Bifurcation Intervention in Single Coronary Artery.

A 77-year-old man was referred to our hospital for angina on effort. Coronary angiography and computed tomography demonstrated a single coronary artery arising from the right sinus of Valsalva. The left circumflex coronary artery (LCx) anomalously deriving near from the ostium of right coronary artery exhibited severe stenosis in the bifurcation of the obtuse marginal branch. Although the bifurcation lesion still remains a therapeutic challenge for guide extension catheter (GEC)-based percutaneous coronary intervention, under the guidance of intravascular ultrasound imaging, we successfully implanted an everolimus-eluting stent at the bifurcated LCx lesion and performed kissing balloon inflation using 0.014- and 0.010-inch systems through GECs.

Impact of Door-to-Balloon Time in Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Who Arrived by Self-Transport　- Acute Myocardial Infarction-Kyoto Multi-Center Risk Study Group.

BACKGROUND: Patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who arrive at a hospital via self-transport reportedly have a delayed door-to-balloon time (DBT). However, the clinical impacts of delayed DBT on in-hospital mortality among such patients are not well known.Methods and Results:In total, 1,172 STEMI patients who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention between January 2009 and December 2013 from the Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) Kyoto Registry were analyzed. Compared with the emergency medical service (EMS) group (n=804), the self-transport group (n=368) was younger and had a significantly longer DBT (115 min vs. 90 min, P<0.01), with fewer patients having a Killip classification of 2 or higher. The in-hospital mortality rate was lower in the self-transport group than in the EMS group (3.3% vs. 7.1%, P<0.01). A DBT >90 min was an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality in EMS patients (odds ratio (OR)=2.43, P=0.01) but not in self-transport patients (OR=0.89, P=0.87). CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated that there was no relationship between in-hospital prognosis and DBT ≤90 min in STEMI patients using self-transport. The prognosis of these patients cannot be improved by focusing only on DBT. Treatment strategies based on means of transport should also be considered.

Rotational Atherectomy Followed by Drug-Coated Balloon Dilation for Left Main In-Stent Restenosis in the Setting of Acute Coronary Syndrome Complicated with Right Coronary Chronic Total Occlusion.

An 83-year-old man presented with recurrent acute coronary syndrome (ACS) at the left main coronary artery (LMCA) complicated with ostial chronic total occlusion (CTO) in the right coronary artery (RCA) (RCA-CTO). At the first LMCA-ACS approximately 1 year earlier, he had undergone LMCA-crossover stenting with a biolimus-eluting stent in the presence of RCA-CTO. At the second LMCA-ACS, we angiographically confirmed severe in-stent restenosis in the distal LMCA, in addition to angled severe stenosis in the just proximal LCx, and performed primary PCI for the LMCA bifurcation lesion under intra-aortic balloon pumping support. Because of difficulty in crossing a guidewire through the just proximal LCx lesion, we first performed rotational atherectomy against the LMCA in-stent eccentric lesion. After successfully crossing the guidewire into the LCx, we added balloon dilation with kissing balloon inflation followed by alternate drug-coated balloon dilation. An eight-month follow-up coronary angiography revealed no further vessel narrowing in the LMCA bifurcation lesion.

Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Followed by Valve Surgery for Acute Coronary Syndrome at Left Main Trunk Complicated With Severe Aortic Stenosis.

An 89-year-old woman appeared to have acute coronary syndrome at the left main trunk (LMT) complicated with severe aortic stenosis, moderate-severe mitral regurgitation, depressed left ventricular (LV) function, and multivessel disease. Because of sustained hypotension even under intra-aortic balloon pumping support during emergency coronary angiograhy, we performed primary percutaneous coronary intervention solely for the LMT lesion using a bare metal stent, leading to recovery from the shock state. On the second hospital day, based on our heart-team consensus, we performed aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting surgery, and added edge-to-edge repair (Alfieri stitch) of the mitral valve, resulting in complete revascularization and dramatically improved LV function.

Rotational Atherectomy Followed by Drug-Coated Balloon Dilation in Possible Coronary Sequelae of Kawasaki Disease.

