Efficacy of radiation dose reduction due to real-time monitoring and visualization of peak skin dose during coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed that the use of real-time monitoring and visualization of peak skin dose could reduce radiation dose during coronary angiography (CAG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). BACKGROUND: Exposure to ionizing radiation has dose related effects including skin damage. Reducing the radiation exposure is important during CAG and PCI. The skin dose-tracking system (DTS) has a real-time monitor of radiation peak skin dose. METHODS: A total of 323 consecutive patients who underwent CAG and PCI between September 2014 and June 2015 were enrolled. Patients were classified into with DTS group (CAG alone in 104 and PCI in 57 patients) or without DTS group (CAG alone in 106 and PCI in 56 patients). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in reference air kerma between CAG alone with and without DTS groups. Reference air kerma with DTS group during PCI was lower than without DTS group (204.6 ± 141.1 mGy vs. 294.2 ± 237.4 mGy, P = 0.016). Moreover, kerma area product (17.8 ± 13.0 Gycm2 vs. 25.2 ± 19.3 Gycm2 , P = 0.019) and number of cine runs (12.8 ± 5.0 vs. 15.5 ± 6.5, P = 0.013) with DTS group were lower than without DTS group. Multiple regression analysis showed increased reference air kerma was associated with male gender, body mass index and type B2/C lesion. Conversely, DTS correlated with decreased reference air kerma. CONCLUSIONS: The use of DTS could reduce radiation dose during PCI. Real-time radiation monitoring and visualization of peak skin dose was effective for the patients with PCI.

Long-Term Clinical Outcomes after Treatment with Excimer Laser Coronary Atherectomy for In-Stent Restenosis of Drug-Eluting Stent.

Excimer laser coronary atherectomy (ELCA) has been used for the treatment of complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) such as in-stent restenosis (ISR). However, little information was provided about the clinical outcomes after treatment with ELCA for ISR of drug-eluting stents (DES). This study aimed to investigate the long-term clinical outcomes after PCI with ELCA for ISR of DES.A total of 81 consecutive patients with 87 lesions who underwent PCI for ISR of DES were included. Patients were classified into a PCI with ELCA group (23 patients with 24 lesions) and a PCI without ELCA group (58 patients with 63 lesions). The major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were evaluated. The mean duration of clinical follow-up was 29.8 ± 11.6 months. The incidences of diffuse restenosis and AHA/ACC type B2 or C lesion in the PCI with ELCA group were higher than in the PCI without ELCA group. Quantitative coronary angiography showed the acute luminal gain in the PCI with ELCA group was greater than in the PCI without ELCA group (1.64 ± 0.48 mm versus 1.26 ± 0.42 mm, P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in all-cause death, myocardial infarction, or target lesion revascularization between the 2 groups. Multivariate analysis due to a Cox proportional-hazards model showed that multivessel disease was an independent predictor of MACE (hazard ratio 3.05, 95% confidence interval 1.22 to 7.61, P = 0.02). ELCA was effective as an atherectomy device for lumen enlargement and optimal lesion preparation. Even though ELCA was used for ISR of DES in significantly more complex lesions, the long-term clinical outcomes were favorable and similar.

Successful retrieval of an entrapped guide wire between a deployed coronary stent and severely calcified vessel wall using excimer laser coronary atherectomy.

We report the successful retrieval of an entrapped interventional guide wire between a newly deployed coronary stent and severely calcified vessel wall. Using a buddy wire technique, the stent was deployed at high pressure in a culprit lesion of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery. The buddy wire in the LAD artery was entrapped between the deployed stent and severely calcified vessel wall, as it was not removed before stent deployment, and could not be retrieved. Neither balloon catheters nor a microcatheter were able to be advanced behind the stent over the entrapped guide wire. Excimer laser coronary atherectomy (ELCA) was performed within the stent to modify and soften the calcification behind the deployed stent. Consequently, the entrapped guide wire was retrieved successfully and safely. This case illustrates that ELCA can be utilized to retrieve an entrapped guide wire between a deployed stent and calcified vessel wall.

The impact of gender on outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve implantation between self-expanding valve and balloon-expandable valve.

