain aorta, characterized by extensive calcification of the aortic wall is often associated with coronary calcification. It can pose an increased risk of thromboembolic complications during interventional and surgical procedures. We present a case of a 52-year-old female, a chronic smoker with dyslipidemia with complaints of exertional chest pain for past 6 months. She was diagnosed as a case of non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) with multivessel CAD, with porcelain aorta and calcified coronaries based on abnormal ECG, elevated troponin and coronary angiography findings. Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was the treatment modality chosen considering the risk of thromboembolism with aortic manipulation during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Repeat ECG after the procedure showed resolution of ST segment depression. Her hospital stay was uneventful. She was discharged on dual antiplatelet therapy, statin and metoprolol. One-week follow-up revealed normal ECG and blood reports, with further outpatient department visits scheduled every 3 months. Porcelain aorta and coronary calcification is a challenging case for cardiologists. PTCA if done meticulously could be preferable to coronary-artery by-pass grafting (CABG) in such patients. Despite the risks like aortic rupture and thromboembolic complications, PTCA in a case of multivessel CAD with porcelain aorta and calcified coronaries could be a life-saving procedure.

Management of Guidewire Entrapment and Fracture During Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: When All Bailout Techniques Fail!

A 55-year-old man presented with chest pain and was diagnosed with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography revealed a 95% eccentric lesion in the mid-right coronary artery. After 3 intracoronary stents were placed, the guidewire became entrapped in 1 of the stents; multiple attempts at retrieval were unsuccessful. Ultimately, the guidewire fractured, and a coronary artery bypass graft surgery was performed to remove the guidewire fragments. This report reviews the procedural steps for wire retrieval that are critical for operators to avoid coronary artery bypass surgery.

The effectiveness of a motivational text-messaging program for smoking cessation after coronary angioplasty: a quasi-experimental study.

OBJECTIVE: Smoking is an important risk factor of coronary artery stenosis after angioplasty. Therefore, this investigation aimed to determine the effectiveness of a motivational text-messaging program for smoking cessation after coronary angioplasty. This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 100 patients after angioplasty. The patients were divided randomly into two intervention and control groups. The intervention group received 32 text messages about smoking cessation for 2 months. The control group received only routine training. The primary and secondary outcomes were success and self-efficacy in quitting smoking cigarettes, respectively. Both groups filled out the related questionnaires before and after the intervention. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 22 and Chi-square tests, independent t-test, and paired t-test. P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Success in quitting cigarette smoking was significantly higher in the intervention group (n = 29, 61.7%) compared to the control group (n = 2, 4.3%) (p < 0.001). Moreover, after the intervention, the mean score of self-efficacy in the intervention group (11.01 ± 44.75) was significantly higher than the control group (6.51 ± 3.11) and also higher than before the intervention (5.51 ± 2.44) (P˂0.001). The motivational text-messaging program can improve self-efficacy and success in smoking cessation in patients after coronary angioplasty.

Association between serum high-density lipoprotein subtype 3 cholesterol levels and coronary artery diseases severity and in-stent restenosis / 中华检验医学杂志