Rotational atherectomy with/without low-pressure balloon dilation has been a mainstay of interventional treatment for stenosis due to the coronary sequelae of Kawasaki disease (KD). Here, we report a restenosis case of probable coronary sequelae of KD treated with rotational atherectomy with low-pressure 2.5-mm balloon dilation 6 months previously. Under the guidance of optical frequency domain imaging, we performed rotational atherectomy followed by 2.5-mm drug-coated balloon (DCB) dilation for an atherosclerotic restenosis at the inlet of a calcified aneurysm in the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery. Coronary angiography 6 months later showed no apparent progression of vessel narrowing, and we could defer repeat intervention. The present case suggests that rotational atherectomy followed by DCB dilation could be an alternative revascularization therapy of choice in coronary KD sequelae complicated with atherosclerosis.

Relationship Between Mean Blood Pressure at Admission and In-Hospital Outcome After Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Acute Myocardial Infarction.

A J-shaped or U-shaped curve phenomenon might exist between systolic blood pressure (SBP) or pulse pressure (PP) at admission and in-hospital mortality in Japanese patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, data regarding a relationship between mean blood pressure (MBP) at admission and in-hospital outcome in AMI patients undergoing primary PCI are still lacking in Japan.A total of 1,413 primary PCI-treated AMI patients were classified into quintiles based on admission MBP (< 79 n = 283, 79-91 n = 285, 92-103 n = 285, 104-115 n = 279, and ≥ 116 mmHg n = 281). Patients with MBP < 79 mmHg had a significantly higher in-hospital mortality, while mortality was not significantly different among the other quintiles: 16.6% (< 79), 4.9% (79-91), 3.9% (92-103), 3.2% (104-115), and 5.0% (≥ 116 mmHg). On multivariate analysis, Killip class ≥ 3 at admission, LMT or multivessels as culprit lesions, admission MBP < 79 mmHg, and age were independent positive predictors of in-hospital mortality, whereas hypercholesterolemia and TIMI 3 flow before/after PCI were negative predictors, while the other MBP categories were not.These results suggest that admission MBP < 79 mmHg might be associated with in-hospital death, and the in-hospital prognostic effects of MBP, the steady component of blood pressure, at admission might be different from those of SBP or PP, the pulsatile component of blood pressure, at admission in Japanese AMI patients undergoing primary PCI.

Prognostic impact of chronic kidney disease and anemia at admission on in-hospital outcomes after primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction.

Cardiorenal anemia syndrome has recently been receiving greater attention; however, data regarding the relationship between chronic kidney disease (CKD)/anemia on presentation and in-hospital outcome in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are still limited in Japan.A total of 1,447 primary PCI-treated AMI patients were classified into 4 groups according to the presence of CKD and/or anemia on hospital admission (with CKD/with anemia n = 222, with CKD/without anemia n = 299, without CKD/with anemia n = 151, without CKD/without anemia n = 775). Angiographic acute results of primary PCI were similar among the 4 groups. The patients with CKD had a significantly higher in-hospital overall mortality rate than the patients without CKD, and in the presence or absence of CKD, patients with anemia tended to have a higher in-hospital mortality rate than the patients without anemia. According to a multivariate analysis, anemia on admission was found to be an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality, whereas admission CKD and admission eGFR were statistically not independent predictors. Moreover, the multivariable adjusted odds ratio of in-hospital death in AMI patients with CKD alone was 1.855 (95% CI 0.929-3.706), and that in AMI patients with CKD/with anemia was 3.384 (95% CI 1.697-6.748).These results suggest that among real-world, unselected Japanese AMI patients undergoing primary PCI, the combination of CKD and anemia on admission confers significant adverse effects on in-hospital mortality.

Prognostic impact of pulse pressure at admission on in-hospital outcome after primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction.

