Bernhard Reimers
Lenox Hill Hospital
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Journal of the American College of Cardiology | 1997
Issam Moussa; Carlo Di Mario; Bernhard Reimers; Tatsuro Akiyama; Jonathan Tobis; Antonio Colombo
OBJECTIVESnThis study was performed to determine predictors of subacute stent thrombosis (SST) in the era of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided coronary stenting without anticoagulation.nnnBACKGROUNDnThe incidence of stent thrombosis has declined with the application of high pressure stent deployment with only antiplatelet therapy. However, no data are available on predictors of stent thrombosis in this era.nnnMETHODSnBetween March 30, 1993 and July 31, 1995, 1,042 consecutive patients underwent coronary stenting without anticoagulation. For this analysis, we excluded patients who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery, died or had acute stent thrombosis within the 1st 24 h after stenting (41 patients). A total of 1,001 patients (1,334 lesions) were included; 982 patients (1,315 lesions) without SST and 19 patients (19 lesions) with SST.nnnRESULTSnThe rate of SST was 1.9% (per patient). There was no difference between the SST and No SST groups in rescue stenting (12% vs. 13.5%, p = 1.0) or mean +/- SD reference diameter (3.11 +/- 0.58 vs. 3.19 +/- 0.53 mm, p = 0.54). A preexisting thrombus was present in 12% of the SST group and in 4.5% of the No SST group (p = 0.19). Predictors of SST by univariate analysis were low ejection fraction (p = 0.004), more stents per lesion (p = 0.049), use of combination of different stents (p = 0.012), smaller balloon size (p = 0.012) and suboptimal result in terms of smaller lumen dimensions by angiography (p = 0.016) and IVUS (p = 0.004), residual dissections (p = 0.027) and slow flow (p = 0.0001). In stepwise logistic regression analysis, ejection fraction (p = 0.019), use of a combination of different stents (p = 0.013) and postprocedure dissections (p = 0.014) and slow flow (p = 0.0001) were predictive of SST.nnnCONCLUSIONSnIn the present era of stent implantation, factors that may predispose to SST are low ejection fraction, intraprocedural complications leading to utilization of more stents, particularly with different stent designs, and suboptimal final result in terms of smaller lumen dimensions and persistent slow flow and dissections.
Circulation | 1997
Issam Moussa; Carlo Di Mario; Jeffrey W. Moses; Bernhard Reimers; Lucia Di Francesco; Giovanni Martini; Jonathan Tobis; Antonio Colombo
BACKGROUNDnTreatment of calcified (in contrast to simple) lesions with PTCA has been associated with a lower success rate and more procedural complications. Rotablation can improve acute results, but the high restenosis rate remains a problem. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and angiographic outcome of patients with complex and calcified lesions treated with a combination of rotablation and stenting.nnnMETHODS AND RESULTSnSeventy-five consecutive patients with 106 lesions had rotablation prior to coronary stenting. Intravascular ultrasound-guided stenting was used without subsequent anticoagulation in 93% of patients. Procedural success was achieved in 93.4% of lesions. Acute stent thrombosis occurred in two lesions (1.9%), and subacute stent thrombosis in one lesion (0.9%). Angiographic follow-up was performed in 82.5% of lesions at 4.6 +/- 1.9 months with an angiographic restenosis rate of 22.5%. Clinical follow-up was performed in all patients at 6.4 +/- 3 months; target lesion revascularization was needed in 18% of lesions; Q-wave myocardial infarction occurred in 1.3%, coronary bypass surgery in 4.0%, and death in 1.3%.nnnCONCLUSIONSnOptimal coronary stenting after rotablation in calcified and complex lesions can be performed with a high success rate, an acceptable rate of procedural complications, and a low rate of stent thrombosis. This approach was associated with a low incidence of angiographic restenosis compared with results usually obtained with other interventional strategies in calcified and complex lesion subsets.
