Shunsuke Nakajima

Extracorporeal Life Support for Cardiogenic Shock or Cardiac Arrest Due to Acute Coronary Syndrome

BACKGROUND Few data are available on the clinical outcome of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) complicated by refractory cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest who receive percutaneous extracorporeal life support (ECLS). We investigated the in-hospital outcome and predictors of mortality in these patients. METHODS The investigation was a single-center, retrospective cohort study of 98 ACS patients who received ECLS to reverse hemodynamic collapse refractory to conventional treatment. RESULTS Circulatory status before ECLS introduction was cardiogenic shock in 34, ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia in 23, and asystole or pulseless electrical activity in 41. Ninety-four patients (95.9%) underwent emergency revascularization, including 92 who received percutaneous coronary intervention and 2 who received isolated coronary artery bypass grafting. Successful angioplasty was achieved in 65 of 92 patients (70.7%). Fifty-four patients (55.1%) were weaned from ECLS, and ECLS-related complications occurred in 35 (35.7%). All-cause in-hospital mortality rate was 67.3%, and the survival rate to hospital discharge was 32.7%. Multivariate analysis revealed that independent predictors of in-hospital mortality were unsuccessful angioplasty, asystole or pulseless electrical activity before ECLS introduction, and ECLS-related complications. CONCLUSIONS Despite hemodynamic support with ECLS, patients with ACS complicated by cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest refractory to conventional treatment had high mortality. However, the higher than 30% in-hospital survival rate in this extremely critical population indicates that ECLS might improve outcomes in ACS by saving the lives of patients in this specialized category. Unsuccessful angioplasty, asystole or pulseless electrical activity before ECLS introduction, and ECLS-related complications were predictors of in-hospital mortality.

Clinical and angiographic outcomes of patients undergoing entrapped guidewire retrieval in stent-jailed side branch using a balloon catheter

The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy and safety of method for retrieval of entrapped guidewire in stent‐jailed side branch using a balloon catheter.

Percutaneous coronary intervention for nonagenarian patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: Experience of a single Japanese center

BACKGROUND Old age is a prognostic risk factor for patients with ST elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI); however, few data exist describing STEMI patients aged over 90 years. METHODS We retrospectively evaluated the clinical indices and outcomes of 282 consecutive STEMI patients who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in our hospital between January 2008 and December 2012. Patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest, patients with a left main trunk culprit lesion, and patients diagnosed more than 24h after symptom onset were excluded. RESULTS Of the patients treated during the study period, 11 (3.8%) were >90 years old. The mean door-to-balloon time was significantly longer for nonagenarians than younger patients (66.2 vs. 44.0minutes; p<0.001). This was mainly attributed to delays in decision-making regarding invasive treatment by both the doctors and families. Nonagenarians had multiple coronary artery stenoses more frequently (36.4% vs. 15.0%; p<0.05) and required intra-aortic balloon pumping more often (36.4% vs. 18.9%; p=0.15) compared with patients aged ≤89 years. However, the peak creatinine kinase levels and the left ventricular ejection fractions were similar between the groups. Moreover, the in-hospital and 30-day mortality rates were similar (9.1% vs. 4.6%, p=0.50; 9.1% vs. 3.6%, p=0.34, respectively) between the groups. The two-year survival rate was 81.8% in nonagenarians. CONCLUSIONS Despite the longer door-to-balloon time, higher use of intra-aortic balloon pumping, and larger number of diseased vessels, the 30-day and 2-year survival rates of nonagenarians with STEMI were comparable to those of younger patients.

Impact of the Presence of Chronic Total Occlusion in a Non-Infarct-Related Coronary Artery in Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients.

Chronic total occlusion (CTO) in a non-infarcted-related artery was reported to worsen immediate clinical outcome in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients. However, the prognosis of such patients with preserved left ventricular function after successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not yet been clarified. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the presence of CTO contributes to a worse prognosis even in patients with preserved left ventricular function after primary PCI.We retrospectively analyzed 353 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction, whose left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was not less than 40% in the echocardiography performed 1 day after primary PCI. We divided the patients into two groups according to the presence (n = 25) or absence (n = 328) of CTO in the non-infarct-related coronary artery, and compared the clinical outcome of patients between the two groups.The LVEF estimated by echocardiography after primary PCI was similar between patients with and without CTO (55.1 ± 8.6% versus 58.0 ± 9.4%; P = 0.07). The peak creatine kinase value was also similar between the two groups (1539 versus 1921 U/L; P = 0.33); however, CTO patients were significantly more likely to undergo intra-aortic balloon pumping (56.0% versus 12.5%; P < 0.001) during primary PCI, and 30-day mortality was significantly higher in CTO patients (12.0% versus 0.9%; P < 0.001). By multivariate analysis, cardiogenic shock at arrival was significantly correlated with 30-day mortality.Even though the LVEF of AMI patients with CTO was preserved after successful PCI, a high mortality rate was observed.

