Claudia Maria Rodrigues Alves

Self-expandable aortic stent-grafts for treatment of descending aortic dissections

BACKGROUND Acute aortic dissection is a life-threatening medical condition that is associated with high morbidity and mortality. METHODS Of 198 patients treated with a self-expanding polyester-covered stent-graft for various pathologic aortic conditions in our institution, we selected 70 consecutive patients with type B aortic dissection who were undergoing treatment. The stent-graft was introduced through the femoral artery in the angiography suite, under general anesthesia with systemic heparinization and induced hypotension. RESULTS The procedure was performed in 70 patients; of these, 58 had descending aortic dissection and 12 had atypical dissections. The procedure was successful in 65 patients (92.9%), as documented by exclusion of the false lumen of the thoracic aorta. Eleven patients (18.9%) had persistent blood flow in the false lumen of the abdominal aorta due to distal reentries. Five patients (7.1%) underwent conversion to surgery. Insertion of additional stent-grafts was required in 34 patients (48.6%). At 29 months of follow-up, 91.4% of the patients were alive. CONCLUSIONS Stent-grafts are an important means of treating aortic dissections, which may replace conventional medical treatment of this condition for the majority of patients.

Revolutionary treatment of aneurysms and dissections of descending aorta: the endovascular approach.

BACKGROUND Acute aortic dissection is a life-threatening medical condition. It is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Type B dissections are usually managed clinically during the acute phase. Conventional surgery carries high mortality rates due to the presence of serious complications. We herein present treatment of this condition with a less invasive endovascular approach. Other clinical situations such as penetrating ulcers, intramural hematomas, and true aneurysms of descending aorta were similarly treated. METHODS From December 1996 to March 2002, 191 patients with type B dissections were treated with self-expandable, polyester-covered stents. There were 120 patients (62.8%) with type B dissections, 61 patients (31.9%) with true aneurysms, 6 patients (3.1%) with penetrating ulcers or intramural hematomas, and 4 patients (2.1%) with trauma. Patients with abdominal aneurysms (44) and stents introduced under direct vision through the aortic arch (70) were excluded. The stent graft was delivered in the catheterization laboratory under general anesthesia, with induced hypotension and heparinization. All stents used were made in Brazil (Braile Biomedics, Sao Jose do Rio Preto, SP). RESULTS The procedure was performed in 191 consecutive cases. The success rate was 91.1% (174/191). Success was defined as occlusion of the thoracic intimal tear, or exclusion of the aneurysm without leaks. Hospital mortality was 10.4% (20/191 patients), due to preoperative comorbidities. Six patients required conversion to surgery. No case of paraplegia was observed. An actuarial survival curve showed 87.4% +/- 29% survival in the late follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS Stent grafts are an important development in the treatment of descending aortic aneurysms or dissections. This novel approach may replace conventional surgical treatment of these conditions, with earlier intervention and less morbidity.

Endovascular Treatment of Type B Aortic Dissection: The Challenge of Late Success

BACKGROUND Thoracic endovascular aortic repair of type B aortic dissection is a therapeutic option for selected patients. However, late outcomes of this intervention are virtually unknown, and the series already published are heterogenous regarding demographics, indications, and type of devices. METHODS From 1997 to 2004, 106 patients exclusively with classic complicated or symptomatic type B aortic dissection were treated with thoracic endovascular aortic repair, using the same device. We present in-hospital outcomes and late follow-up for 73 patients. RESULTS Technical success was achieved for 99% of patients, and the clinical success rate was 83% (exclusion of the false lumen, no early death or surgical conversion). In-hospital death occurred in 5 patients, 2 of them after surgical conversion. Three patients required urgent surgical conversion. Neurologic complications occurred in 5 patients (1 case of paraplegia). The average time of follow-up was 35.9 +/- 28.5 months. During follow-up, 37% of patients initially successfully treated reached a failure criterion (new endovascular or surgical intervention in the same aortic segment or death due to aortic or unknown cause). Kaplan-Meier curve showed late survival rates higher than 80% in 2 years. CONCLUSIONS Patients with both acute and chronic type B aortic dissection had excellent initial results with thoracic endovascular aortic repair. Although event-free survival rates decreased gradually with time owing to the frequent need for new interventions, survival curves were comparable to those for less complex patients undergoing clinical or surgical treatment. Randomized studies are required to establish the actual benefit of this new approach.

