Bryan P. Yan

Survival of Elderly Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Acute Myocardial Infarction Complicated by Cardiogenic Shock

OBJECTIVES We sought to assess clinical outcomes of elderly patients (age >or=75 years) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute myocardial infarction (MI) complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS) in a contemporary multicenter PCI registry. BACKGROUND Although benefits of early PCI have been shown in younger groups, few studies have reported on clinical outcomes in elderly shock patients using current PCI techniques. METHODS We analyzed baseline characteristics and procedural and clinical outcomes in 143 consecutive patients presenting with MI and CS who underwent PCI from the Melbourne Interventional Group registry between 2004 and 2007. RESULTS Of the 143 patients, 31.5% (n = 45) were elderly and 68.5% were younger (age <75 years). Elderly patients were more likely to be female (46.7% vs. 22.4%, p < 0.01) and have hypertension (77.8% vs. 46.4%, p < 0.01), previous MI (31.1% vs. 15.5%, p = 0.03), renal failure (24.4% vs. 11.3%, p < 0.05) and multivessel coronary artery disease (93.1% vs. 68.3%, p < 0.01). Stent (86.7% vs. 94.8%, p = 0.09), glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor (68.9% vs. 65.3%, p = 0.67), and intra-aortic balloon pump (57.8% vs. 58.2%, p = 0.97) use were similar in both groups. In-hospital, 30-day, and 1-year mortality in the elderly group versus the younger group were 42.2% vs. 33.7% (p = 0.32), 43.2% vs. 36.1% (p = 0.42), and 52.6% vs. 46.8% (p = 0.56), respectively. CONCLUSIONS In this study, the 1-year survival of elderly patients with acute MI complicated by CS undergoing PCI was comparable to younger patients. These data suggest that in elderly patients presenting with CS, benefit is possible with selective use of early revascularization and merits further investigation.

Coronary Artery Perforations in the Contemporary Interventional Era

BACKGROUND Coronary perforations represent a serious complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS We performed a retrospective analysis of documented coronary perforations at Massachusetts General Hospital from 2000 to 2008. Medical records review and detailed angiographic analysis were performed in all patients. RESULTS Sixty-eight cases of coronary perforation were identified from a total of 14,281 PCIs from March 2000 to March 2008 representing an overall incidence of 0.48%. The study cohort was predominantly male (61.8%), mean age 71+/-11 years with 78% representing acute cases (unstable angina: 36.8%, NSTEMI: 30.9%, STEMI: 10.3%). Coronary artery perforation occurred as a complication of wire manipulation in 45 patients (66.2%) with 88.9% of this group being hydrophilic wires, of coronary stenting in 11 (16.2%), of angioplasty alone in 6 (8.8%), and of rotational atherectomy in 8 (11.8%). The perforation was sealed with an angioplasty balloon alone in 16 patients (23.5%), and with stents in 14 patients (20.6%) (covered stents: 11.8% and noncovered stents: 8.8%). Emergency CABG was performed in 2 patients (2.9%). Five patients (7.4%) developed periprocedural MI. The in-hospital mortality rate was 5.9% in the study cohort. CONCLUSION Coronary artery perforation as a complication of PCI is still rare as demonstrated in our series with an incidence of 0.48%. The predominant cause of coronary perforations in the current era of PCI is wire injury.

An evaluation of octogenarians undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention from the Melbourne Interventional Group registry

The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of octogenarians (≥80 years of age) in a contemporary, multi‐centre percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) registry.

Rates of Stent Thrombosis in Bare-Metal Versus Drug-Eluting Stents (from a Large Australian Multicenter Registry)

Recent reports suggest that drug-eluting stents (DESs) may increase the risk of stent thrombosis (ST) relative to bare-metal stents (BMSs). Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare DES and BMS outcomes with a specific focus on ST. We analyzed 30-day and 1-year outcomes of 2,919 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation from the Melbourne Interventional Group registry. Academic Research Consortium definitions of ST were used: (1) definite ST (confirmed using angiography in patients with an acute coronary syndrome), (2) probable ST (unexplained death <30 days or target-vessel myocardial infarction without angiographic confirmation), and (3) possible ST (unexplained death >30 days). Multivariate analysis was performed to identify predictors of ST. The incidence of ST (early or late) was similar between BMSs and DESs (1.6% vs 1.4%; p=0.66), and DES use was not predictive of ST. Independent predictors of ST included the absence of clopidogrel therapy at 30 days (odds ratio [OR] 2.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.29 to 5.29, p<0.01), renal failure (OR 3.30, 95% CI 1.43 to 7.59, p<0.01), index procedure presentation with an acute coronary syndrome (OR 2.59, 95% CI 1.14 to 5.87, p=0.02), diabetes mellitus (OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.19 to 4.23, p=0.01), and total stent length >or=20 mm (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.00 to 3.42, p=0.04). In conclusion, DESs were not associated with increased risk of ST compared with BMSs at 12 months in this large Australian registry that selectively used DESs for patients at high risk of restenosis.