BACKGROUND: While females have been found to have a higher rate of procedural complications with transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) than males, the effect of valve choice has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the impact of gender and choice of balloon or self-expanding valve on TAVI complications. METHODS: Data from patients who received a TAVI in our institution from January 2016 to September 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 971 patients were included and divided into self-expanding valve (n = 315) and balloon-expandable valve (n = 656) groups. The endpoints were 30-day mortality, need for a new pacemaker, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) which is defined as cardiac arrest, stroke, myocardial infarction, major bleeding, and unplanned vascular surgery/intervention. RESULTS: There were more females in the self-expanding valve group than in the balloon-expandable valve group (64.1 % vs. 43.6 %: p < 0.0001). There is no significant difference in the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, current smoker, hemodialysis, and the STS risk score between the 2 groups. Females had a higher rate of major adverse cardiovascular events (3.7 % in men vs. 6.8 % in women; p = 0.043), which was driven mostly by vascular complications. This difference was particularly observed in the self-expanding valve group (2.7 % in men vs. 9.4 % in women; p = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: TAVI complications were more common in females than males, driven mostly by vascular complications. This difference was particularly observed in woman treated with a self-expanding valve. Particular attention should be given to access choices in females undergoing TAVI.

Safety and efficacy of covered stent grafts in the treatment of emergent access related complications.

BACKGROUND: Large bore percutaneous access is becoming increasingly common. Parallel to this, we observe an increase in vascular access site complications such as bleeding, dissection, thrombosis or pseudo-aneurysms. This study was aimed to evaluate safety and efficacy of covered stent grafts for fixing large bore vascular access injuries. METHODS: A total of 147 Viabahn or Viabahn VBX (WL Gore) stent grafts which were placed across the inguinal ligament in emergent settings in 136 patients, were retrospectively analyzed. The two endpoints were the technical success rate, defined by complete arterial repair, and long-term stent graft patency. We also looked at the need for open conversion, wound infections, and in hospital and 30-day mortality. We followed the patients using duplex ultrasound and computed tomography angiogram to assess for arterial patency, freedom from intervention, stent kinking and clinical symptoms. RESULTS: 30 Viabahn and 117 Viabahn VBX (WL Gore) stent grafts were placed in the distal external iliac artery and into the proximal common femoral artery of 136 patients. Indications for intervention were bleeding in 92 patients (68 %), flow limiting dissection in 41 patients (30 %) and symptomatic AVF in 3 patients (2 %). Primary technical success rate was 100 %. Limited 3-year follow up (101/136 patients) showed 99 % patency with no evidence of stent fracture, stenosis or kinking except in one patient who needed target lesion revascularization due to neointimal hyperplasia. CONCLUSIONS: Covered stent grafts can be placed safely, efficiently, and effectively in the distal external iliac and common femoral arteries across the inguinal ligament. These stent grafts can be used as an alternative therapeutic option to open surgery in patients with large bore vascular access injuries.

Delayed Aortic Valve Perforation Caused by Blunt Trauma.

Traumatic aortic regurgitation (AR) is a rare complication of blunt chest trauma. We described the case of a 35-year-old male who presented to our hospital with shortness of breath 7 years after sustaining blunt chest trauma associated with a motorcycle accident. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiogram detected severe AR with two separate jets. The patient was diagnosed with congestive heart failure due to severe AR, and surgical aortic valve replacement was performed. A large perforation of the right coronary cusp likely sustained during the initial blunt chest trauma injury was confirmed surgically. As AR caused by blunt chest trauma can gradually worsen, it is necessary to confirm if there is a history of trauma in patients with severe AR of unknown origin.

Impact of Cardiac and Cerebrovascular Complications During Hospitalization on Long-Term Prognosis in Patients With COVID-19.

The impact of cardiac and cerebrovascular events during COVID-19 hospitalization on long-term prognosis remains uncertain. We aimed to evaluate the effect of myocardial infarction (MI), cerebrovascular accident (CVA), and pulmonary embolism (PE) during hospitalization on the long-term prognosis in patients who survived COVID-19 hospitalization. A retrospective observational analysis was performed on a cohort of 2,389 patients who survived COVID-19 hospitalization in our institution between January and June 2020. The patients were divided into MI (n = 111) and non-MI (n = 2,278) groups according to the presence of MI during hospitalization. As a subanalysis, the patients were assigned to CVA (n = 97) and non-CVA (n = 2,292) and PE (n = 54) and non-PE (n = 2,335) groups. The primary outcome was long-term survival after discharge. During a median follow-up period of 2.4 years after discharge, 30 patients (27.0%) in the MI group and 140 patients (6.2%) in the non-MI group died (p <0.001). The Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis demonstrated that the MI group was significantly associated with an increased incidence of all-cause death after discharge (log-rank p <0.001), as supported by the multivariate Cox proportional hazards model analysis (hazard ratio [HR] 2.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.61 to 3.74, p <0.001). However, the presence of CVA (HR 1.46, 95% CI 0.91 to 2.34, p = 0.113) or PE (HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.23 to 3.84, p = 0.937) were not associated with an increased incidence of all-cause death after discharge. In conclusion, among the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications associated with COVID-19 hospitalization, the presence of MI during hospitalization was proved to be a significant independent predictor of long-term mortality in patients who survived COVID-19 hospitalization.