Data regarding relationship between pulse pressure (PP) at admission and in-hospital outcome in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are still lacking. A total of 1413 primary PCI-treated AMI patients were classified into quintiles based on admission PP (<40, n = 280; 40-48, n = 276; 49-57, n = 288; 58-70, n = 288; and ≥71 mmHg, n = 281). The patients with PP < 40 mmHg tended to have higher prevalence of male, smoking, and Killip class ≥3 at admission; right coronary artery, left main trunk (LMT), or multivessels as culprit lesions; larger number of diseased vessels; lower Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) grade in the infarct-related artery before/after primary PCI; and higher value of peak creatine phosphokinase concentration. Patients with PP < 40 mmHg had highest mortality, while patients with PP 49-57 mmHg had the lowest: 11.8 % (<40), 7.2 % (40-48), 2.8 % (49-57), 5.9 % (58-70), and 6.0 % (≥71 mmHg). On multivariate analysis, Killip class ≥3 at admission, LMT or multivessels as culprit lesions, chronic kidney disease, and age were the independent positive predictors of the in-hospital mortality, whereas admission PP 49-57 mmHg, hypercholesterolemia, and TIMI 3 flow before/after PCI were the negative ones, but admission PP < 40 mmHg was not. These results suggest that admission PP 49-57 mmHg might be correlated with better in-hospital prognosis in Japanese AMI patients undergoing primary PCI.

Mid-term results of stent-less coronary intervention using rotational atherectomy and drug-coated balloon for de-novo lesions in hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Although drug-coated balloon (DCB)-based stent-less percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for de-novo lesions has attracted more attention, outcomes of the DCB procedure for hemodialysis (HD) patients are reported to be inferior to those for non-HD patients, similarly to drug-eluting stent (DES). Recent several reports have shown that rotational atherectomy (RA) followed by DCB treatment (RA/DCB) could be an option of revascularization strategy particularly for calcified de-novo lesions even in the new-generation DES era; however, efficacy of the RA/DCB procedure for HD patients remains unclear. METHODS: A total of 47 consecutive cases (53 lesions) undergoing RA/DCB for de-novo lesions were enrolled. According to the presence/absence of HD at baseline, the 47 cases were divided into the HD cases (N.=16) and the non-HD cases (N.=31), and the 53 lesions were divided into the HD lesions (N.=20) and the non-HD lesions (N.=33). RESULTS: The HD cases had a significantly lower prevalence of dyslipidemia and smoking than the non-HD cases. Final RA burr size, DCB diameter used, and angiographic success rate of PCI did not significantly differ between the 2 groups. Preprocedural, post-procedural, and follow-up QCA parameters were also similar between the 2 groups. Twelve-month clinical outcomes were comparable between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Mid-term outcomes of stent-less PCI using RA/DCB for de-novo lesions in HD patients might be comparable to those in non-HD patients, suggesting efficacy of pretreatment of RA prior to DCB treatment in HD patients.

Effects of valsartan on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in high-risk hypertensive patients with new-onset diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: The KYOTO HEART Study demonstrated that Valsartan Add-on treatment was effective to reduce new-onset diabetes in high-risk hypertensive patients. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of Valsartan Add-on treatment on cardiovascular (CV) events in patients with or without diabetes. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 3,031 patients were divided at baseline: Baseline Diabetes (n=807) and Baseline Non-Diabetes (n=2,224). Among the Non-Diabetes patients, 144 developed diabetes (New-Onset Diabetes) and the remaining patients did not throughout the study (Final Non-Diabetes, n=2,080). Baseline Diabetes showed significantly higher CV event rates than Baseline Non-Diabetes (10.3% vs. 7.0%, P=0.00400). Valsartan Add-on treatment significantly reduced CV event rates than Non-angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) treatment both in Baseline Diabetes (6.7% vs. 13.8%, P=0.00274) and in Baseline Non-Diabetes (5.0% vs. 8.9%, P=0.00036), respectively. New-Onset Diabetes showed a similar CV event rate (12.5%) to Baseline Diabetes (10.3%) but the event rate was significantly higher than that of Final Non-Diabetes (6.6%, P=0.0065). In the New-Onset Diabetes, Valsartan add-on treatment significantly reduced CV event rate than Non-ARB treatment (5.2% vs. 17.4%, P=0.04601). CONCLUSIONS: CV event risk in New-Onset Diabetes was relatively equivalent to Baseline Diabetes. Valsartan Add-on treatment was effective for the reduction of CV events not only in Baseline Diabetes but also in New-Onset Diabetes.