Endovascular treatment of thoracic disease: patient selection and a proposal of a risk score

BACKGROUND Although selection criteria and subgroup analysis are still in the early developmental stages, endovascular treatment of aortic disease has become an alternative to surgery for many patients. METHODS From November 1996 to November 1999, 49 patients were treated with a self-expandable endoprosthesis at our institution. Most patients had acute aortic dissections. Thirteen of these patients did not follow the anatomic selection protocol. We retrospectively analyzed these patients to compare our numerical risk score (which includes clinical and anatomic criteria) between groups with or without success and between groups that followed the anatomic protocol (P) or did not follow the anatomic protocol (E [exception]). RESULTS Success rates were similar in groups P and E, although mortality rates were higher in group E. Patients from group E had longer procedures and required multiple stents more frequently. The proposed risk score was able to differentiate between groups with or without success, as well as between groups P and E. CONCLUSIONS In order to reduce mortality and morbidity rates, careful selection criteria must be followed when treating patients endovascularly. Although it is time-consuming, using objective criteria can help select patients for endovascular treatment. We propose that patients with a risk score higher than 11 should only undergo percutaneous treatment when they have an unacceptably high surgical risk, and even so only after a detailed discussion of the risks.

Rede de infarto com supradesnivelamento de ST: sistematização em 205 casos diminui eventos clínicos na rede pública

BACKGROUND: The major cause of death in the city of Sao Paulo (SP) is cardiac events. At its periphery, in-hospital mortality in acute myocardial infarction is estimated to range between 15% and 20% due to difficulties inherent in large metropoles. OBJECTIVE:To describe in-hospital mortality in ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) of patients admitted via ambulance or peripheral hospitals, which are part of a structured training network (STEMI Network). METHODS: Health care teams of four emergency services (Ermelino Matarazzo, Campo Limpo, Tatuape and Saboya) of the periphery of the city of Sao Paulo and advanced ambulances of the Emergency Mobile Health Care Service (abbreviation in Portuguese, SAMU) were trained to use tenecteplase or to refer for primary angioplasty. A central office for electrocardiogram reading was used. After thrombolysis, the patient was sent to a tertiary reference hospital to undergo cardiac catheterization immediately (in case of failed thrombolysis) or in 6 to 24 hours, if the patient was stable. Quantitative and qualitative variables were assessed by use of uni- and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: From January 2010 to June 2011, 205 consecutive patients used the STEMI Network, and the findings were as follows: 87 anterior wall infarctions; 11 left bundle-branch blocks; 14 complete atrioventricular blocks; and 14 resuscitations after initial cardiorespiratory arrest. In-hospital mortality was 6.8% (14 patients), most of which due to cardiogenic shock, one hemorrhagic cerebrovascular accident, and one bleeding. CONCLUSION: The organization in the public health care system of a network for the treatment of STEMI, involving diagnosis, reperfusion, immediate transfer, and tertiary reference hospital, resulted in immediate improvement of STEMI outcomes.

Predictors of in-hospital mortality in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing pharmacoinvasive treatment

OBJECTIVES: To identify predictors of in-hospital mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing pharmacoinvasive treatment. METHODS: This was an observational, prospective study that included 398 patients admitted to a tertiary center for percutaneous coronary intervention within 3 to 24 hours after thrombolysis with tenecteplase. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01791764 RESULTS: The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 5.8%. Compared with patients who survived, patients who died were more likely to be older, have higher rates of diabetes and chronic renal failure, have a lower left ventricular ejection fraction, and demonstrate more evidence of heart failure (Killip class III or IV). Patients who died had significantly lower rates of successful thrombolysis (39% vs. 68%; p = 0.005) and final myocardial blush grade 3 (13.0% vs. 61.9%; p<0.0001). Based on the multivariate analysis, the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events score (odds ratio 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-1.09; p = 0.001), left ventricular ejection fraction (odds ratio 0.9, 95% CI 0.89-0.97; p = 0.001), and final myocardial blush grade of 0-2 (odds ratio 8.85, 95% CI 1.34-58.57; p = 0.02) were independent predictors of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: In this prospective study that evaluated patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated by a pharmacoinvasive strategy, the in-hospital mortality rate was 5.8%. The Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events score, left ventricular ejection fraction, and myocardial blush were independent predictors of mortality in this high-risk group of acute coronary syndrome patients.