Early mortality and safety after transcatheter aortic valve replacement using the SAPIEN 3 in nonagenarians.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has been performed for many elderly patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). The SAPIEN 3 is one of the latest balloon-expandable prosthesis. This study aimed to investigate the early clinical outcomes after TAVR using the SAPIEN 3 in nonagenarians. METHODS: A total of 97 consecutive patients underwent TAVR for severe AS between December 2015 and December 2016. Of these, 85 consecutive patients who underwent TAVR using the SAPIEN 3 were included. According to the age, patients were classified into age ≥ 90 years group (17 patients) or age < 90 years group (68 patients). The clinical outcomes including all-cause mortality and composite endpoint of early safety at 30 days were evaluated. RESULTS: The Society of Thoracic Surgeons score in age ≥ 90 years group was higher than age < 90 years group (12.3 ± 6.1% vs. 8.5 ± 5.1%, P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in 30-day mortality between the two groups. However, the life-threatening bleeding and major vascular complications in age ≥ 90 years group were greater than age < 90 years group (11.8% vs. 1.5%, P = 0.04 and 11.8% vs. 1.5%, P = 0.04, respectively). The composite endpoint of early safety at 30 days was similar between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that prior myocardial infarction was an independent predictor of the composite endpoint of early safety (odds ratio: 4.76, 95% confidence interval: 1.02-22.21, P = 0.047). CONCLUSIONS: The early mortality and safety after TAVR using the SAPIEN 3 in nonagenarians were similar and acceptable despite of higher operative risk.

Successful deployment of polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stent to seal left internal mammary artery graft perforation due to guide catheter extension system.

Coronary artery bypass graft perforation during percutaneous coronary intervention is a rare complication. Perforation of a left internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft due to a guide catheter extension system has not been described. We report the successful deployment of a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-covered stent to seal the LIMA graft perforation due to the guide catheter extension system. Percutaneous coronary intervention was performed for a culprit lesion of the distal left circumflex via the LIMA graft. A balloon catheter failed to be delivered because the LIMA graft was very long and tortuous. The guide catheter extension system was introduced, and the balloon was delivered and inflated. However, the LIMA graft perforation with continuous extravasation was caused by the edge of deeper intubated guide extension catheter when a coronary stent was attempted to be delivered to the culprit lesion. A long balloon inflation was performed, but the perforation was not completely sealed. The PTFE-covered stent was successfully deployed and sealed the LIMA graft perforation. This case describes that the rapid deployment of PTFE-covered stent is effective to treat severe coronary artery bypass graft perforation due to the guide catheter extension system.

Impact of drug-eluting stents on clinical and angiographic outcomes in dialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: It remains unclear whether sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) have an advantage over bare metal stents (BMS) in patients on dialysis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using SES was performed in 54 dialysis patients with 69 lesions. A control group for comparison comprised 54 consecutive dialysis patients with 58 lesions who underwent PCI using BMS. Angiographic and clinical follow-ups were scheduled at 9 months. After the procedure, minimum lumen diameter (MLD) was similar between the 2 groups. At follow-up, the SES group had a higher MLD than the BMS group (1.98+/-0.83 mm vs 1.50+/-0.78 mm, p<0.01). In-stent restenosis rate was lower in lesions treated with SES than in those with BMS (22% vs 40%, p=0.048). However, there was no significant difference between the 2 groups for in-segment restenosis (31% vs 43%, p=0.3). During follow-up, there was no significant difference in the incidence of death, myocardial infarction or target lesion revascularization (TLR) (14% vs 21%, p=0.4) between the SES and BMS groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective study, SES, in comparison with BMS, reduced in-stent restenosis in patients on dialysis. However, in-segment restenosis and TLR were not statistically different between lesions treated with SES and those with BMS.