Clinical characteristics and early mortality of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting compared to percutaneous coronary intervention: Insights from the Australasian Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons (ASCTS) and the Melbourne Interventional Group (MIG) Registries

OBJECTIVES Controversy continues over the optimal revascularisation strategy for patients with multi-vessel coronary artery disease. Clinical characteristics, risk profile, and mortality of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are thought to differ but there are limited contemporary comparative data. METHODS We compared clinical characteristics, in-hospital and 30-day mortality of 3841 consecutive patients undergoing isolated CABG and 4417 undergoing PCI. Independent predictors of 30-day mortality were determined by multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS CABG patients were older (p<0.01). The CABG group had a higher incidence of diabetes, heart failure, left ventricular ejection fraction <45%, multi-vessel coronary artery, peripheral vascular and cerebro-vascular disease (all p<0.01). Patients undergoing PCI had a higher incidence of recent myocardial infarction (MI) as the indication for revascularisation (p<0.01). In-hospital and 30-day mortality was 1.8% and 1.7% in the CABG group, and 1.4% and 1.8% in the PCI group, respectively. Independent predictors of 30-day mortality after CABG were age (odds ratio 1.1 per year, 95% confidence interval 1.0-1.1), cardiogenic shock (4.10, 1.7-10.5) and previous CABG (6.6, 2.4-17.7). Predictors after PCI were diabetes (2.7, 1.4-5.1), female gender (3.0, 1.6-5.5), renal failure (3.2, 1.2-8.0), MI<24h (4.0, 2.2-7.6), left main intervention (5.4, 1.0-27.7), heart failure (6.0, 2.6-14.0) and cardiogenic shock (11.7, 5.4-25.2). CONCLUSIONS In contemporary clinical practice, CABG is preferred in patients with multi-vessel coronary and associated non-coronary vascular disease, while PCI is the dominant strategy for acute MI. Despite this, in-hospital and 30-day mortality rates were similar. Predictors of early mortality after CABG differ to those of PCI.

May-Thurner Syndrome in Patients With Cryptogenic Stroke and Patent Foramen Ovale An Important Clinical Association

Background and Purpose— We aimed to investigate the incidence of May-Thurner syndrome in patients with cryptogenic stroke with patent foramen ovale. Methods— This was a retrospective study. All consecutive patients with cryptogenic stroke having undergone patent foramen ovale closure from January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2007, at our institute were included in this study. Pelvic magnetic resonance venography studies of all patients were reviewed to determine if features of May-Thurner syndrome were present. Medical records and invasive venography studies of all patients were reviewed when available. All patients with May-Thurner syndrome features on magnetic resonance venography were reviewed by a vascular medicine specialist to define any previous incidence of deep vein thrombosis or any signs of chronic venous insufficiency. All patients also had lower limb venous duplex performed to rule out lower limb venous thrombosis. Results— A total of 470 patients from January 1, 2002, until December 31, 2007, with cryptogenic stroke underwent patent foramen ovale closure at our institute. Thirty patients (6.3%) had features consistent with May-Thurner syndrome on magnetic resonance venography. These patients were predominantly female (80%) with a mean age of 43.6±11.9 years. Twelve patients (40%) had abnormalities in their laboratory thrombophilia evaluation and 13 females (54.1%) were taking hormone-related birth control pills. Only 2 patients had a history and signs of chronic venous insufficiency. All patent foramen ovales demonstrated right-to-left shunting on transesophageal echocardiography. Atrial septal aneurysms/hypermobile atrial septa were present in 70% of patients with May-Thurner syndrome. Conclusion— May-Thurner syndrome has an important clinical association with cryptogenic stroke and patent foramen ovale.

The effect of intended duration of clopidogrel use on early and late mortality and major adverse cardiac events in patients with drug-eluting stents.

BACKGROUND The optimal duration of clopidogrel use for prevention of stent thrombosis with drug-eluting stent (DES) use is uncertain. Our objective was to determine whether the planned duration of clopidogrel at the time of percutaneous coronary intervention affected patient outcomes. METHODS We analyzed data from 2,980 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention in the Melbourne Interventional Group registry who had 12-month follow-up. We compared outcomes at 30 days and 12 months according to planned duration of clopidogrel use. RESULTS Twelve-month mortality was significantly lower in patients with a DES with a longer (>or=12 months) planned duration of clopidogrel when compared with a shorter (<or=6 months) planned duration (2.8% vs 5.3%, P = .012). However, myocardial infarction, target-vessel revascularization, and overall major adverse cardiac events were similar in the longer- and shorter-duration clopidogrel strategies. In contrast, in patients receiving a bare-metal stent, mortality at 12 months was similar among the clopidogrel-duration strategies. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated improved cumulative survival with planned clopidogrel use of >or=12 months (log rank P = .017), and the propensity score-adjusted odds ratio was 0.59 (95% confidence interval 0.35-0.99, P = .04). Premature cessation of clopidogrel in DES patients was documented in 5.2% of patients alive at 30-day follow-up, and these patients had increased 12-month mortality (10.6% vs 1.4%, P < .0001) and major adverse cardiac events (22.4% vs 12.0%, P = .005). CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that in patients treated with DES, longer (>or=12 months) planned duration of clopidogrel results in reduced 12-month mortality and that premature cessation of clopidogrel results in significantly higher event rates. Randomized studies are urgently needed to address this issue.