Objective:To explore the association between serum high density lipoprotein subtype 3 cholesterol (HDL3-C) levels and the severity and in-stent restenosis of patients with coronary artery disease.Methods:124 patients with coronary artery diseases and 62 healthy controls were included in this clinical case-control retrospective study. Participants were hospitalized from November 2020 to November 2021 at Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University were enrolled. Patients with coronary artery disease were as follows: 28 patients with acute coronary syndrome and 96 patients with stable coronary heart disease. Serum HDL3-C levels as well as total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were determined. According to the coronary artery angiography results of all patients at the time of admission, Gensini scores were calculated and patients were divided into in-stent restenosis group ( n=22), no in-stent stenosis group ( n=23) and non-stent implantation group ( n=79). The correlation between HDL3-C levels and other parameters was analyzed by Pearson or Spearman correlation analyses. Multivariate Logistic regression analyses were used to determine the impact of HDL3-C on the in-stent restenosis of coronary artery diseases. Results:Compared with controls, serum levels of HDL3-C and HDL-C were significantly decreased in patients with coronary artery diseases (all P<0.05). There was a significantly negative correlation between HDL3-C levels and Gensini scores ( r=-0.201, P=0.043). Among patients with coronary artery disease, serum levels of HDL3C, TC and TG in the in-stent restenosis group were significantly lower than in no in-stent stenosis group as well as than in the non-stent implantation group (all P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analyses showed that after adjusting for age, sex, lipid-lowering drugs and TC, TG, LDLC parameters, HDL3-C ( OR=0.885, 95% CI 0.791-0.990, P=0.033) and HDL-C ( OR=0.018, 95% CI 0.001-0.426, P=0.013) levels were both independently associated with the occurrence of coronary artery disease; only HDL3-C levels (no in-stent stenosis group as the reference: OR=0.833, 95% CI 0.698-0.994, P=0.042; non-stent implantation group as the reference: OR=0.812, 95% CI 0.685-0.963, P=0.017) were independently associated with the presence of in-stent restenosis ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Serum HDL3-C levels are decreased in patients with coronary artery disease, especially in patients with in-stent restenosis. HDL3-C levels are associated with the severity of coronary artery lesions and the presence of in-stent restenosis of coronary arteries.

Acute Myocardial Infarction and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: What does the Epidemiological Data of the Last Years Indicate?

Abstract Background: ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a pathological process that involves cardiac muscle tissue death. Intravenous thrombolysis with fibrinolytics or primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), an invasive technique, can be performed for tissue revascularization. PCI has been preferred as compared to non-invasive methods, although few studies have described its use in Brazil. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to analyze data on the use of primary PCI and investigate the relevance of hospitalizations for the treatment of STEMI in the country. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional analysis of data from the Brazilian Unified Health system (SUS) Department of Informatics (DATASUS) from 2010 to 2019 was conducted. Results: Hospitalizations for STEMI represented 0.6% of all hospital admissions in Brazil in the analyzed period, 0.9% of hospital costs, and 2.1% of deaths. The number of hospitalizations due to STEMI was 659,811, and 82,793 for PCIs. Length of hospital stay was 36.0% shorter and mortality rate was 53.3% lower in PCI. The mean cost of PCI was 3.5-fold higher than for treatment of STEMI. Conclusions: Data on hospitalizations for STEMI treatment in Brazil revealed high hospitalization and mortality rates, elevated costs, and long hospital stay. Although primary PCI is a more expensive and less used technique than other methods, it can reduce the length of hospital stay and mortality in the treatment of STEMI.

Síndrome de Wellens: o infarto agudo do miocárdio iminente / Wellens Syndrome: impending acute myocardial infarction

A síndrome de Wellens foi descrita em 1982 por Zwaan, Bär e Wellens. No eletrocardiograma, observam-se alterações morfológicas da onda T nas derivações precordiais, sugerindo estenose proximal grave da artéria coronária descendente anterior que representa iminente risco de infarto agudo do miocárdio e/ou morte súbita, com discreta ou nenhuma alteração da troponina sérica. Seu reconhecimento antecipado e a abordagem com reperfusão miocárdica precoce evitam desfechos desfavoráveis. A intervenção coronária percutânea e a revascularização miocárdica cirúrgica são as estratégias mais utilizadas para tratamento. Os autores descrevem dois casos de síndrome de Wellens tipos A e B tratados por diferentes estratégias de reperfusão.

Wellens syndrome was described by Zwaan, Bär and Wellens, in 1982. On the electrocardiogram, T wave morphological alterations are observed in precordial leads, suggesting severe proximal stenosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery and an imminent risk of acute myocardial infarction and/or sudden death, with slight or no alteration in serum troponin. Its early recognition and management with early myocardial reperfusion avoid unfavorable outcomes. Percutaneous coronary intervention and surgical myocardial revascularization are the most used strategies for treatment. The authors describe two cases of types A and B Wellens syndrome treated with different reperfusion strategies.