Journal of the American College of Cardiology | 1998
Shunji Kasaoka; Jonathan Tobis; Tatsuro Akiyama; Bernhard Reimers; Carlo Di Mario; Nathan D. Wong; Antonio Colombo
OBJECTIVESnThis study was performed to determine predictors of in-stent restenosis from a high volume, single-center practice.nnnBACKGROUNDnIntracoronary stents have been shown to reduce the restenosis rate as compared with balloon angioplasty, but in-stent restenosis continues to be an important clinical problem.nnnMETHODSnBetween April 1993 and March 1997, 1,706 patients with 2,343 lesions were treated with a variety of intracoronary stents. The majority of stents were placed with high pressure balloon inflations and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance. Angiographic follow-up was obtained in 1,173 patients with 1,633 lesions (70%). Clinical, angiographic and IVUS variables were prospectively recorded and analyzed by univariate and multivariate models for the ability to predict the occurrence of in-stent restenosis defined as a diameter stenosis > or =50%.nnnRESULTSnIn-stent restenosis was angiographically documented in 282 patients with 409 lesions (25%). The restenosis group had a significantly longer total stent length, smaller reference lumen diameter, smaller final minimal lumen diameter (MLD) by angiography and smaller stent lumen cross-sectional area (CSA) by IVUS. In lesions where IVUS guidance was used, the restenosis rate was 24% as compared with 29% if IVUS was not used (p < 0.05). By multivariate logistic regression analysis, longer total stent length, smaller reference lumen diameter and smaller final MLD were strong predictors of in-stent restenosis. In lesions with IVUS guidance, IVUS stent lumen CSA was a better independent predictor than the angiographic measurements.nnnCONCLUSIONSnAchieving an optimal stent lumen CSA by using IVUS guidance during the procedure and minimizing the total stent length may reduce in-stent restenosis.
Journal of the American College of Cardiology | 1998
Tatsuro Akiyama; Issam Moussa; Bernhard Reimers; Massimo Ferraro; Yoshio Kobayashi; Simonetta Blengino; Lucia Di Francesco; Leo Finci; Carlo Di Mario; Antonio Colombo
OBJECTIVESnStent implantation reduces restenosis in vessels > or =3 mm compared with balloon angioplasty, but few data are available for stents implanted in vessels <3 mm. The aim of this study was to evaluate immediate and follow-up patient outcomes after stent implantation in vessels <3 mm compared to stent implantation in vessels > or =3 mm.nnnMETHODSnBetween March 1993 and May 1996, a total of 1,298 consecutive patients (1,673 lesions) underwent coronary stenting. The study population was divided into two groups based on angiographic vessel diameter. In case of multivessel stenting, patients were randomly assigned only one lesion. Group I included 696 patients (696 lesions) in whom stents were implanted in vessels > or =3 mm, and group II included 602 patients (602 lesions) in whom stents were implanted in vessels <3 mm.nnnRESULTSnThere was no difference in procedural success (95.4% in group I and 95.9% in group II), or subsequent subacute stent thrombosis (1.5% in group I and 1.4% in group II, p=NS). The postprocedure residual diameter stenosis was 3.31+/-12.4% in group I and -2.45+/-16.2% in group II. Angiographic follow-up was performed in 75% of patients, restenosis occurred in 19.9% of patients in group I and 32.6% in group II (p <0.0001). Absolute lumen gain was significantly higher in group I compared to group II, but absolute late lumen loss was similar in the two groups (1.05+/-0.91 mm in group I vs. 1.11+/-0.85 mm in group II, p=NS). Subsequently, the loss index was more favorable in group I (0.45 vs. 0.56; p=0.0006). Independent predictors of freedom from restenosis by multivariate logistic regression in the total population were: larger baseline reference diameter (odds ratio 2.032 p=0.006), larger postprocedure minimal stent cross-sectional area (odds ratio 1.190, p=0.0001) and shorter lesions (odds ratio 1.037, p=0.01). At long-term clinical follow-up, patients with small vessels had a lower rate of event-free survival (63% vs. 71.3%, p=0.007).nnnCONCLUSIONSnCoronary stenting can be performed in small vessels with a high success rate and low incidence of stent thrombosis. However, the long-term angiographic and clinical outcome of patients undergoing stent implantation in small vessels is less favorable than that of patients with large vessels.