Correlates of carotid stenosis in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting--a case control study.

Abstract Carotid duplex ultrasonography (DUS) is routinely performed prior to coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) on all patients > 65 years old because of the reported associated risk of finding concomitant carotid artery stenosis. Identifying risk factors that correlate with severe carotid stenosis may result in more cost-effective screening for patients with asymptomatic carotid artery disease prior to CABG. We performed a retrospective study to identify risk factors for significant carotid artery disease in patients scheduled to undergo CABG between March 2005 and March 2008 at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Patients with carotid stenosis ≥ 70% identified by DUS (n = 50) were matched by age and sex to control patients who had < 50% stenosis (n = 50). Data were analyzed using the chi-squared test or analysis of variance as appropriate. Logistic regression was used to examine multivariate correlates of carotid stenosis. A total of 643 patients were screened to arrive at the patient cohorts described below. This produced a prevalence of 7.7% for significant (> 70%) carotid disease. The patient cohorts were predominantly male with no significant difference in the incidence of diabetes, hypertension, extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) (i.e. left main coronary artery disease (LMCA) and one, two-, or three-vessel CAD) or lipid abnormalities in the two groups. Univariate analysis identified the presence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD, p = 0.001), a cervical bruit (p < 0.0001), a prior neurological event (p = 0.020), and the presence of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA; p = 0.046) as significant predictors of ≥ 70% internal carotid artery stenosis. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the presence of a carotid bruit (p = 0.0068) and PAD (p = 0.0194) were associated with an increased risk of significant carotid artery disease. In conclusion, the presence of a carotid bruit or PAD predicts an increased likelihood of significant carotid artery disease in patients undergoing CABG. Unlike previous studies, LMCA or extent of CAD did not correlate with significant carotid artery disease. Using these predictive models, a prospective outcomes trial is required to validate these criteria.

Are drug-eluting stents indicated in large coronary arteries? Insights from a multi-centre percutaneous coronary intervention registry

BACKGROUND Restenosis rates are low in large coronary vessels >/=3.5 mm after bare-metal stent (BMS) implantation. The benefit of drug-eluting stents (DES) in large vessels is not established. OBJECTIVE We aim to assess clinical outcomes after deployment of BMS compared to DES in patients with large coronary vessels >/=3.5 mm. METHODS We analysed 672 consecutive patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions with >/=3.5 mm stent implantation in native coronary artery de-novo lesions from the Melbourne Interventional Group (MIG) registry. Baseline characteristics, 30-day and 12-month outcomes of patients receiving BMS were compared to DES. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify predictors of major adverse cardiac events [MACE, consisting of death, myocardial infarction (MI) and target vessel revascularisation (TVR)]. RESULTS Of the 672 PCIs performed in 844 lesions, DES was implanted in 39.5% (n=333) and BMS in 60.5% (n=511) of lesions. Patients who received DES compared to BMS were older, more likely to be diabetic, had left ventricular dysfunction <45% or complex lesions. Significantly fewer patients who presented with ST-elevation MI received DES compared to BMS. There were no significant differences in 12-month mortality (0.5 vs. 2.9%, p=0.07), TVR (3.6 vs. 4.8%, p=0.54), MI (6.3 vs. 3.4%, p=0.15), stent thrombosis (0.9 vs. 1.0%, p=0.88), or MACE (9.4 vs. 9.4%, p=0.90) in patients who received DES vs. BMS. Stent length >/=20 mm was the only independent predictor of 12-month MACE (Odds Ratio 2.07, 95% CI 1.14-3.76, p=0.02). CONCLUSION In this registry, BMS implantation in large native coronary vessels >/=3.5 mm was associated with a low risk of MACE and repeat revascularization at 12 months that was comparable to DES.

Giant Left Circumflex Coronary Artery Aneurysm With Arteriovenous Fistula to the Coronary Sinus

An 80-year-old woman with a history of breast cancer status post radiation therapy, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, and congestive heart failure was referred to our institution for evaluation of a giant left circumflex (LCx) coronary artery aneurysm with fistulous communication to the coronary sinus. The patient initially presented with shortness of breath and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction associated with anterolateral T-wave inversion on ECG (Figure 1). Chest radiography showed a dense structure with a circular silhouette at the projection of the superior right mediastinum at the location of the right atrium in the posterior-anterior view and in the posterior mediastinum in the lateral view (Figure 2). She underwent cardiac catheterization, which showed no significant obstructive epicardial coronary artery disease. However, the angiogram revealed a large LCx coronary artery aneurysm with fistulous communication to the coronary sinus (Figure 3A and 3B; online-only Data Supplement Movies I and II). To better define the anatomic relationship of this aneurysm, a contrast-enhanced 64-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) was performed. The location of the aneurysm was noted to be posterior to the left ventricle in juxtaposition with the left atrium, and its size measured 6.0 cm × 5.6 cm …