Evaluation of the percusurge guardwire plus temporary occlusion and aspiration system during primary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction

Microvascular and Prognostic Effect in Lesions With Different Stent Expansion During Primary PCI for STEMI: Insights From Coronary Physiology and Intravascular Ultrasound

Background

While coronary stent implantation in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) can mechanically revascularize culprit epicardial vessels, it might also cause distal embolization. The relationship between geometrical and functional results of stent expansion during the primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) is unclear.

Objective

We sought to determine the optimal stent expansion strategy in pPCI using novel angiography-based approaches including angiography-derived quantitative flow ratio (QFR)/microcirculatory resistance (MR) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).

Methods

Post-hoc analysis was performed in patients with acute STEMI and high thrombus burden from our prior multicenter, prospective cohort study (ChiCTR1800019923). Patients aged 18 years or older with STEMI were eligible. IVUS imaging, QFR, and MR were performed during pPCI, while stent expansion was quantified on IVUS images. The patients were divided into three subgroups depending on the degree of stent expansion as follows: overexpansion (>100%), optimal expansion (80%−100%), and underexpansion (<80%). The patients were followed up for 12 months after PCI. The primary endpoint included sudden cardiac death, myocardial infarction, stroke, unexpected hospitalization or unplanned revascularization, and all-cause death.

Results

A total of 87 patients were enrolled. The average stent expansion degree was 82% (in all patients), 117% (in overexpansion group), 88% (in optimal expansion), and 75% (in under-expansion). QFR, MR, and flow speed increased in all groups after stenting. The overall stent expansion did not affect the final QFR (p = 0.08) or MR (p = 0.09), but it reduced the final flow speed (−0.14 cm/s per 1%, p = 0.02). Under- and overexpansion did not affect final QFR (p = 0.17), MR (p = 0.16), and flow speed (p = 0.10). Multivariable Cox analysis showed that stent expansion was not the risk factor for MACE (hazard ratio, HR = 0.97, p = 0.13); however, stent expansion reduced the risk of MACE (HR = 0.95, p = 0.03) after excluding overexpansion patients. Overexpansion was an independent risk factor for no-reflow (HR = 1.27, p = 0.02) and MACE (HR = 1.45, p = 0.007). Subgroup analysis shows that mild underexpansion of 70%−80% was not a risk factor for MACE (HR = 1.11, p = 0.08) and no-reflow (HR = 1.4, p = 0.08); however, stent expansion <70% increased the risk of MACE (HR = 1.36, p = 0.04).

Conclusions

Stent expansion does not affect final QFR and MR, but it reduces flow speed in STEMI. Appropriate stent underexpansion of 70–80% does not seem to be associated with short-term prognosis, so it may be tolerable as noninferior compared with optimal expansion. Meanwhile, overexpansion and underexpansion of <70% should be avoided due to the independent risk of MACEs and no-reflow events.

Comparison of different strategies for acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction with high thrombus burden in clinical practice: Symptom-free outcome at one year

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical effects of different strategies for preventing coronary microvascular obstruction in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients with a high thrombus-burden plaque.

METHODS

Between January, 2007 and December, 2012, 354 patients suffering from STEMI with high thrombus-burden were enrolled and divided into three groups as the first group received a GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor, and the second group received a distal protective device, and the third group was treated with primary PCI alone.

RESULTS

A high percentage of patients in the GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor (96.8% and 90.5%), distal protective device (99.3% and 87.6%) had better thirty-day and one-year symptom-free outcomes when compared with PCI only group (91.6% and 65.6%) (P = 0.008 and P < 0.001; respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with intracoronary GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor injection or distal protection device to prevent coronary microvascular obstruction was demonstrated to increase the occurrences of thirty-day and one-year symptom-free outcomes; thus, these treatments can help decrease post-MI medical care costs.

Distal embolic protection during percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute coronary syndromes: The RUBY study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the safety and feasibility of the GuardWire system as an embolic protection device during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in acute coronary syndromes (ACS).

BACKGROUND

Distal embolization occurs in approximately 15% of patients after primary angioplasty and is associated with reduced myocardial reperfusion, more extensive myocardial damage and a poor prognosis. Distal embolic protection could reduce the rate of embolic complications and improve outcome.

METHODS

329 patients (mean age 60+/-12 years) were included: 278 (84.5%) with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), 50 (15.2%) with unstable angina/non-STEMI and 1 (0.3%) with post-infarction angina. Primary endpoint was the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 30 days. Secondary endpoints were the magnitude of ST-segment resolution at 90 and 180 min post-procedure, myocardial blush grade, and angiographically visible distal emboli.