Journal of the American College of Cardiology | 1997
Bernhard Reimers; Issam Moussa; Tatsuro Akiyama; Gina Tucci; Massimo Ferraro; Giovanni Martini; Simonetta Blengino; Carlo Di Mario; Antonio Colombo
OBJECTIVESnThis study evaluated the long-term clinical outcome of successful repeat percutaneous intervention after in-stent restenosis.nnnBACKGROUNDnRecurrence of symptoms and angiographic restenosis after stent implantation are observed in 15% to 35% of cases. Repeat percutaneous treatment for in-stent restenosis has been shown to be safe, with high immediate success, but little is known about the long-term clinical outcome.nnnMETHODSnClinical follow-up (minimum 9 months) was obtained in a consecutive series of 124 patients (127 vessels) presenting with stent restenosis who were successfully treated with repeat percutaneous intervention.nnnRESULTSnClinical follow-up was obtained in all 124 patients at a mean [+/-SD] of 27.4 +/- 14.7 months (range 9 to 66); a stress test was available in 88 patients (71%). Recurrence of clinical events occurred in 25 patients (20%) and included death from any cause in 2 patients (2%), target vessel revascularization in 14 (11%), myocardial infarction in 1 (1%) and positive stress test results or recurrence of symptoms (Canadian Cardiovascular Society class I to IV) treated medically in 8 (6%). Cumulative event-free survival at 12 and 24 months was 86.2% and 80.7%, respectively. Significant predictive factors of recurrence of clinical events were repeat intervention in saphenous vein grafts, multivessel disease, low ejection fraction and a < or = 3-month interval between stent implantation and repeat intervention.nnnCONCLUSIONSnIn-stent balloon angioplasty for stent restenosis in native vessels seems to be an effective method in terms of a low long-term clinical event rate.
Circulation | 1998
Issam Moussa; Jeffrey W. Moses; Carlo Di Mario; Giovanna Busi; Bernhard Reimers; Yoshio Kobayashi; Remo Albiero; M. Ferraro; Antonio Colombo
BACKGROUNDnCoronary stenting has reduced restenosis in focal de novo lesions, but its impact has been less pronounced in complex lesion subsets. Preliminary data suggest a role for plaque burden in promoting intimal hyperplasia after stent implantation. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that plaque removal with directional atherectomy before stent implantation may lower the intensity of late neointimal hyperplasia, reducing the incidence of in-stent restenosis.nnnMETHODS AND RESULTSnSeventy-one patients with 90 lesions underwent directional atherectomy before coronary stenting. Intravascular ultrasound-guided stenting was performed in 73 lesions (81%). Clinical success was achieved in 96% of patients. Procedural complications were as follows: emergency bypass surgery in 1 patient (1.4%), who died 2 weeks later; Q-wave myocardial infarction in 2 patients (2.8%); and non-Q-wave myocardial infarction in 8 patients (11.3%). None of the patients had stent thrombosis at follow-up. Angiographic follow-up was performed in 89% of eligible patients at 5.7+/-1.7 months. Loss index was 0.33 (95% CI, 0.26 to 0.40), and angiographic restenosis was 11% (95% CI, 5% to 20%). Clinical follow-up was performed in all patients at 18+/-3 months. Target lesion revascularization was 7% (95% CI, 3% to 14%).nnnCONCLUSIONSnDirectional atherectomy followed by coronary stenting could be performed with good clinical success rate. Also, these data point to a possible reduction in angiographic restenosis and a significant reduction in the need for repeated coronary interventions. Therefore, a randomized clinical trial seems appropriate to test the validity of this approach.
