Dominik Wretowski

Refined balloon pulmonary angioplasty driven by combined assessment of intra-arterial anatomy and physiology – Multimodal approach to treated lesions in patients with non-operable distal chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension – Technique, safety and efficacy of 50 consecutive angioplasties

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) is an emerging therapeutic method in CTEPH. We aimed to prove the safety and efficacy of refined BPA driven by combined assessment of intra-arterial anatomy (IVUS/OCT) and physiology (pulmonary pressure ratio, PPR) in non-operable distal CTEPH. METHODS 11 pts (mean age 76, 59–84, 7 males) were enrolled in the BPA program according to the following inclusion criteria: 1. Non-operable CTEPH; 2. RHC with mPAP > 30 mm Hg; 3. At least one segmental perfusion defect at lung scintigraphy; 4. WHO class > II. Overall, 9 pts underwent 27 BPA sessions (mean 3 sessions per patient, range 1–5), 50 pulmonary arteries were dilated (mean 6 vessels per patient, range 3–9; 2.03 dilated arteries per session). All the angioplasties were performed according to an algorithm, which incorporated anatomical and functional assessment of targeted lesions. RESULTS We performed BPA of 32 web lesions, 5 ring-like stenosis and 13 complete obstructions. BPA resulted in clinical and hemodynamic improvement. WHO class improved from pre-BPA to post-BPA (p = 0.018), and 6 MWD increased from 304 m to 384 m (p = 0.03), NT-proBNP dropped from 1248 pg/ml to 730 pg/ml (p < 0.001). Mean PAP and PVR decreased (p = 0.01), while CO and CI increased (p = 0.01). All dilated arteries were patent at angiographic reassessment. No significant complications occurred and all treated patients are still alive. Insignificant transient reperfusion pulmonary oedema occurred in only 2 patients, who responded well to supplemental oxygen. CONCLUSIONS Refined BPA with assessment of intrapulmonary physiology using a pressure wire and precise evaluation of anatomy with IVUS and OCT provides hemodynamic and functional improvement, with minimal complications in distal non-operable CTEPH. This observation requires further validation in a large prospective study.

Prognostic value of B-type natriuretic peptide levels on admission in patients with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction

Objective — To assess the relation between B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels on admission in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and short-term, all-cause mortality. Methods and results — Blood samples for BNP determination were obtained on admission in 88 patients (mean age 60.6 ± 10.7 years old) with STEMI. In a 15-minute period, BNP was measured by using simple bedside test for rapid quantification of BNP. Thirty days follow-up was performed. During the period of follow-up 12 (13.6%) patients died. Mean BNP was 228.74 ± 269.98 pg/ml.The lowest value was 5 pg/ml, the highest value 1300 pg/ml due to limitations of the method.The baseline level of BNP was higher among patients who died than among those who were alive at 30 days (mean, 545.6 vs. 178.7 pg/ml; P = 0.001). Mortality increased among patients in increasing quartiles (p = 0.009). The unadjusted odds ratio for 30-day risk of death in the fourth quartile was 5.6 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.6 to 20.5; P < 0.001).When BNP was added to a multivariate Cox regression model including clinical and electrocardiographic variables, BNP levels were independently associated with the prognosis. Conclusions — BNP levels obtained on admission are a powerful, independent indicator of shortterm mortality in patients with STEMI. Rapid tests for BNP assay seem to be a new tool in risk stratification of patients with STEMI.