RESULTS

The GuardWire system was successfully positioned in 99% of patients. Complete ST-elevation resolution (>70%) was observed in 28.5% immediately post-procedure, and in 35.4% and 41.6% at 90 and 180 min post-procedure. TIMI-3 flow grade was achieved by 89.8% of patients after intervention and mean corrected TIMI frame count was 20.2+/-13.2. Grade-3 myocardial blush was seen in 47.7% of patients and distal emboli were angiographically visible in 7.4%. Incidence of MACE at 30 days was 3.3% (death 1.2%; Q-wave MI 0.3%; non-Q-wave MI 0.3%; coronary artery bypass graft 0.6%; repeat PCI 0.9%).

CONCLUSION

The GuardWire system was successfully positioned in nearly all patients without complications. The use of this embolic protection device in ACS patients undergoing PCI was associated with low rates of distal embolization and 30-day MACE.

The pathogenesis and treatment of no-reflow occurring during percutaneous coronary intervention

No-reflow is one of the major causes of postinterventional rise of cardiac enzyme and myocardial infarction (MI). This complication is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). During and after a no-reflow episode, the patient can suffer from severe chest pain, hypotension, bradycardia, hemodynamic collapse, MI, congestive heart failure, and death. Every effort should be taken to reduce the incidence of this complication. The distal embolic protection device has been shown to decrease this risk in saphenous vein graft (SVG) interventions but not in native coronaries. On the other hand, the use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists have been effective in reducing the occurrence of no-reflow during PCI of native coronaries but not during SVG interventions. The treatment of no-reflow is based on the intracoronary administrations of medications that induce maximal vasodilatation in small distal coronary vasculature. The most commonly used drugs in this setting are adenosine, nitroprusside, and verapamil. The goal of this study was to review the pathogenesis and treatment of no-reflow in patients undergoing PCI.

Is it possible to predict which patients need distal protection during primary angioplasty?

BACKGROUND

Although the benefit of distal protection (DP) during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains questionable, there appears to be efficacy in some clinical situations. We sought to identify in patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) which clinical and angiographic characteristics might indicate the patient who will benefit from the use of a DP device.

METHODS

A series of 103 consecutive patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI using DP were compared with 98 consecutive patients treated by primary PCI alone.

RESULTS

The overall rates of thromboembolic complications and achievement of optimal reperfusion (myocardial blush grade >/=2 and ST-segment resolution >/=70%), and infarct size, were similar between the 2 groups. However, DP use was associated with higher rates of optimal reperfusion in patients with right coronary artery (RCA) lesions (OR 2.45; 95% CI, 1.07 to 5.59; P=0.034), thrombus score >/=4 (OR 2.64; 95% CI, 1.07 to 6.50; P=0.034) or infarct-related artery (IRA) of >/=3.5 mm in diameter (OR 4.09; 95% CI, 1.02 to 16.40; P=0.047). In this population (RCA location, thrombus score >/=4, or IRA >/=3.5 mm), DP use reduced the risk of thromboembolic complications (64%, P=0.012, 45%, P=0.035 and 54%, P=0.050, respectively), resulting in a smaller infarct size (8.0+/-5.1 vs. 11.7+/-7.5, P=0.028, 13.1+/-8.8 vs. 17.4+/-10.0, P=0.026 and 15.5+/-10.8 vs. 22.1+/-10.1, P=0.042, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of a DP during primary PCI may lead to a reduction of thromboembolic complications, subsequent higher rates of optimal reperfusion and reduced infarct size in patients with RCA culprit lesions, a large thrombus, or large IRA.

Primary angioplasty and routine utilization of thrombus aspiration devices: feasibility and results in a consecutive series of 486 patients

BACKGROUND

Primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is the treatment of choice for acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in high-volume centres with experienced operators, but is often limited by a suboptimal microvascular perfusion due to distal embolization and impaired myocardial perfusion. The present study investigates whether routine use of thrombus aspiration (TA) devices is feasible in daily practice, along with its safety and effectiveness.

METHODS

This study is based on a series of 486 consecutive STEMI patients treated at our single institution by the same three operators (from 2001 to 2005). They underwent primary PTCA with or without TA according to these angiographic features: infarct related artery (IRA) diameter>or=3 mm; thrombotic occlusion or angiographic evidence of thrombus; absence of severe proximal tortuosity or calcification. We evaluate the efficacy of TA in terms of procedural success, coronary thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow, myocardial blush grade (MBG), resolution>or=50% of ST segment elevation, and clinical events during hospital stay and at 6-month follow-up.