Journal of the American College of Cardiology | 1998
Joseph De Gregorio; Yoshio Kobayashi; Remo Albiero; Bernhard Reimers; Carlo Di Mario; Leo Finci; Antonio Colombo
OBJECTIVESnThis study sought to compare the short- and long-term outcomes of elderly patients undergoing coronary artery stenting with those of younger patients and to determine the long-term clinical outcome and survival of elderly patients post stent implantation.nnnBACKGROUNDnElderly patients undergoing coronary revascularization are considered a high-risk group. Few data exist that relate the results of stenting in treating coronary artery disease in the elderly population.nnnMETHODSnAll elderly patients >75 years of age who underwent coronary artery stenting between March 1993 and July 1997 (n=137) at our center were compared to the patients <75 who underwent coronary artery stenting during the same time period (n=2,551). Long-term clinical follow-up and survival were determined for the elderly group.nnnRESULTSnElderly patients presented with lower ejection fractions (54% vs. 58%, p=0.0001), more unstable angina (47% vs. 28%, p=0.0001), and more multivessel disease (78% vs. 62%, p= 0.0001) than younger patients. These older patients had higher rates of procedure related complications including procedural myocardial infarction (MI) (2.9% vs. 1.7%, p=0.2), emergency CABG (3.7% vs. 1.4%, p=0.04), and death (2.2% vs. 0.12%, p=0.0001). Angiographic follow-up, obtained in both groups, demonstrated significantly higher restenosis rates in the elderly versus younger patients (47% vs. 28%, p=0.0007). Longer term clinical follow-up, which was obtained only in the elderly group, showed that at a mean follow-up period of 12 months post coronary stenting, elderly survival free from death, MI, revascularization and angina was 54% and that their overall survival was 91%. Subanalysis of the elderly patients who died showed much higher incidence of combined unstable angina (80%), prior MI (60%), lower ejection fraction (46%), multivessel disease (100%) and complex lesions (100%) than the overall group.nnnCONCLUSIONSnElderly patients who undergo coronary artery stenting have significantly higher rates of procedural complications and worse six month outcomes than younger patients, especially those who present with combined unstable angina, history of MI, EF < 50%, multivessel disease and complex lesions. Overall survival in the elderly population at 12 months postcoronary artery stenting was 91% and event-free survival was 54%.
American Heart Journal | 2013
Alaide Chieffo; Azeem Latib; Christophe Caussin; Patrizia Presbitero; Stefano Galli; Alberto Menozzi; Ferdinando Varbella; Fina Mauri; Marco Valgimigli; Chourmouzios A. Arampatzis; Manuel Sabate; Andrejs Erglis; Bernhard Reimers; Flavio Airoldi; Mika Laine; Ramon Lopez Palop; Ghada Mikhail; Philip MacCarthy; Francesco Romeo; Antonio Colombo
BACKGROUNDnNo randomized studies have thus far evaluated intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance in the drug-eluting stent (DES) era. The aim was to evaluate if IVUS optimized DES implantation was superior to angiographic guidance alone in complex lesions.nnnMETHODSnRandomized, multicentre, international, open label, investigator-driven study evaluating IVUS vs angiographically guided DES implantation in patients with complex lesions (defined as bifurcations, long lesions, chronic total occlusions or small vessels). Primary study endpoint was post-procedure in lesion minimal lumen diameter. Secondary end points were combined major adverse cardiac events (MACE), target lesion revascularization, target vessel revascularization, myocardial infarction (MI), and stent thrombosis at 1, 6, 9, 12, and 24 months.nnnRESULTSnThe study included 284 patients. No significant differences were observed in baseline characteristics. The primary study end point showed a statistically significant difference in favor of the IVUS group (2.70 mm ± 0.46 mm vs. 2.51 ± 0.46 mm; P = .0002). During hospitalization, no patient died, had repeated revascularization, or a Q-wave MI. No difference was observed in the occurrence of non-Q wave MI (6.3% in IVUS vs. 7.0% in angio-guided group). At 24-months clinical follow-up, no differences were still observed in cumulative MACE (16.9%vs. 23.2 %), cardiac death (0%vs. 1.4%), MI (7.0%vs. 8.5%), target lesion revascularization (9.2% vs. 11.9%) or target vessel revascularization (9.8% vs. 15.5%), respectively in the IVUS vs. angio-guided groups. In total, only one definite subacute stent thrombosis occurred in the IVUS group.nnnCONCLUSIONSnA benefit of IVUS optimized DES implantation was observed in complex lesions in the post-procedure minimal lumen diameter. No statistically significant difference was found in MACE up to 24 months.
