Salem Badr

Prevalence and Effect of Myocardial Injury After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

The incidence and prognostic implication of myocardial injury after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) have not been consistently studied. We aimed to assess the incidence and extent of myocardial injury after TAVR performed using transfemoral and transapical approaches. The clinical data from patients with aortic stenosis who underwent TAVR were retrospectively analyzed. The myocardial necrosis markers cardiac troponin I and creatine kinase (CK)-MB were assessed during hospitalization. Of the 150 TAVR patients, 95% and 50% had an abnormally elevated cardiac troponin I and CK-MB level, respectively. The transapical patients had significantly greater elevations of both cardiac troponin I (13.8 ± 14.0 vs 2.5 ± 5.8 ng/ml, p <0.001) and CK-MB (28.4 ± 24.2 vs 7.4 ± 8.6 ng/ml, p ≤0.001). On receiver operating curve analysis, postprocedural CK-MB (twofold increase) had high predictive power for 30-day mortality (area under the curve 0.85, p <0.001). Patients with high CK-MB levels had greater rates of postprocedural kidney injury (22% vs 6%, p = 0.026), in-hospital (22% vs 0%, p <0.001), 30-day (27% vs 1.5%, p <0.001), and 1-year mortality (41% vs 18%, p = 0.01). Baseline renal failure and no β-blocker treatment on admission were independent predictors of an elevated postprocedural CK-MB level. In conclusion, a cardiac biomarker increase after TAVR was common and more frequent among transapical access patients. A twofold increase (>7 ng/ml) in CK-MB after transfemoral TAVR was a surrogate for poor long-term outcomes.

Two-Year Follow-Up of Outcomes of Second-Generation Everolimus-Eluting Stents Versus First-Generation Drug-Eluting Stents for Stenosis of Saphenous Vein Grafts Used as Aortocoronary Conduits

Second-generation everolimus-eluting stents (EESs) have demonstrated superiority in efficacy and safety compared with first-generation drug-eluting stents (DESs) in the treatment of native coronary artery lesions. The present study evaluated and compared the safety and efficacy of EESs and first-generation DESs in saphenous vein graft lesions. The EES group consisted of 88 patients with 96 lesions, and the first-generation DES group consisted of 243 patients with 317 lesions (sirolimus-eluting stents, n = 212; paclitaxel-eluting stents, n = 105). The end points included target lesion revascularization, target vessel revascularization, major adverse cardiovascular events (composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization), and definite stent thrombosis at 2 years. The groups had similar baseline characteristics and graft ages (128.1 ± 77.5 vs 132.4 ± 90.8 months, p = 0.686). The EES group had more type C lesions and less embolic protection device use. The peak postprocedure values of creatinine kinase-MB and troponin I were similar between the 2 groups. Overall, major adverse cardiovascular events occurred in 18.2% of EES patients and 35.0% of first-generation DES patients (p = 0.003), mainly driven by a lower target vessel revascularization rate (6.8% vs 24.5%, p <0.001). The target lesion revascularization rate was lower in the EES group (1.1% vs 11.6%, p = 0.005). Stent thrombosis was low and similar between the 2 groups (0% vs 0.8%, p = 1.000). On multivariate analysis, the type of DES implanted and graft age were the only independent predictors of major adverse cardiovascular events. In conclusion, the superiority of EESs compared with first-generation DESs shown in native artery lesions has been extended to saphenous vein graft lesions and should be considered as the DES of choice for this lesion type.

Comparison of Adverse Outcomes After Contemporary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Women Versus Men With Acute Coronary Syndrome

Previous studies have shown a relation between female gender and adverse outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The aim of this study was to determine whether there are differences in correlates between genders for these long-term adverse outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndromes. Gender differences were evaluated in the clinical outcomes of 6,929 consecutive patients with acute coronary syndromes from a large, contemporary PCI registry. Rates of major adverse cardiovascular events, defined as all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, and target lesion revascularization at 1-year follow-up, are reported. Independent correlates of adverse outcomes were identified using multivariate proportional-hazards regression analysis. Women were older (p <0.001); had a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (p <0.001), systemic hypertension (p <0.001), chronic renal insufficiency (p = 0.02), peripheral arterial disease (p <0.001), and congestive heart failure (p <0.001); had lower body surface areas (p <0.001); and had higher body mass indexes (p <0.001). Acute coronary syndrome presentation in women tended to be unstable angina pectoris with Canadian Cardiovascular Society class III and IV symptoms, whereas men had more acute myocardial infarctions. At 1 year, the unadjusted rates of all-cause mortality (10.7% vs 7.5%, p <0.001) and major adverse cardiovascular events (16.4% vs 12.7%, p <0.001) were higher in women. There was a stark difference between the genders in independent correlates of mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events at 1 year. Moreover, the traditional correlates did not have the same impact in women as in men. In conclusion, although there are differences in clinical outcomes after PCI for women compared with men, there are different correlates for these adverse outcomes. These gender-based differences should be taken into account when women undergo contemporary PCI.