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention and intravascular ultrasound imaging for coronary thrombosis after cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

Although cisplatin is indispensable for the chemotherapy treatment of many malignancies, cisplatin-associated thrombosis is attracting increasing attention. However, experience of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and intravascular ultrasound imaging (IVUS) for coronary thrombosis, possibly due to cisplatin-based chemotherapy, has been limited. Case 1 with postoperative gastric cancer developed acute myocardial infarction (AMI) on the sixth day of the second chemotherapy course with conventional doses of cisplatin and tegafur gimeracil oteracil potassium. Emergency coronary angiography (CAG) showed a filling defect in the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) concomitant with no reflow in the distal LAD. Case 2 with advanced lung cancer and brain metastasis suffered AMI on the fifth day of the first chemotherapy course with conventional doses of cisplatin and gemcitabine. Emergency CAG delineated a total occlusion in the proximal right coronary artery. In both cases, thrombectomy using aspiration catheter alone obtained optimal angiographic results and subsequent IVUS revealed no definite atherosclerotic plaque, while slow flow still remained even after selective intra-coronary infusion of vasodilator in the case 1. These cases suggest that primary PCI using thrombus-aspiration catheter might be safe and effective for coronary thrombosis due to cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

Combination effect of calcium channel blocker and valsartan on cardiovascular event prevention in patients with high-risk hypertension: ancillary results of the KYOTO HEART Study.

The ancillary analysis of the KYOTO HEART Study (n = 3031) was designed to assess the combined treatment with calcium channel blocker (CCB) plus valsartan for high-risk hypertension. With-CCB (n = 1807) showed less primary events than without-CCB (n = 1224) (P = .037), in which acute myocardial infarction was significantly reduced. With-CCB plus valsartan (n = 773) showed lower incidence than with-CCB plus non-angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) (n = 1034) (P = .0002), in which angina pectoris and heart failure were significantly reduced. Without-CCB plus valsartan (n = 744) was superior to without-CCB plus non-ARB (n = 480) (P = .0013), in which stroke was reduced. CCB-based therapy was useful, and CCB plus valsartan combination provided a more efficient prevention for high-risk hypertensive patients.

Clot-regression effects of rivaroxaban in venous thromboembolism treatment in cancer patients-a prospective interventional study.

Rivaroxaban, a direct oral anticoagulant, is effective against venous thromboembolism (VTE) recurrence without increasing the risk of major bleeding in patients with cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (CAT). However, its clot regression effects are poorly understood. This single-arm, prospective interventional study aimed to investigate the clot regression effects of rivaroxaban in 40 CAT patients, through a contrast-enhanced computed tomography at baseline, 3 weeks, and 3 months of rivaroxaban treatment. The primary endpoint was the clot-regression ratio calculated from the thrombus volumes at 3 weeks and 3 months. Compared with baseline, the total clot volume was significantly reduced at both 3 weeks and 3 months after initiation (p < 0.01). The clot-regression rates were statistically significant with 83.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 73.8-92.3%) at 3 weeks and 98.7% (95% CI, 97.1-100.2%) at 3 months, with complete resolution in 36.1% and 80.8% of patients at 3 weeks and 3 months, respectively. One patient had recurrent VTE after dose reduction, and seven had non-fatal major bleeding. Therefore, rivaroxaban had a sufficient clot-regression effect against CAT with caution of bleeding complication.

Enhanced cardiovascular protective effects of valsartan in high-risk hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy--sub-analysis of the KYOTO HEART study.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the present study was to examine whether baseline electrocardiographically diagnosed left ventricular hypertrophy (ECG-LVH) influenced the angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) valsartan add-on effects on the cardio-cerebrovascular morbidity and mortality in the high-risk hypertensive patients who participated in the KYOTO HEART Study. METHODS AND RESULTS: The primary endpoint was the same as in the main study: a composite of defined cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. The median follow-up period was 3.27 years. The study group was divided into 2 groups according to the presence of ECG-LVH: with LVH, n=803; without LVH, n=2,228. The primary endpoint events occurred more frequently in patients with LVH than in patients without LVH (9.3% vs. 7.3%; hazard ratio [HR], 1.33; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.75). Valsartan add-on significantly decreased the occurrence of primary endpoint events in both LVH-positive patients (5.8% vs. 12.9%; HR, 0.45; 95%CI: 0.28-0.72) and LVH-negative patients (5.5% vs. 9.2%; HR, 0.59; 95%CI: 0.44-0.81) compared with non-ARB treatment. The reduction in combined cardiovascular events (composite of acute myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, and heart failure) due to valsartan treatment in patients with LVH was significantly larger than that in patients without LVH (P<0.0001). Changes in blood pressure during the follow-up period did not differ significantly among the study subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: High-risk hypertensive patients with ECG-LVH might gain more cardiovascular benefits from valsartan add-on treatment, compared with patients without ECG-LVH.