Treatment of thoracoabdominal aneurysm with self-expandable aortic stent grafts

A 67-year-old man with a large thoracoabdominal aneurysm was treated utilizing the endovascular approach with multiple stent graft implantation. The proximal thoracic and distal abdominal necks of the aneurysm had favorable anatomy for insertion of multiple endovascular stents. The proximal end was located just distal to the left subclavian artery, and stents were placed to the region of the celiac axis. The infrarenal aneurysm was treated with a bifurcated stent graft to the iliac arteries. The patient has had a smooth post-stent insertion course and remains well after 3 months of follow-up.

Pregnancy-associated spontaneous coronary artery dissection: insights from a case series of 13 patients.

Aims We sought to present a series of 13 pregnancy-associated spontaneous coronary artery dissection (P-SCAD), their angiographic and multimodal imaging findings, acute phase treatment, and outcomes. Methods and results Between 2005 and 2015, 13 cases of P-SCAD were collected from a database of 11 tertiary hospitals. The mean age was 33.8 ± 3.7 years; most patients had no risk factors for coronary artery disease, and the majority were multiparous. P-SCAD occurred during the puerperium in 12 patients with a median time of 10 days. Only one patient presented with P-SCAD in the 37th week of pregnancy, and she was the only patient who died in this series. Six patients (46%) presented with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI), six (46%) presented with non-STEMI, and one presented with unstable angina; one-third of women had cardiogenic shock. In 12 patients, the dissection involved the left anterior descending or circumflex artery, and it extended to the left main coronary artery in 6 patients. Intravascular ultrasound or optical coherence tomography helped to confirm diagnosis and guide treatment in 46% of cases. Seven women were managed clinically; percutaneous coronary intervention was performed in five cases, and coronary artery bypass grafting was performed in one patient. Conclusion In these 13 cases of P-SCAD, clinical presentation commonly included acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock. Multivessel dissections and involvement of the left coronary artery and left main coronary artery were highly prevalent. Clinicians must be aware of angiographic appearances of P-SCAD for prompt diagnosis and management in these high-risk patients.

Utilização de endoprótese auto-expansível (Stent) introduzida através da artéria femoral para tratamento de dissecção da aorta descendente

OBJETIVO: Apresentar a correcao de disseccao da aorta descendente, utilizando stent recoberto com dacron® introduzido atraves da arteria femoral na sala de hemodinâmica. METODOS: Quatro pacientes foram submetidos a sedacao, anestesia local de ambas regioes inguinais e a heparinizacao sistemica, com cateter contendo o stent introduzido, atraves da arteria femoral comum, previamente dissecada, ate a aorta descendente no seu terco medio. RESULTADOS: A expansao do stent foi realizada no local onde existia a lesao da intima, diagnosticada por arteriografia e ecocardiograma. A oclusao da falsa luz foi imediata. O tempo do procedimento foi em media de 1h e 30min. A alta hospitalar ocorreu sem complicacoes. CONCLUSAO: Este procedimento podera proporcionar uma melhora substancial nos resultados do tratamento das disseccoes da aorta descendente.

P2Y12 receptor inhibition with prasugrel and ticagrelor in STEMI patients after fibrinolytic therapy: Analysis from the SAMPA randomized trial☆

BACKGROUND A pharmacodynamic comparison between ticagrelor and prasugrel after fibrinolytic therapy has not yet been performed. METHODS In the single-center SAMPA trial, 50 consecutive STEMI patients previously treated with clopidogrel and undergoing a pharmacoinvasive strategy were randomized to either a ticagrelor (n=25) 180mg loading dose followed by 90mg bid, or a prasugrel (n=25) 60mg loading dose followed by 10mg/day, initiated after fibrinolytic therapy but before angiography. Platelet reactivity was assessed with the VerifyNow P2Y12 assay at 0, 2, 6, and 24h after randomization. RESULTS Mean times from fibrinolysis to prasugrel or ticagrelor administration were 11.1±6.9 and 13.3±6.3h, respectively (p=0.24). The values of PRU decreased significantly from baseline to 2h (all p<0.001) and from 2h to 6h (all p<0.001) in both groups. There was no difference in PRU values between 6h and 24h. The mean PRU values at 0, 2, 6, and 24h were 234.9, 127.8, 45.4, and 48.0 in the prasugrel group and 233.1, 135.1, 67.7, and 56.9 in the ticagrelor group, respectively. PRU values did not significantly differ between groups at any time period of the study. CONCLUSIONS In patients with STEMI treated with fibrinolytic therapy, platelet inhibition after clopidogrel is suboptimal and can be further increased with more potent agents. Ticagrelor and prasugrel demonstrated a similar extent of P2Y12 receptor inhibition within 24h, although maximal platelet inhibition after these potent agents was not achieved for 6h.