The state of the excimer laser for coronary intervention in the drug-eluting stent era

OBJECTIVES This study aims to determine how excimer laser coronary atherectomy (ELCA) performs in the drug-eluting stent (DES) era. BACKGROUND For more than 20 years, ELCA has been used for coronary intervention. With developments in the coronary intervention field, the role of ELCA is in question. METHODS The study includes 119 patients with 124 lesions who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with ELCA in our institution from January 2004 to May 2011. RESULTS The main indications for ELCA use were saphenous vein graft (SVG) (45 lesions), acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (7 lesions), chronic total occlusion (CTO) (32 lesions), in-stent restenosis (ISR) (15 lesions), and calcified de-novo lesions (25 lesions). High success rates were recorded for the SVG, AMI, CTO, ISR, and calcified lesion indications (91.1%, 85.7%, 93.8%, 86.7%, and 80%; respectively). ELCA related complications were reported in 10 patients (8%); four dissections, three no-reflow phenomena, two perforations, and one thrombus formation. CONCLUSION ELCA is an alternative solution with acceptable performance in the treatment of complex coronary lesions not ideally suitable for balloon angioplasty.

Acquired thrombocytopenia after transcatheter aortic valve replacement: clinical correlates and association with outcomes

AIMS This study aimed to evaluate incidence and correlates for low platelet count after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and to determine a possible association between acquired thrombocytopenia and clinical outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS Patients undergoing TAVR from two medical centres were included in the study. They were stratified according to nadir platelet count post procedure: no/mild thrombocytopenia, ≥100 × 10(9)/L; moderate, 50-99 × 10(9)/L; and severe, <50 × 10(9)/L. A total of 488 patients composed of the study population (age 84.7 ± 7.5 years). At a median time of 2 days after TAVR, 176 patients (36.1%) developed significant thrombocytopenia: 149 (30.5%) moderate; 27 patients (5.5%) severe. Upon discharge, the vast majority of patients (90.2%) had no/mild thrombocytopenia. Nadir platelet count <50 × 10(9)/L was highly specific (96.3%), and a count <150 × 10(9)/L highly sensitive (91.2%), for predicting 30-day death (C-statistic 0.76). Patients with severe acquired thrombocytopenia had a significantly higher mortality rate at 1 year (66.7% for severe vs. 16.0% for no/mild vs. 20.1% for moderate; P < 0.001). In multivariate logistic regression, severe thrombocytopenia was independently associated with 1-year mortality (hazard ratio 3.44, CI: 1.02-11.6; P = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS Acquired thrombocytopenia was common after TAVR and was mostly resolved at patient discharge. The severity of thrombocytopenia after TAVR could be used as an excellent, easily obtainable, marker for worse short- and long-term outcomes after the procedure.

Red cell distribution width as a bleeding predictor after percutaneous coronary intervention

BACKGROUND Red cell distribution width (RDW), a measure of variability in the size of circulating erythrocytes, is an independent predictor of mortality in cardiovascular disease and in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We set out to determine if RDW is a prognostic marker of major bleeding post-PCI. METHODS The study population included 6,689 patients who were subjected to PCI. The RDW was derived from a complete blood count drawn before PCI. Major inhospital bleeding was defined as a hematocrit decrease ≥12%, hemoglobin drop of ≥4, transfusion of ≥2 units of packed red blood cells, retroperitoneal, or gastrointestinal or intracranial bleeding. Multivariable logistic analysis of major inhospital bleeding was performed using a logistic regression model that comprised the National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR) risk score model as a single variable. RESULTS Major bleeding (P < .001), vascular complications (P = .005), and transfusions (P < .001) were significantly higher in patients with higher baseline RDW values. After adjustment for known bleeding correlates, RDW was a significant predictor for major bleeding (odds ratio 1.12, 95% CI 1.06-1.19, P < .001). Although the c statistic of the NCDR risk prediction model changed from 0.730 to 0.737 (P = .032), the net reclassification improvement increased significantly after the addition of RDW as a continuous variable (17.3% CI 6.7%-28%, P = .002). CONCLUSIONS Red cell distribution width, an easily obtainable marker, has an independent, linear relationship with major bleeding post-PCI and incrementally improves the well-validated NCDR risk prediction model. These data suggest that further investigation is necessary to determine the relationship of RDW and post-PCI bleeding.