Effect of Tongxinluo capsule on improvement of cardiac function and expression of myocardial enzyme spectrum in patients with coronary heart disease after percutaneous coronary intervention / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective:To investigate the effects of Tongxinluo capsule on the improvement of cardiac function and the expression of myocardial enzyme spectrum in patients with coronary heart disease after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Methods:One hundred patients with coronary heart disease after PCI who received treatment in Hebei Xianghe County People′s Hospitalfrom April 2018 to April 2020 were enrolled and randomly divided into the observation group and the control group. The control group was given conventional treatment, while the observation group was treated with Tongxinluo capsule on the basis of the control group. Patients in both groups were treated for 3 months. The normal clinical remission after treatment was observed in the two groups. The improvement of cardiac function index left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and myocardial enzyme index aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase isoenzyme - MB (CK - MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), troponin T (TnT) were compared between the two groups before and after the treatment.Results:After treated for 3 months, the total effective rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group: 92.0%(46/50) vs. 76.0%(38/50), the difference was statistically significant ( χ2 = 4.76, P<0.05). After treated for 3 months, the levels of LVEDV and LVESV in two groups were decreased, and the level of LVEF in two groups was increased, and the levels of LVEDV and LVESV in the observation group were lower than those in the control group: (153.39 ± 8.35) ml/m 2 vs. (155.57 ± 9.32) ml/m 2, (103.49 ± 9.25) ml/m 2 vs. (109.65 ± 10.46) ml/m 2; the levels of LVEF in the observation group was higher than that in the control group: (58.14 ± 7.41)% vs. (54.59 ± 6.92)%, the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). After treated for 3 months, the levels of AST, CK, CK-MB, LDH, TnT in two groups were decreased, and the levels of above index in the observation group were lower than those in the control group: (38.14 ± 7.28) U/L vs. (45.04 ± 8.12) U/L, (637.15 ± 75.25) U/L vs. (756.24 ± 85.24) U/L, (553.28 ± 53.14) U/L vs. (632.17 ± 62.81) U/L, (162.43 ± 15.41) U/L vs. (181.74 ± 19.25) U/L, (0.32 ± 0.15) μg/L vs. (0.39 ± 0.11) μg/L, the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The application of Tongxinluo capsule in patients with coronary heart disease after PCI can effectively alleviate clinical symptoms, improve cardiac function, and regulate the enzyme activity of the body.

Perfil Aterosclerótico da Artéria Carótida como Preditor de Risco para Reestenose após Implante de Stent Coronário / Carotid Artery Atherosclerotic Profile as Risk Predictor for Restenosis After Coronary Stenting

Resumo Fundamento: A incidência de reestenose da artéria coronária após o implante de um stent não farmacológico é mais baixa que na angioplastia com balão; no entanto, ainda apresenta altas taxas. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar novos indicadores de risco para reestenose de stent usando ultrassonografia das carótidas que, em conjunto com indicadores já existentes, ajudariam na escolha do stent. Métodos: Realizamos um estudo prospectivo transversal incluindo 121 pacientes consecutivos com doença arterial coronariana que foram submetidos à intervenção coronária percutânea com angiografia nos 12 meses anteriores. Após os casos de reestenose de stent serem identificados, os pacientes foram submetidos à ultrassonografia de carótidas para avaliar a espessura da camada íntima média e placas ateroscleróticas. Os dados foram analisados por regressão múltipla de Cox. O nível de significância foi p<0,05. Resultados: A idade mediana dos pacientes foi de 60 anos (1º quartil = 55, 3º quartil = 68), e 64,5% dos pacientes eram do sexo masculino. A angiografia coronária mostrou que 57 pacientes (47,1%) apresentaram reestenose de stent. Cinquenta e cinco pacientes (45,5%) apresentaram placas ateroscleróticas ecolucentes nas artérias carótidas e 54,5% apresentaram placas ecogênicas ou nenhuma placa. Dos pacientes que apresentaram placas ecolucentes, 90,9% apresentaram reestenose do stent coronário, e daqueles com placas ecogênicas ou nenhuma placa, 10,6% apresentaram reestenose de stent. A presença de placas ecolucentes nas artérias carótidas aumentou o risco de reestenose de stent coronário em 8,21 vezes (RR=8,21;IC95%: 3,58-18,82; p<0,001). Conclusões: A presença de placas ateroscleróticas ecolucentes na artéria carótida constitui um preditor de risco de reestenose de stent coronário e deve ser considerada na escolha do tipo de stenta ser usado na angioplastia coronária.

