Abdul Rahman Ihdayhid

Intra-aortic balloon pump: indications, efficacy, guidelines and future directions.

Purpose of review The intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) has been used as a cardiac assist device in various clinical situations since 1968 on the basis of the physiological principles and observational data, with little randomized data until recently. Recent findings Recently published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses have demonstrated acceptable safety for IABP but have raised doubt over efficacy in acute myocardial infarction (MI) both with and without cardiogenic shock. RCTs and meta-analyses have provided limited and qualified support for the efficacy of IABP in high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). There remains only observational data to support the efficacy of IABP in other niche indications, including mechanical complications of MI (acute severe mitral regurgitation and ventricular septal rupture) and refractory ventricular arrhythmia. Summary Current randomized trial data and meta-analyses support the safety of IABP, but provide limited or no support for its efficacy in the treatment of high-risk MI, MI complicated by cardiogenic shock or the use of prophylactic IABP in high-risk PCI and CABG. Further studies to inform optimal patient selection, timing and use of associated therapies are required to characterize the role of IABP in contemporary practice and optimize outcome in high-risk patient subsets.

Fractional flow reserve and myocardial perfusion by computed tomography: a guide to clinical application.

The aim of this paper is to provide a guide to the clinical application of the functional computed tomography (CT) techniques fractional flow reserve (CT FFR) and myocardial perfusion (CTP) in patients presenting for the evaluation of coronary artery disease (CAD). Both techniques have recently been introduced to complement coronary CT angiography (CTA) with physiological information. Evidence supporting their diagnostic accuracy accumulates at a fast pace, and both techniques are moving from research tools to clinical applications for specific subgroups of patients. As a consequence, the question that now emerges is how to optimally implement these techniques in the daily clinical workflow to maximize the benefit to patients. Given the inherent differences between both techniques in their underlying physical principles and methodology, as well as the types of pathophysiological information they provide, these techniques are not interchangeable. Rather, within the broad spectrum of patients presenting for CAD evaluation, both CT FFR and CTP may have their own optimized application where the highest benefit at the lowest risk and cost may be achieved. Therefore, we will review the physical principles and available clinical evidence of each technique, and propose how this information can be applied to the individual patient. Moreover, as techniques continue to mature, the combination of coronary CTA with CT FFR and/or CTP likely will become a powerful and accessible diagnostic tool for the detailed characterization of atherosclerotic disease providing a potentially more precise and personalized approach to patients with suspected CAD.

Intravascular ultrasound guidance improves clinical outcomes during implantation of both first- and second-generation drug-eluting stents: a meta-analysis

AIMS Our aim was to assess whether intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) improves clinical outcomes during implantation of first- and second-generation drug-eluting stents (DES). IVUS guidance is associated with improved clinical outcomes during DES implantation, but it is unknown whether this benefit is limited to either first- or second-generation devices. METHODS AND RESULTS MEDLINE, EMBASE and PubMed were searched for studies comparing outcomes between IVUS- and angiography-guided PCI. Among 909 potentially relevant studies, 15 trials met the inclusion criteria. The primary endpoint was MACE, defined as death, myocardial infarction, target vessel/lesion revascularisation (TVR/TLR) or stent thrombosis (ST). Summary estimates were obtained using Peto modelling. In total, 9,313 patients from six randomised trials and nine observational studies were included. First-generation DES were implanted in 6,156 patients (3,064 IVUS-guided and 3,092 angiography-guided) and second-generation in 3,157 patients (1,528 IVUS-guided and 1,629 angiography-guided). IVUS guidance was associated with a significant reduction in MACE (odds ratio [OR] 0.73, 95% CI: 0.64-0.85, p<0.001), across both first- (OR 0.79, 95% CI: 0.67-0.92, p=0.01) and second-generation DES (0.57, 95% CI: 0.43-0.77, p<0.001). For second-generation DES, IVUS guidance was associated with significantly lower rates of cardiac death (OR 0.33, 95% CI: 0.14-0.78, p=0.02), TVR (OR 0.47, 95% CI: 0.28-0.79, p=0.006), TLR (OR 0.61, 95% CI: 0.42-0.90, p=0.01) and ST (OR 0.31, 95% CI: 0.12-0.78, p=0.02). Cumulative meta-analysis highlighted progressive temporal benefit towards IVUS-guided PCI to reduce MACE (OR 0.60, 95% CI: 0.48-0.75, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS IVUS guidance is associated with a significant reduction in MACE during implantation of both first- and second-generation DES platforms. These data support the use of IVUS guidance in contemporary revascularisation procedures using second-generation DES.

A Practical Guide for Fractional Flow Reserve Guided Revascularisation

The presence and extent of myocardial ischaemia is a major determinant of prognosis and benefit from revascularisation in patients with stable coronary artery disease. Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) is accepted as the reference standard for invasive assessment of ischaemia. Its ability to detect lesion specific ischaemia makes it a useful test in a wide range of patient and lesion subsets, with FFR guided intervention improving clinical outcomes and reducing health care costs compared to assessment with coronary angiography alone. This article will review the basic principles in FFR, practical tips in FFR guided revascularisation and the role of emerging non-hyperaemic indices of ischaemia.

