Intravascular ultrasound-guided transluminal extraction atherectomy for restenosis after Gianturco-Roubin coronary stent implantation

Current Role of Laser Angioplasty of Restenotic Coronary Stents

Treatment of in-stent restenosis (ISR) with conventional percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) causes significant recurrent neointimal tissue growth in 30-85%. Therefore, laser ablation of intrastent neointimal hyperplasia before balloon dilation can be an attractive alternative. However, the long-term outcomes of such treatment have not been studied thoroughly enough. This prospective case-control study evaluated angiographic and clinical outcomes of PTCA alone and a combination of excimer laser coronary angioplasty (ELCA) and adjunct PTCA in 125 patients with ISR. ELCA was performed before balloon dilation in 67 patients, PTCA alone was performed in 58 patients. Basic demographic and clinical data were comparable in both groups. Lesions included in ELCA group were longer (17.1 ±9.9 vs 13.6 ±9.1 mm; p=0.034), more complex (36.5% type C stenoses vs 14.3%; p=0.006), and more frequently had reduced distal blood flow (TIMI <3: 18.9% vs 4.8%; p=0.025) compared to lesions in the PTCA group. Immediate angiographic results of PTCA and ELCA + PTCA appeared to be comparable. PTCA alone was successful in 57 patients (98.3%), ELCA + PTCA, in 66 patients (98.5%). The rates of hospital complications were comparable (3.0% in ELCA group vs 8.6% in PTCA group). The 1-year follow-up showed that the rates of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were comparable in the 2 groups (37.3% in ELCA group vs 46.6% in PTCA group). The rates of target vessel revascularization (TVR) within 1 year after the intervention were also similar in the 2 groups (32.8% vs 34.5%). The data mean that ELCA in patients with complex ISR is efficient and safe. Despite a higher complexity of lesions in the ELCA group, no increase in the rate of complications was registered.

Effectiveness of transluminal extraction atherectomy for debulking saphenous vein graft in-stent restenosis

Treatment of in-stent restenosis in saphenous vein grafts often requires initial debulking, but transluminal extraction catheter (TEC) atherectomy is seldom used for this purpose, and most discussions omit this option. Our experience with 6 episodes of TEC used successfully for saphenous vein graft in-stent restenosis and review of 7 other reported cases suggests TEC may be safe and effective for debulking saphenous vein graft restenosis lesions.

Clinical and angiographic outcome in the laser angioplasty for restenotic stents (LARS) multicenter registry

In-stent restenosis (ISR), when treated with balloon angioplasty (PTCA) alone, has an angiographic recurrence rate of 30%-85%. Ablating the hypertrophic neointimal tissue prior to PTCA is an attractive alternative, yet the late outcomes of such treatment have not been fully determined. This multicenter case control study assessed the angiographic and clinical outcomes of 157 consecutive procedures in 146 patients with ISR at nine institutions treated with either PTCA alone (n = 64) or excimer laser assisted coronary angioplasty (ELCA, n = 93)) for ISR. Demographics were similar except more unstable angina at presentation in ELCA-treated patients (74.5% vs. 63.5%; P = 0.141). Lesions selected for ELCA were longer (16.8 +/- 11.2 mm vs. 11.2 +/- 8.6 mm; P < 0.001), more complex (ACC/AHA type C: 35.1% vs. 13.6%; P < 0.001), and with compromised antegrade flow (TIMI flow < 3: 18.9% vs. 4.5%; P = 0.008) compared to PTCA-treated patients. ELCA-treated patients had similar rate of procedural success [93 (98.9% vs. 62 (98.4%); P = 1.0] and major clinical complications [1 (1.1%) vs. 1 (1.6%); P = 1.0]. At 30 days, repeat target site coronary intervention was lower in ELCA-treated patients (1.1% vs. 6.4% in PTCA-treated patients; P = 0.158), but not significantly so. At 1 year, ELCA-treated patients had similar rate of major cardiac events (39.1% vs. 45.2%; P = 0.456) and target lesion revascularization (30.0% vs. 32.3%; P = 0.646). These data suggest that ELCA in patients with complex in-stent restenosis is as safe and effective as balloon angioplasty alone. Despite higher lesion complexity in ELCA-treated patients, no increase in event rates was observed. Future studies should evaluate the relative benefit of ELCA over PTCA alone for the prevention of symptom recurrence specifically in patients with complex in-stent restenosis.