Operator learning curve for transradial percutaneous coronary interventions: implications for the initiation of a transradial access program in contemporary US practice ☆ ☆☆

OBJECTIVES Our study aimed to assess the characteristics and outcomes of transfemoral approach (TFA) versus the initial steps of a transradial approach (TRA) program and to assess the learning curve of TRA in contemporary, US practice. BACKGROUND When compared to TFA, TRA has been shown to lower bleeding and vascular complications during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, use of TRA is still low. There are limited data regarding the characteristics of TRA learning curve, especially in an era with designated TRA equipment. METHODS Consecutive patients undergoing PCI in a single US center were divided into two cohorts according to vascular access approach: the last 250 TFA patients prior to the establishment of a TRA program and the initial 239 TRA patients following the establishment of a TRA program. Subgroup analysis of the TRA group, which was divided into five sequential case groups of 50 cases per group, was performed in order to assess TRA learning curve. RESULTS Overall, the baseline characteristics of TFA vs. TRA groups were comparable. Fluoroscopy time was significantly longer during TRA procedures (18±11 vs. 15±8min, respectively, p=0.002); however, contrast use was lower during TRA procedures (161±72 vs. 180±63ml, respectively, p=0.002). In-hospital outcomes were similar between the two groups, with low frequencies of mortality, myocardial infarction, and stent thrombosis. Subanalysis of TRA group for learning curve assessment showed no major differences in patient demographics among the five subgroups. In the initial cases, more PCI was performed among non-acute cases (62% in patients 1-50 vs. 8-27% in patients 51-239, p<0.001). Despite these differences, characteristics of the treated vessels were similar between groups. There was no significant change in fluoroscopy time or in the amount of iodinated contrast volume delivered. Similarly, no differences in procedural, in-hospital, and long-term outcomes were documented. CONCLUSIONS Adopting TRA as a default is feasible for high-volume operators without significant learning curve effects.

Paravalvular regurgitation after transcatheter aortic valve replacement: Diagnosis, clinical outcome, preventive and therapeutic strategies

Paravalvular regurgitation is a common, potentially life-threatening complication of transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Previous studies report a 65%-94% rate of paravalvular leakage after transcatheter implantation, mostly of mild degree. The rate of significant (≥ +2) paravalvular regurgitation varies in large clinical trials, and is associated with worse clinical outcome. There is less agreement regarding the significance of mild regurgitation (grade 1+). There are anatomical and procedural correlates for paravalvular leak-most importantly, severe valve calcification, patient prosthetic mismatch, and device malposition. The following review details the current knowledge on paravalvular regurgitation after transcatheter aortic valve replacement, including diagnosis, correlates, clinical outcome, preventive and therapeutic strategies related to this complication.

Comparison of Long-Term Outcomes Between Everolimus-Eluting and Sirolimus-Eluting Stents in Small Vessels

Although second-generation everolimus-eluting stents (EESs) have demonstrated superiority over first-generation paclitaxel-eluting stents for a broad subset of patients and lesions, it is unclear whether the same applies to sirolimus-eluting stents (SESs). The present study compared the long-term clinical outcomes between EESs and SESs in patients with small coronary artery disease. A cohort of 643 patients treated with EESs (220 patients with 245 lesions) or SESs (423 patients with 523 lesions) in small vessel lesions (defined as those receiving stents ≤2.5 mm) were retrospectively analyzed. The end points included target lesion revascularization, target vessel revascularization, major adverse cardiovascular events (all-cause death, myocardial infarction, or target lesion revascularization), and definite stent thrombosis at 1 year of follow-up. The baseline characteristics were generally similar between the 2 groups, except that more systemic hypertension was seen in the EES group and more patients had a family history of coronary artery disease in the SES group. The 1-year target lesion revascularization (5.6% vs 4.8%, p = 0.68) and target vessel revascularization (5.6% vs 7.6%, p = 0.33) rates showed no significant differences between the EES and SES groups. Overall major adverse cardiovascular events occurred in 9.1% of the EES- and 8.6% of SES-treated patients (p = 0.83). This similar major adverse cardiovascular events rate remained after adjustment. The rate of stent thrombosis was 0% in the EES group and 1.2% in the SES group (p = 0.17). In conclusion, EESs demonstrated comparable clinical outcomes to those of SESs in small vessel interventions. The absence of stent thrombosis among patients treated with EESs suggests a good safety profile for this second-generation drug-eluting stent, which should be carefully studied in a larger series of patients with small vessel disease.

Safety and long‐term outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with human immunodeficiency virus

This study aims to report the long‐term outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV+) patients.