The utility of personal activity trackers (Fitbit Charge 2) on exercise capacity in patients post acute coronary syndrome [UP-STEP ACS Trial]: a randomised controlled trial protocol

BackgroundThe benefits of physical activity and cardiovascular rehabilitation on the reduction of cardiovascular risk are well documented. Despite this, significant barriers and challenges remain in optimizing patient risk factors post acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and ensuring patient compliance. Consumer wearable personal activity trackers represent a cost effective and readily available technology that may aid in this endeavour.MethodsUP-STEP ACS is a prospective single-blinded, two-arm, parallel, randomized control trial with an aim to enrol 200 patients all undertaking cardiac rehabilitation. It will assess the affect that personal activity monitors have on change in exercise capacity in patients post acute coronary syndromes primarily measured by a six-minute walk test (6MWT). Secondary end points will be the improvement in other cardiovascular risk factors, namely; blood lipid and glucose levels, weight, waist circumference, along with mood, quality of life and cardiac rehabilitation adherence. Patients will be randomized to either receive a personal activity tracker or standard post hospital care during their index event. After the 8- week intervention period, patients will return for a clinical review and repeat of baseline assessments including the 6MWT.DiscussionThe utility and impact on exercise capacity of personal activity trackers in patient’s post-acute coronary syndrome has not been assessed. This study aims to add to the scientific evidence emerging regarding the clinical utility and validity of these devices in different patient population groups. If proven to be of benefit, these devices represent a cost effective, easily accessible technology that could aid in the reduction of cardiovascular events.Trial registrationThe trial has been registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR). The registration number is ACTRN12617000312347 (28/02/2017).

A 42-year-old woman with acute myocardial infarction

Clinical introduction A 42-year-old woman presented with anterior ST elevation myocardial infarction. Urgent coronary angiography revealed tapering then occlusion of the distal left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery with no flow in the distal LAD (figure 1A). Balloon angioplasty with a 2.0×8 mm balloon re-established flow into the distal LAD. An angiogram of the right external iliac artery was also performed (figure 1B). Figure 1 Invasive angiography of the left coronary system (A) and the right external iliac artery (B). The coronary angiogram (A) shows tapering and then occlusion (arrow) of the distal left anterior descending coronary artery. Question Which of the following explains the abnormal appearance of the external iliac artery (figure 1B)? Atherosclerosis. Concertina effect. Fibromuscular dysplasia. Perforation. Multiple aneurysms.

Resting Indexes in the Functional Assessment of Left Main and Left Anterior Descending Coronary Stenoses: A Case for Caution

The accurate assessment of left main coronary artery (LMCA) and left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) stenoses is of critical importance in light of the large myocardial territory supplied and the mortality benefit with revascularization. Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is used as the

Threading the Eye of the Needle: A Challenging Case of Iatrogenic Spiral Coronary Artery Dissection

Catheter induced coronary dissection is an uncommon but potentially catastrophic complication of coronary angiography. We report a case of a 48-year-old female with normal coronary arteries on angiography complicated by extensive catheter induced spiral dissection. Wiring into the true lumen was a formidable challenge as a consequence of the large false lumen obliterating the true lumen. We present management strategies and in particular, highlight the important role of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging.

Performance of computed tomography-derived fractional flow reserve using reduced-order modelling and static computed tomography stress myocardial perfusion imaging for detection of haemodynamically significant coronary stenosis

Aims To compare the diagnostic performance of a reduced-order computed tomography-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) technique derived from luminal deformation and static CT stress myocardial perfusion (CTP). Methods and results Forty-six patients (84 vessels) with suspected coronary artery disease from a single institution planned for elective coronary angiography prospectively underwent research indicated invasive fractional flow reserve (FFR) and 320-detector CT coronary angiography (CTA) and static CTP. Analyses were performed in separate blinded core laboratories for CT-FFR and CTP. CT-FFR was derived using a reduced-order model with dedicated software on a standard desktop computer. CTP was assessed visually and quantitatively by transmural perfusion ratio (TPR). Invasive FFR was significant in 33% (28/84) of vessels. Overall per-vessel sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy for CT-FFR were 81%, 84%, 71%, 90%, and 83%, respectively, those of visual CTP were 54%, 92%, 79%, 77%, and 78%, respectively, and TPR were 64%, 48%, 42%, 70%, and 54%, respectively. Per-vessel receiver operator curve analysis demonstrated a significantly larger area under the curve (AUC) for CT-FFR (0.89) with that for visual CTP (0.72; P = 0.016), TPR (0.55; P < 0.0001), and CTA (0.76; P = 0.04). The addition of CT-FFR to CTA provided superior improvement in performance (AUC 0.93; P < 0.0001) compared with CTA alone, a combination of CTA with visual CTP (AUC 0.82; P = 0.007) and CTA with TPR (AUC 0.78; P = 0.0006). Conclusion Based on this selected cohort of patients, a reduced-order CT-FFR technique is superior to visual and quantitatively assessed static CTP in detecting haemodynamically significant coronary stenosis as assessed by invasive FFR.

Effect of aorto‐ventricular angulation on procedural success in transcatheter aortic valve replacements with the Lotus Valve system

To determine the effect of aorto‐ventricular angulation (AA) on procedural success with the Lotus Valve system.