Refined balloon pulmonary angioplasty—A therapeutic option in very elderly patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) is a developing treatment for inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). However, to our knowledge there are no published data on BPA in CTEPH subjects aged 75 or over. The aim of the study was to analyze clinical and hemodynamic outcomes of sequential BPA in very elderly patients disqualified from pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA). PATIENTS AND METHODS We enrolled 10 patients (4 male, 6 female, median age 81 [75-88]) with confirmed CTEPH, mPAP > 30 mmHg, and WHO class > II, disqualified from PEA. Overall, 10 patients underwent 39 BPA sessions (mean 3.9 sessions per patient, range 1-9), and 70 pulmonary arteries were dilated, (mean 6.5 vessels per patient, range 1-14). RESULTS Pulmonary angioplasty resulted in significant clinical and hemodynamic improvement in every patient: 6 MWT distance increased from a median of 221 m (80-320) to 345 (230-455) and plasma NT-proBNP levels decreased (P < 0.01). Sequential BPA resulted in normalization of mPAP (<25 mmHg) in 6 of 10 patients and mPAP decreased to 25-30 mmHg in three others. In the whole group mPAP decreased from 41 (31-53) mmHg to 23 (17-33) mmHg (P < 0.01). Overall, mean PAP and PVR decreased significantly in all cases, while CO and CI increased (P < 0.01). No severe complications occurred during BPA and over a median follow-up of 553 days (range 81-784), and all patients are still alive and in good general health. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated the safety and efficacy of refined BPA in CTEPH patients aged 75 or over, disqualified from PEA. Refined BPA may emerge as an alternative therapeutic strategy in very elderly CTEPH patients who are suitable for surgery, but this requires further validation in a large prospective study.

High prevalence of severe coronary artery disease in elderly patients with non-operable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension referred for balloon pulmonary angioplasty

Introduction Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) is a new emerging catheter-based alternative treatment option for patients with inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Aim To show that all elderly CTEPH patients referred for BPA are at higher risk of obstructive coronary artery disease and that, in daily practice, they should undergo invasive coronary angiography. Material and methods Eleven patients at the age of at least 65 years (6 males, 5 females, 77.2 ±5.9 years) with confirmed non-operable type II or type III CTEPH, considered for BPA, underwent elective coronary angiography. Severe obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) was diagnosed when stenosis of left main coronary artery ≥ 50% or stenosis of ≥ 70% of epicardial arteries was angiographically confirmed. We also screened for CAD consecutive age- and sex-matched 114 PE survivors (52 males, 62 females, 74.8 ±7.2 years) with excluded CTEPH. Results Severe CAD was more frequent in elderly patients with non-operable type II or type III CTEPH candidates for BPA than in elderly acute PE survivors with excluded CTEPH (54.5% vs. 16.7%, p < 0.01), and therefore elderly CTEPH patients referred for BPA were at higher risk of CAD (OR = 5.9, 95% CI: 1.64–21.46, p = 0.007) when compared to elderly survivors after acute PE with excluded CTEPH. Conclusions All elderly CTEPH patients referred for BPA are at higher risk of severe CAD and should routinely undergo invasive coronary angiography before BPA.

Acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with delayed angioplasty in a patient with anomalous origin of the right coronary artery in the early phase after kidney transplantation

This case demonstrates a rare anomalous of origin of right coronary artery from the left sinus of Valsalva in patients who underwent kidney transplantation complicated by an acute ST elevation myocardial infarction treated with delay angioplasty.

Letter by Roik et al Regarding Article, "Novel Angiographic Classification of Each Vascular Lesion in Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension Based on Selective Angiogram and Results of Balloon Pulmonary Angioplasty".

We read with great interest the article by Kawakami et al,1 who provided novel angiographic classification of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) lesions and demonstrated that the outcome and complication rate of balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) are mainly related to the location and morphology of treated thromboembolic lesions. First, we would like to congratulate the authors for their effort to analyze 1936 thromboembolic lesions assessed during 500 BPA sessions in 97 patients with CTEPH. However, despite this important novel angiographic classification, and its potential practical application, the authors concluded that during BPA …

Drożny otwór owalny i jego znaczenie u pacjentów z ostrą zatorowością płucną

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) occurs in 25–35% of the general population and it is the most common cause of intracardiac shunt. In patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE) and right ventricular overload, PFO is a risk factor of paradoxical embolism leading to ischaemic stroke or peripheral embolism. PFO in APE was reported to be a risk factor for the complicated course and increased in-hospital mortality.