RESULTS

A total of 486 primary PTCAs were performed, 217 (44.6%) with TA as a first device using RESCUE (n=65), EXPORT (n=140) and DIVER-CE (n=12) catheters. In 141 (65%) cases, macroscopic material was aspirated. The patients submitted to TA were more often males (84.7% versus 71.7%, P<0.05) and younger (age: 61.02+/-11.91 versus 64.47+/-10.59 years, P<0.01) than patients treated with traditional PTCA and the IRA was more frequently occluded at angiography (basal TIMI 0: 70.5% versus 47.9%). Application of the TA did not increase the complexity of the procedure (door-to-balloon times, minutes of fluoroscopy and amount of dye). TA alone was effective to restore TIMI 3 flow in 187 cases (86.2%) as a first device and in three other cases (1.4%) after predilatation with balloon. Direct stenting without predilatation was possible in 144 cases (66.4%) after TA. TA was not effective in 27 cases (12.4%) and this subgroup had both angiographic and clinical unfavourable results in comparison with the effective TA group (final TIMI 1 in 11.1% versus 0.5%, P<0.015; final MBG 1 in 55.5% versus 9.5%, P<0.001; lack of ST segment resolution>or=50% in 44.4% versus 7.9%, P<0.001; in-hospital mortality 14.8% versus 2.6%, P<0.05 and mortality at 6 months 18.5% versus 3.1%, P<0.05). In the whole TA population, final TIMI 3 flow was achieved in 203 cases (93.5%), final MBG 3 in 145 cases (66.8%) and ST segment resolution>or=50% in 185 cases (85.2%), in-hospital mortality was 4.1% and cumulative mortality at 6-month follow-up was 5.5%.

CONCLUSIONS

In our case series, 486 consecutive unselected patients with STEMI were treated in a primary PTCA high-volume centre using TA devices. Our study demonstrates that, in STEMI patients treated with primary PTCA, a routine strategy with TA before angioplasty guided by angiographic selection criteria is feasible in almost 50% of cases, is safe and effective, does not increase procedural time and offers good results in terms of tissue perfusion, both epicardial (TIMI flow) and myocardial (MBG, ST regression). When successfully performed, TA identifies a population with favourable in-hospital and 6-month outcome.

An increased platelet–leukocytes interaction at the culprit site of coronary artery occlusion in acute myocardial infarction: A pathogenic role for “no-reflow” phenomenon?

BACKGROUND

Distal protection devices have been shown to reduce the incidence of "no flow" phenomenon during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). So far, it has not been well clarified which mechanism is mainly involved in distal coronary protection.

AIM

To investigate the activation state of leukocytes and platelets locally present within the blood from the site of coronary occlusion.

METHODS

Ten patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) underwent primary PCI with an embolization protection device and aspiration catheter (PercuSurge GuardWire) were included. The following functional parameters: a) monocyte and neutrophils surface molecules; b) platelet surface activatory antigens; c) leukocytes-platelet conjugates were studied by flow cytometry in blood obtained from the site of coronary occlusion and from peripheral femoral artery.

RESULTS

The leukocyte-platelet adhesion index was significantly higher in the aspirated blood at the site of coronary occlusion than in the peripheral arterial blood for both monocytes (0.226+/-0.04 vs. 0.084+/-0.01; p=0.004) and neutrophils (1.372+/-0.3 vs. 0.524+/-0.1; p=0.02). Moreover, the volume of coaggregates exhibited a significant increase in coronary blood for both populations (p=0.02 for monocytes and for neutrophils). Interestingly, a significant up-regulation of the adhesive molecule CD18 was observed in coronary blood respect to systemic circulation either in monocytes (p=0.01) than in neutrophils (p=0.003). A significant up-regulation of monocyte (HLA-DR) and neutrophil (CD66b) activatory molecules expression was also observed in the aspirated coronary compared to peripheral artery blood (p=0.02 and p=0.03 for HLA-DR and CD66b, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

These data indicate an increased leukocyte-platelet functional interaction in AMI at the site of plaque rupture relative to the systemic circulation, which may be one of the pathogenetic mechanisms responsible for myocardial "no-reflow" phenomenon.

Synergism of rheolytic thrombectomy and embolic distal protection using the percusurge guard wire for fresh thrombus removal: an in vitro study

OBJECTIVES

To test the effectiveness of Rheolytic Thrombectomy (RT) and distal protection balloon wires when used synergistically in an in vitro model.

BACKGROUND

Although effective, currently available technologies may not be individually ideal for fresh clots removal.