Rotational atherectomy or balloon angioplasty in the treatment of intra-stent restenosis: BARASTER multicenter registry

The BARASTER registry was formed to evaluate the initial success and long-term results of rotational atherectomy in the management of in-stent restenosis. Rotational atherectomy was used in 197 cases of in-stent restenosis: 46 with stand-alone rotational atherectomy or at most 1 atmosphere of balloon inflation (Rota strategy), and 151 with rotational atherectomy and adjunctive balloon angioplasty <1 atmosphere (Combination strategy). These were compared with 107 episodes of in-stent restenosis treated with balloon angioplasty alone. In this observational study, the use of Combination therapy was associated with a slightly higher initial success rate (95% vs. 87% with the Rota strategy and 89% with Balloons, P = 0.08). There was a reduction in one year clinical outcomes (death, myocardial infarction or target lesion revascularization) in the combination group (38% vs. 60% with Rota and 52% with balloons, P = 0.02). These data support a benefit of the strategy of debulking with rotational atherectomy followed by adjunctive balloon angioplasty, in the management of in-stent restenosis.

Neointimal response following rotational atherectomy compared to balloon angioplasty in a porcine model of coronary in-stent restenosis

In-stent restenosis remains a clinical therapeutic challenge. Rotational atherectomy (RA) is an attractive treatment option as it may cause less vascular injury than balloon angioplasty (BA) and, therefore, limit further neointimal response. In an animal model of coronary in-stent restenosis, thermal injury and stenting created neointima (old NI). The treatment of in-stent restenosis with either BA (n = 9) or RA (n = 11) also generated neointima (new NI). The average areas (mm2) of old NI in the BA and RA groups were similar (3.77 +/- 0.40 vs. 3.67 +/- 0.53; P = 0.32). However, new NI formed after treatment of in-stent restenosis was significantly less in the RA as compared to the BA group (0.33 +/- 0.12 vs. 0.73 +/- 36, P < 0.01). In this porcine coronary artery model of in-stent restenosis, treatment with rotational atherectomy resulted in significantly less recurrent neointimal hyperplasia than balloon angioplasty. This animal study, thus, provides a rationale for the clinical use of rotablation in the treatment of in-stent restenosis.

Utilisation of transluminal extraction atherectomy in the treatment of saphenous vein graft disease: two case reports

Saphenous vein graft disease is an increasing problem as more patients undergo bypass grafting and to date the most effective management strategy remains undefined. The major limitations of angioplasty for saphenous vein graft lesions are the risk of distal embolization and restenosis. Primary stenting in this situation results in superior lumen enlargement and higher procedural success but is still associated with significant restenosis. We describe two cases in which transluminal extraction (TEC) atherectomy is utilised for the treatment of vein graft disease with good immediate and long term angiographic results. The first case reports the use of TEC atherectomy for the primary treatment of a discrete eccentric filling defect, and the second case describes the use of this technique in the management of in-stent restenosis.

Long-term clinical follow-up after successful repeat percutaneous intervention for stent restenosis

OBJECTIVES

This study evaluated the long-term clinical outcome of successful repeat percutaneous intervention after in-stent restenosis.

BACKGROUND

Recurrence of symptoms and angiographic restenosis after stent implantation are observed in 15% to 35% of cases. Repeat percutaneous treatment for in-stent restenosis has been shown to be safe, with high immediate success, but little is known about the long-term clinical outcome.

METHODS

Clinical follow-up (minimum 9 months) was obtained in a consecutive series of 124 patients (127 vessels) presenting with stent restenosis who were successfully treated with repeat percutaneous intervention.

RESULTS

Clinical follow-up was obtained in all 124 patients at a mean [+/-SD] of 27.4 +/- 14.7 months (range 9 to 66); a stress test was available in 88 patients (71%). Recurrence of clinical events occurred in 25 patients (20%) and included death from any cause in 2 patients (2%), target vessel revascularization in 14 (11%), myocardial infarction in 1 (1%) and positive stress test results or recurrence of symptoms (Canadian Cardiovascular Society class I to IV) treated medically in 8 (6%). Cumulative event-free survival at 12 and 24 months was 86.2% and 80.7%, respectively. Significant predictive factors of recurrence of clinical events were repeat intervention in saphenous vein grafts, multivessel disease, low ejection fraction and a < or = 3-month interval between stent implantation and repeat intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

In-stent balloon angioplasty for stent restenosis in native vessels seems to be an effective method in terms of a low long-term clinical event rate.