Abstract Background: The incidence of restenosis of the coronary artery after a bare-metal stent implant has been lower than in simple balloon angioplasty; however, it still shows relatively high rates. Objective: The aim of this study was to find new risk indicators for in-stent restenosis using carotid ultrasonography, that, in addition to the already existing indicators, would help in decision-making for stent selection. Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional prospective study including 121 consecutive patients with chronic coronary artery disease who had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention with repeat angiography in the previous 12 months. After all cases of in-stent restenosis were identified, patients underwent carotid ultrasonography to evaluate carotid intima-media thickness and atherosclerosis plaques. The data were analyzed by Cox multiple regression. The significance level was set a p<0.05. Results: Median age of patients was 60 years (1st quartile = 55, 3rd quartile = 68), and 64.5% of patients were male. Coronary angiography showed that 57 patients (47.1%) presented in-stent restenosis. Fifty-five patients (45.5%) had echolucent atherosclerotic plaques in carotid arteries and 54.5% had echogenic plaques or no plaques. Of patients with who had echolucent plaques, 90.9% presented coronary in-stent restenosis. Of those who had echogenic plaques or no plaques, 10.6% presented in-stent restenosis. The presence of echolucent plaques in carotid arteries increased the risk of coronary in-stent restenosis by 8.21 times (RR=8.21; 95%CI: 3.58-18.82; p<0.001). Conclusions: The presence of echolucent atherosclerotic plaques in carotid artery constitutes a risk predictor of coronary instent restenosis and should be considered in the selection of the type of stent to be used in coronary angioplasty.

Door-to-balloon Time in Cardiovascular Emergency Care in a Hospital of Northern Brazil

Abstract Background The use of an adequate door-to-balloon time (≤ 90 minutes) is crucial in improving the quality of care provided to patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Objective To determine the door-to-balloon time in the management of STEMI patients in a cardiovascular emergency department in a hospital of northern Brazil. Methods This was a cross-sectional study based on review of medical records. A total of 109 patients with STEMI admitted to the emergency department of a referral cardiology hospital in Pará State, Brazil, between May 2017 and December 2017. Correlations of the door-to-balloon time with length of hospital stay and mortality rate were assessed, as well as whether the time components of the door-to-balloon time affected the delay in performing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Quantitative variables were analyzed by Spearman correlation and the G test was used for categorical variables. A p<0.05 was set as statistically significant. Results Median door-to-balloon time was 104 minutes. No significant correlation was found between door-to-balloon time and length of hospital stay or deaths, but significant correlations were found between door-to-balloon time and door-to-ECG time (p<0.001) and ECG-to-activation (of an interventional cardiologist) time (p<0.001). Conclusion The door-to-balloon time was longer the recommended and was not correlated with the length of hospital stay or in-hospital mortality. Door-to-ECG time and ECG-to-activation time contributed to the delay in performing the primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Int J Cardiovasc Sci. 2020; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0

Prediction of adverse cardiovascular events in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction after percutaneous coronary intervention / 中国基层医药