Journal of Endovascular Therapy | 2005
Bernhard Reimers; Horst Sievert; Gerhard Schuler; Thilo Tübler; Klaus Diederich; Andrej Schmidt; Paolo Rubino; Harald Mudra; Dariusz Dudek; Gioacchino Coppi; Joachim Schofer; Alberto Cremonesi; Mathias C. Haufe; Maurizio Resta; Volker Klauss; Alberto Benassi; Carlo Di Mario; Luca Favero; Dierk Scheinert; Luigi Salemme; Giancarlo Biamino
Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of cerebral protection during carotid artery stenting (CAS) using the Mo.Ma device, which prevents cerebral embolization by proximal endovascular blockage of blood flow in the internal and external carotid arteries. Methods: In 14 European centers, 157 patients (121 men; mean age 68.0±8.3 years) were enrolled in a prospective registry between March 2002 and March 2003. Eligible patients had a symptomatic (>50%) or asymptomatic (>70%) stenosis of the internal carotid artery suitable for carotid stenting. Protected carotid stenting was performed with the Mo.Ma system, which occludes both the common and external carotid arteries via 2 independently inflatable compliant low-pressure balloons before any device is advanced across the lesion. Blood is aspirated through the catheter intermittently or at the end of the procedure. Results: The device was successfully positioned and stents were implanted in all cases. Diameter stenosis was reduced from 84.1%±7.8% to 6.7%±5.1%. The mean duration of flow blockage was 7.6±5.9 minutes. In 12 (7.6%) patients, transient intolerance to flow blockade was observed, but the procedures were completed successfully. In 124 (79.6%) cases, there was macroscopic evidence of debris after filtering the aspirated blood. In-hospital complications included 4 (2.5%) minor strokes, 8 (5.1%) transient ischemic attacks, no deaths, and no major strokes, resulting in a 2.5% death/stroke rate at discharge. At 30-day follow-up, there was 1 cardiac death, 1 major stroke, and 3 minor strokes, for an overall 5.7% 30-day death/stroke rate and a 30-day major stroke and death rate of 1.3%. Conclusions: Cerebral protection with proximal endovascular blood flow blockage during CAS is feasible, with a high procedural success rate.
American Journal of Cardiology | 1996
Issam Moussa; Carlo Di Mario; Lucia Di Francesco; Bernhard Reimers; Simonetta Blengino; Antonio Colombo
Clinical trials have shown that stents are superior to other catheter-based coronary interventions in terms of reduced complications and improved long-term efficacy. With utilization of high-pressure balloon inflation and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance, stent implantation can now be performed safely without anticoagulation (i.e., with lower rates of stent thrombosis and vascular complications). In 2 recent prospective clinical trials, stent thrombosis occurred in 3.5% of cases despite anticoagulant therapy, which resulted in an average of 7% vascular and bleeding complications. Initial use of IVUS during traditional stent deployment showed that 80% of stents were underexpanded and led to the hypothesis that stent thrombosis might be decreased as a result of optimal stent placement under IVUS guidance without the need for anticoagulation. In a prospective clinical trial to test this hypothesis, three factors were found to reduce stent thrombosis: full stent expansion, complete apposition to the vessel wall, and full lesion coverage. Predictors of thrombotic risk in this era of high-pressure stent deployment without anticoagulation include low ejection fraction, residual dissections, slow flow, multiple stents per lesion, and smaller postprocedure stent luminal diameter. To optimize stent expansion, stent dilation should be performed using a mean inflation pressure of 18 atm with a noncompliant or minimally compliant balloon sized to the vessel being treated (B/V ratio = 1.1). Controversy still remains about the best poststent antiplatelet regimen, and results of a recent trial should indicate whether heparin coating provides additional protection from stent thrombosis.