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction due to possible sequelae of Kawasaki disease in young adults: a case series.

Experience of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for young adults with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) due to sequelae of Kawasaki disease (KD) has been extremely limited. In the present report on three young adults (two males and one female; age 20-35 years) with AMI, we performed primary PCI and intravascular ultrasound imaging (IVUS). Case 1 underwent thrombectomy alone in the proximal left circumflex coronary artery, and subsequent IVUS depicted a large aneurysm with an asymmetrically intimal thickening and a residual thrombus in the culprit. Case 2 underwent balloon dilation with adjunctive intracoronary thrombolysis in the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), and IVUS during follow-up coronary angiography (CAG) delineated a regressed giant aneurysm with a markedly intimal thickening in the culprit. Case 3, with past history highly suggesting KD, underwent balloon dilation in the proximal LAD, and follow-up CAG as well as IVUS revealed a neoaneurysmal formation in the culprit. In all of the patients, PCI was angiographically effective at the acute phase without complication. Follow-up CAG performed 3-6 months after the procedure revealed no restenosis in all three cases, but a new coronary aneurysm still remained in case 3. Although case 1 and case 2 had no obvious history of KD, the vessel wall morphology from IVUS closely resembled the coronary sequelae after KD, suggesting that they might have antecedent incomplete KD. These cases suggest that primary PCI against coronary sequelae of KD in young AMI patients might be safe and effective in the short term.

The increased mortality from witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the home.

BACKGROUND: Research in 2008 demonstrated that the majority of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) occur in the home, and many important characteristics differ between private and public locations. However, the influence of the location of collapse on survival from OHCA is not well understood. Furthermore, most of the reports have been from Western countries; there is little research from Asia that differentiates the conditions of OHCA. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of the location of collapse on being discharged alive from OHCA and whether the location of collapse is also an independent predictor of survival from OHCA in Japan. METHODS: We analyzed 463 consecutive cases of witnessed OHCA with cardiac etiology that occurred between October 2004 and September 2008 in Japan. We investigated the characteristics of OHCA patients who collapsed in private and public locations, and assessed the influence of the location of collapse on survival from OHCA. RESULTS: Patients who collapsed outside the home were younger, more likely to be male, more likely to receive bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and more likely to have ventricular fibrillation (VF)/pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VT) and had a shorter time interval between collapse and 9-1-1 call than patients who collapsed in the home. Mortality was significantly higher in the group who collapsed in the home. The independent influence of the location of collapse was eliminated by additional adjustment for time interval from collapse to 9-1-1 call, age, bystander CPR, and initial cardiac rhythm. Finally, VF/pulseless VT as the initial rhythm and bystander CPR were independently associated with the patient's being discharged alive; the location of collapse was not an independently associated variable. CONCLUSIONS: The present analysis demonstrated that there were significant differences in survival between groups of patients who suffered from cardiac arrest inside and outside the home in Japan. The outside-the-home group had a higher rate of survival from OHCA; however, the location of collapse was not an independent predictor of survival from OHCA. Education of the families of high-risk patients in placing a rapid emergency call and performing effective CPR might be needed to improve survival from cardiac arrest in the home.

Circadian, weekly, and seasonal mortality variations in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Japan: analysis from AMI-Kyoto Multicenter Risk Study database.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have reported circadian, weekly, and seasonal variations in the rates of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). However, variations in the mortality of OHCA are not well known. METHODS AND RESULTS: We investigated the 1396 consecutive cases of OHCA with cardiac etiology between October 2004 and September 2008. There were 2 peaks in the occurrence of OHCA in early morning and late evening. There was a weekly pattern with an increased incidence on Mondays. We found a significant seasonal variation in the frequency of events, with a maximum during winter. There was a trend of reduced mortality in warmest 3 months, especially among a subgroup of ventricular fibrillation/pulseless ventricular tachycardia with arrest witnessed. CONCLUSION: The present analyses demonstrated circadian, weekly and seasonal variations in the occurrence, and a seasonal variation in mortality in OHCA. Changes in temperature might influence the severity of OHCA and change the rate of success of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.