METHODS

Fourteen, fresh blood samples were placed in 14 plastic tubes and left to clot for 6 h. A Percusurge Guardwire balloon was inflated distal to the clot and aspiration was performed using RT in seven tubes and manual aspiration (MA) with the Export catheter in seven tubes. The residual clot in each tube was dried and weighed. Both aspiration systems were advanced over the Guardwire.

RESULTS

During RT, none of the protection balloons ruptured and no retrograde clot embolization were observed. MA was most effective when the Export catheter tip was not in direct contact with the clot. The residual clot mass post RT was significantly less than post MA (9.7+/-2.2 versus 59.2+/-45.9, P = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

RT is compatible with Distal Protection Balloon Wires and results in more complete clot removal than manual aspiration with the export catheter. Although manual aspiration results in a large variation in extraction efficacy, it is most effective when direct catheter-clot contact is kept to a minimum.

Distal protection in cardiovascular medicine: current status

Iatrogenic and spontaneous downstream microembolization of atheromatous material is increasingly recognized as a source of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Devising ways of reducing this distal embolization using a variety of mechanical means--distal protection--is currently under intense and diverse investigation. This review therefore summarizes the present status of distal protection. It examines the problem of distal embolization, describes the available distal protection devices, reviews those areas of cardiovascular medicine where distal protection devices are being investigated, and discusses potential future developments.

The Distal Protection During Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Alleviates the Adverse Effects of Large Thrombus Burden on Myocardial Reperfusion

BACKGROUND

The presence of intracoronary large thrombus burden (LTB) in the infarct-related artery increases the risk of distal embolization and no-reflow during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Evaluation of whether the distal protection (DP) during primary PCI reduces adverse effects of LTB on myocardial reperfusion and infarct size was investigated.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A consecutive series of 88 patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing primary PCI using DP were compared with 81 consecutive patients treated by primary PCI alone. The DP use showed similar post-procedural myocardial blush grade (MBG)-3 and infarct size, but improved corrected thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame count (cTFC) (29+/-11 vs 35+/-20, p=0.011) and the incidence of ST-segment resolution (80.7% vs 66.7%, p=0.038). In patients with LTB present, however, the DP use reduced occurrences of no-reflow (0% vs 11.8%, p=0.036) and distal embolization (4.8% vs 17.6%, p=0.129), resulting in higher occurrences of MBG-3 (61.9% vs 35.3%, p=0.021) and ST-segment resolution (78.6% vs 50.0%, p=0.009), lower cTFC values (30+/-8 vs 40+/-22, p=0.012) and smaller infarct size (12.2+/-11.2 vs 18.7+/-11.1, p=0.015).

CONCLUSIONS

With an improved myocardial reperfusion and smaller infarct size in patients with LTB, the DP during primary PCI might be a better strategy in this particular setting compared with conventional strategy.

Eligibility for use of proximal or distal embolic protection devices during percutaneous intervention for acute myocardial infarction

Although there has been enthusiasm for using embolic protection devices in acute myocardial infarction, it is unclear how often these devices can be used in nonselected patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate potential eligibility for use of either proximal or distal embolic protection during primary or rescue percutaneous coronary intervention in a consecutive, nonselected population. We analyzed the angiograms of 259 consecutive patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction to determine eligibility for use of either type of protection device. Overall, 202 (78%) patients had anatomy suitable for embolic protection, including 154 (59%) who were eligible for proximal protection, 128 (49%) who were eligible for distal protection, and 80 (31%) who were eligible for both devices. Patients eligible for proximal protection were more likely to have a right coronary culprit, whereas patients eligible for distal protection were more likely to have a lesion in the left anterior descending coronary artery.

Incidence and Management of "No-Reflow" Following Percutaneous Coronary Interventions

No-reflow is a complex condition associated with inadequate myocardial perfusion of the coronary artery in the absence of epicardial obstruction. It can occur in several settings, including percutaneous coronary intervention, especially in complex thrombotic lesions of native arteries and vein grafts and in primary angioplasty. The causes of no-reflow are not completely understood, and current treatments consist of intracoronary vasodilators, antithrombotic therapies, and mechanical devices (including aspiration thrombectomy catheters and embolic protection devices).

Comparison of temporary occlusion and aspiration system versus the conventional method during coronary stenting for acute myocardial infarction

This study evaluated the effects of the temporary occlusion and aspiration device GuardWire on percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction. This device brought about a significant reduction in the no-reflow phenomenon and improvement in ST resolution compared with conventional percutaneous coronary intervention.