Objective:To investigate the application value of combined detection of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) and thromboxane B 2 (TXB 2) in the prediction of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Methods:The clinical data of 136 patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction who received treatment in Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, China between February 2018 and September 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. These patients were assigned to MACE group ( n = 33) and no MACE group ( n = 103) according to whether MACE occurred. The basic data was compared between the two groups. Serum levels of HIF-1α, NT-proBNP and TXB 2 prior to PCI were analyzed. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to investigate the application value of combined detection of serum HIF-1α, NT-proBNP and TXB 2 levels in the prediction of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction after PCI. Results:At 6 months after PCI, MACE occurred in 33 out of 136 patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction, with the incidence of 24.26%. There were no significant differences in age, sex and accompanied diseases between MACE and no MACE groups (all P > 0.05). Serum HIF-1α level in the MACE group was significantly lower than that in the no MACE group [(31.54 ± 5.26) ng/L vs. (37.18 ± 6.94) ng/L, t = 4.286, P < 0.05]. Serum levels of NT-proBNP and TXB 2 in the MACE group were (1 246.83 ± 243.71) μg/L and (125.13 ± 20.16) ng/L, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the no MACE group [(876.92 ± 173.04) μg/L, (95.73 ± 18.24) ng/L, t = 9.617, 7.835, both P < 0.05]. ROC curve analysis showed that the optimal cutoff values of serum HIF-1α, NT-proBNP and TXB 2 levels in the prediction of MACE occurrence in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction after PCI were 32.67 ng/L, 1 018.27 μg/L and 112.19 ng/L, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of combined detection of serum HIF-1α, NT-proBNP and TXB 2 levels in the prediction of MACE occurrence in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction after PCI were 69.70% (23/33) and 98.06% (101/103), respectively. The specificity of the combined detection of serum HIF-1α, NT-proBNP and TXB 2 levels was higher than that of detection of serum HIF-1α, NT-proBNP or TXB 2 level alone. The area under the curve (AUC) plotted regarding the prediction of MACE occurrence in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction after PCI by combined detection of serum HIF-1α, NT-proBNP and TXB 2 levels was 0.901, which was significantly higher than the AUC obtained for detection of serum HIF-1α, NT-proBNP or TXB2 level alone ( Z = 2.007, 1.991 and 2.217, all P < 0.05). Conclusion:Combined detection of serum HIF-1α, NT-proBNP and TXB 2 levels exhibits a higher value in the prediction of MACE occurrence in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction after PCI than detection of serum HIF-1α, NT-proBNP or TXB 2 level alone.

SCA con elevación del ST: impacto del tiempo al diagnóstico en el tiempo puerta-balón en el mundo real. Datos del registro ARGEN-IAM-ST / ST-Segment Elevation ACS: Impact of Time to Diagnosis on Door-To-Balloon Time in the Real World. Data from the ARGEN-IAM-ST Registry

RESUMEN • Introducción: El tiempo trascurrido desde el inicio de los síntomas de infarto hasta el diagnóstico (TAD) puede influir en lograr un tiempo puerta-balón (TPB) <90 min. Material y métodos: Análisis retrospectivo que incluyó 1518 pacientes ingresados en forma prospectiva y consecutiva al registro ARGEN-IAM-ST. El 37,8% de ellos fue tratado con un TPB <90 min y el TAD (mediana) fue de 120 min (RIC 60-266). Se dividió a la población de acuerdo al TAD en dos grupos: menor de 120 min y mayor o igual que 120 min. Un TPB <90 min se logró más frecuentemente en el primer grupo (TAD <120 min): 44%, vs. 32,2% en el segundo grupo (p <0,001). Resutados: En el 56% de los pacientes con ATC in situ y TAD <120 min se logró un TPB <90 min, vs. en el 37,1% de quienes tuvieron un TAD >120 min (p <0,001). En pacientes derivados, no hubo diferencias en TPB <90 min de acuerdo al TAD: 27,5% vs. 25,7 (p: 0,3). En pacientes ingresados en horario laborable, el TPB <90 min se logró con TAD <120 min en un 49,8% vs. 36,3% con TAD >120 min (p: 0,003); la frecuencia siguió un patrón similar en los pacientes ingresados en horarios no laborables: 41,9% vs. 30,4%, respectivamente (p <0,001). Los predictores independientes de lograr un TPB <90 min en el análisis multivariado fueron la edad <75 años: OR 1,57 (1,1-2,25; p: 0,01), ATC en horario laborable: OR 1,32 (1,04-1,67; p: 0,002), ATC in situ: OR 2,4 (1,9-3,0; p <0,001), tener un ECG prehospitalario: OR 2,22 (1,73-2,86; p <0,001) y un TAD <120 min: OR 1,53 (1,23-1,9; p <0,001). Conclusiones: En los pacientes con un TAD <120 minutos se logra más frecuentemente un TPB <90 min, especialmente en los tratados in situ y en horario laborable. En los pacientes derivados, solo 1 de cada 3 logra un TPB <90 min y no hay relación con el TAD.