Use of novel 6 French intra-aortic balloon pump catheter for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of a new 6 French (6 Fr) intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) catheter for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Sixty-nine consecutive patients who received a 6 Fr IABP catheter were retrospectively evaluated. Patients with height <162 cm were primary selected for the 6 Fr IABP catheter treatment because of limited balloon size (30 ml). These catheters were also used for patients for whom the femoral approach was contraindicated. The mean age of the patients was 76.9 years. The average height and body weight were 156.7 cm and 56.0 kg, respectively. The 6 Fr IABP catheters were successfully inserted in all 69 patients, including four patients treated via the brachial artery. No patient developed limb ischemia. Poor helium inflation due to kinking of the catheter shaft occurred in one patient and helium leakage in one patient. The other 67 patients were well supported, and no patient required the 6 Fr catheter to be exchanged with a larger balloon catheter. The current study demonstrates that using this novel and currently, the thinnest IABP catheter is feasible and safe for small-sized patients undergoing PCI and seems promising for reduction in vascular complications. Brachial insertion is also possible using the 6 Fr IABP catheter; this may solve access site limitations observed with existing conventional IABP catheters.

Pulmonary Autograft Implantation in the Dilated Aortic Annulus

The application of the pulmonary autograft (Ross) procedure in the treatment of dilated aortic annulus is still controversial, because technical errors of implantation are more likely to occur as the host annular diameter increases. The Ross procedure was successfully employed in a 28-year-old woman with a dilated aortic annulus after simple annular plication. The annulus was plicated beneath the three commissures where the pulmonary autograft was subsequently attached. The diameter of the annulus was reduced from 32 to 26 mm. This technique may provide a number of advantages compared with aortic valve replacement, especially for women of child-bearing age.

Successful recanalization of a left circumflex artery jailed with a polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stent after coronary perforation during stent implantation in the left main bifurcation

An 88-year-old woman underwent emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to treat circulatory collapse with severe stenosis in the distal left main coronary artery (LMCA). After 3.5/18-mm stent deployment from the LMCA to the left anterior descending artery (LAD), coronary perforation occurred in the LAD ostium. Therefore, we implanted a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-covered stent crossing over the left circumflex artery (LCX), and achieved successful hemostasis. Additional PCI was undertaken to recanalize the LCX. A Confienza 8–20 guidewire was able to penetrate the wall of the PTFE-covered stent, and coronary flow was successfully recovered after deployment of a 2.5/8-mm stent in the proximal LCX.

Diagnostic value of nonenhanced multidetector computed tomography for ruling out acute aortic dissection in patients presenting with chest or back pain

BACKGROUND Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is widely used for diagnosing acute aortic dissection (AAD). However, the diagnostic value of nonenhanced MDCT for AAD remains unknown. We evaluated the usefulness of nonenhanced 64-slice MDCT for ruling out AAD in patients presenting with chest or back pain. METHODS Of 107 patients with clinical suspicion of AAD who underwent MDCT, AAD was confirmed in 47 and ruled out in 60. Nonenhanced MDCT data of all patients were retrospectively assessed by 2 independent observers unaware of clinical information and contrast-enhanced MDCT data. The diagnostic performance of nonenhanced MDCT parameters to detect AAD was calculated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION Among the parameters, positive intimal flap, defined as the clear presence of a high-density membrane-like structure in the aorta on serial axial images, had a sensitivity of 87%, a specificity of 100%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 100%, and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 91%, respectively. The addition of equivocal intimal flap, defined as the ambiguous presence of a high-density membrane-like structure in the aorta on at least one axial image, increased both the sensitivity and NPV to 96%. Furthermore, the combination of intimal flap (positive+equivocal or positive alone) and high-density area in the aorta showed the highest sensitivity (98%) and NPV (98%). Combination of the nonenhanced MDCT parameters intimal flap and high-density area in the aorta provides excellent sensitivity and NPV, suggesting that nonenhanced MDCT is an effective modality for ruling out AAD in patients with chest or back pain.

TCT-846 Multicenter Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Distal Radial Approach in Coronary Angiography and Intervention

The transradial access for coronary angiography and intervention has advantages in increased safety and patient comfort with reduction of bleeding complications and early ambulation when compared with the transfemoral access. The distal transradial approach (dTRA), a newly developed technique, is

Usefulness of the Twin Guidewire Method During Retrieval of the Broken Tip of a Microcatheter Entrapped in a Heavily Calcified Coronary Artery

During percutaneous coronary intervention performed for a stenotic lesion with heavy calcification in the left coronary artery, the microcatheter tip became transected in the vessel. The fragment was successfully retrieved using the twin guidewire method after negotiating to cross a chronic total occlusion-dedicated guidewire outside the retained tip.