ABSTRACT • Background: Time elapsed from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis (TTD) can influence in achieving a door-to-balloon time <90 min (DBT <90 min). Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 1,518 patients prospectively and consecutively included in the ARGEN-AMI-ST registry. In 37.8% of cases. patients were treated with DBT <90 min and a median TTD of 120 min (IQR 60-266). The population was divided according to TTD above or below 120 min. A DBT <90 min was achieved more frequently in those with TTD <120 min: 44% vs. 32.2% (p <0.001) respectively. Results: In patients with in situ percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and TTD <120 min, DBT <90 min was achieved in 56% vs. 37.1% of cases with TTD >120 min (p <0.001). In referred patients, there were no differences in DBT <90 min according to TTD: 27.5% vs. 25.7% (p: 0.3). In patients admitted during working hours, DBT <90 min was achieved with TTD <120 min in 49.8% vs. 36.3% with TTD >120 min (p: 0.003), as well as in patients admitted during non-working hours: 41.9% vs. 30.4% (p <0.001). The independent predictors of achieving a DBT <90 min in the multivariate analysis were age <75 years: OR 1.57 (1.1-2.25; p: 0.01), PCI during working hours: OR 1.32 (1.04-1.67; p: 0.002), PCI in situ: OR 2.4 (1.9-3.0; p <0.001), having a pre-hospital ECG: OR 2.22 (1.73-2.86; p <0.001) and a TTD <120 min: OR 1.53 (1.23-1.9; p <0.001). Conclusions: In patients with TTD <120 minutes, a DBT <90 minutes is more frequently achieved, especially in those treated in situ and during working hours. In referred patients, only 1 in 3 achieves a DBT<90 min and there is no relationship with TTD.

[Efficacy comparison of primary percutaneous coronary intervention by drug-coated balloon angioplasty or drug-eluting stenting in acute myocardial infarction patients with de novo coronary lesions].

Objective: To compare the safety profile, angiographic and clinical outcomes between drug-coated balloon(DCB) only strategy versus drug eluting stent(DES) implantation in primary percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI) for acute myocardial infarction(AMI) patients. Methods: A total of 380 AMI patients who underwent primary PCI in Beijing Chaoyang Hospital from January 2016 to May 2019 were enrolled. They were allocated into DEB group(n=180) or DES group(n=200). The Primary endpoint was the major adverse cardiac events(MACE) in hospital and within 3 months after discharge, the composite event of cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction(MI), target vessel revascularization(TVR) and in stent thrombosis. The secondary endpoints included: (1)TIMI blood flow grade and myocardial perfusion grade (TMP grade) of infarct-related vessels before and after PCI. (2)The degree of ST segment resolution(STR) between half hour and two hours after PCI, and STR was represented by percentage of summed ST-segment reduction between baseline and post-PCI. Using the most significant lead of ST segment elevation, calculating the rate of decline in the ST segment after treatment; or the most significant lead of the ST segment depression, to calculate the rate of recovery in the ST segment after treatment. STR<50% was defined as incomplete STR. (3)The occurrence of coronary artery dissection during operation. (4)The peak value of myocardial enzymes. (5)The incidence of bleeding in hospital and within 3 months after discharge. The inverse probability weighting method based on propensity score (IPTW) was used to compare the effects of the two treatments on MACE occurrence in the logistic regression model. Results: There was no significant difference in sex, age, risk factors of coronary heart disease, type and site of AMI, interventional therapy data(P>0.05) between the two groups. The ratio of bifurcation lesions in DCB group was significantly higher than that in DES group, and the diameter of the DCB was smaller while the length was longer than that of DES (all P<0.05). One death occurred in each group during hospitalization. Compared with the DES group, the incidence of MI ï¼»2.8%(5/180) vs. 0.5% (1/200), P=0.10ï¼½ and TVR ï¼»2.8%(5/180) vs. 0.5%(1/200), P=0.10ï¼½ in the DCB group during hospitalization showed an increasing trend, and were mostly associated with delayed coronary dissection. The incidence of MACE was similar between the two groups (3.3%(6/180) and 1.0%(2/200), P=0.15) during hospitalization. There was no MACE occurred in the two groups within 3 months after discharge. There was no significant difference between the two groups in TIMI grade, TMP grade, incomplete STR rate and peak value of myocardial enzyme (all P>0.05). The incidence of coronary artery dissection was significantly higher in DCB group than in DES group (8.3%(15/180) and 3.0%(6/200), P=0.02), but most of them were type B or A dissection and did not need special treatment. There was no significant difference in bleeding event between the two groups(P=0.91). Logistic regression analysis showed that there was no difference in the risk of MACE during hospitalization between DES and DCB groups for AMI patients receiving PCI (compared with DCB, OR=0.35, 95%CI 0.08-1.43, P=0.13). Conclusions: The initial safety and efficacy profiles of DCB are similar with those of DES for the AMI patients during PCI. The study highlights that the incidence of coronary dissection (type A or B) is higher post DCB treatment than post DES, but it does not affect blood flow. However, the incidence of in-hospital MI due to delayed coronary dissection trends to be higher post DCB. So we should pay close attention to the risk of delayed coronary dissection after DCB in AMI patients with de novo lesion.

Robotic-Assisted Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Through Transradial Approach: Experience in 4 Patients with Complex Lesions.

Robotic-assisted percutaneous coronary intervention can reduce the exposure of interventional cardiologists to radiation and minimize the risk of occupational orthopedic injuries from wearing heavy protective aprons. The PRECISE (Percutaneous Robotically-Enhanced Coronary Intervention) study showed the efficacy and safety of robotic-assisted procedures for relatively low-risk lesions in single coronary arteries. Several reports have described robotic-assisted treatment of complex high-risk lesions, mostly through the transfemoral approach. We report 4 cases of patients in whom we used the transradial approach to treat complex lesions in the left anterior descending coronary artery with bifurcation balloon angioplasty reconstruction (2 cases), in the ostium of the first diagonal branch, and in the right coronary artery.

Triple-Guidewire Technique for Treating Stent Underexpansion in Severely Calcified Coronary Artery Lesions.

Stent underexpansion, a potential complication of percutaneous coronary intervention in severely calcified and stenotic coronary arteries, may result in in-stent thrombosis and restenosis. Different balloon-based and atheroablative techniques have been proposed to reduce the risk of these complications. We describe a simple triple-guidewire technique that we used to treat stent underexpansion in 2 elderly men.

[Hybrid coronary revascularization for the treatment of coronary artery disease].

Hybrid coronary revascularization (HCR) combines the respective strengths of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for selected patients with multivessel coronary artery disease. HCR includes the minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass of a left internal thoracic artery graft to the left anterior descending artery (LAD) with stenting of non-LAD lesions with PCI, in onestop or staged hybrid procedures.HCR can prove superiority to conventional CABG in clinical complications. Many available data suggests that HCR is feasible and safe in skilled hands. Further large-scale randomized controlled trials are in great need. HCR may become another more commonly used interventional strategy for certain patients with multivessel coronary artery disease.

[Narratives help disseminate medical technologies: the case of coronary interventions]. / Mechanistische Narrative als Mittel der Dissemination: das Beispiel koronarer Technologien.

Medical technologies are often disseminated and used although evidence demonstrating their effectiveness and safety is missing. Percutaneous intervention (PCI) in stable coronary artery disease (CAD) is an example. This raises the question of how these technologies get disseminated and on which basis they are accepted by clinicians, patients, and the wider public.Studies investigating the communication between clinicians and patients show that simple narratives play a decisive role here. In this paper I discuss how narratives contribute to the dissemination of medical technologies. Communication within the profession, which includes medical education, also relies on narratives to a large degree. They have the following characteristics in common: 1) extreme simplification, 2) reduction to biological processes, 3) deterministic logic, and 4) strong moral message. These narratives are always biased; narratives dealing with interventions paint an overoptimistic picture of their effectiveness and safety. Although they represent "modern" technologies, their logic and purpose are akin to archaic myths.Presumably education and persuasion cannot eschew narratives completely. But health professionals, patients and the public should be aware of the inevitable bias that comes with narratives and their potential for manipulation.

Retrograde Approach to Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

The retrograde approach has increased the success rate of chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention but has also been associated with a higher risk of complications. The retrograde approach is usually performed in complex lesions, in which the antegrade approach is not feasible or has failed previously. Using a systematic 10-step approach can maximize the likelihood of success and minimize the risks of retrograde chronic total occlusion interventions.