Comparison of intravascular lithotripsy versus rotational atherectomy for the treatment of severe coronary artery calcification

BACKGROUND

Calcified lesions are one of the most challenging cases for PCI, where optimal angiographic results and satisfying outcomes are hard to achieve.

METHODS

We evaluated the baseline clinical, procedures characteristics and outcomes of patients with severe coronary artery calcification (CAC) who underwent coronary intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) and rotational atherectomy (RA).

RESULTS

Respectively 152 and 238 patients who underwent IVL and RA are enrolled from January 2023 to November 2023. Regarding demographic characteristics, the gender proportion, medical history of PCI and smoke history among groups reach statistical significance. Left anterior descending and right coronary artery were the main vessels treated in both groups. The 2.5 and 3.0 mm IVL balloons and 1.5 mm burr were the most commonly used. 99.3% cases were successfully implanted drug-eluting stents after IVL balloon pre-treatment, which was higher than in the group treated with RA. During hospitalization, there were no serious adverse events in the IVL group, but there were two adverse events in the RA group. Procedural complications were higher in the RA group than the IVL group (5.5% vs. 0.7%, P = 0.027).

CONCLUSIONS

IVL appears to be safe and effective for the treatment of severe CAC lesions compared to RA.

Ticagrelor vs Clopidogrel for Complex Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Chronic Coronary Syndrome

BACKGROUND

Whether ticagrelor in chronic coronary syndrome patients undergoing complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) can prevent cardiovascular events is unknown.

OBJECTIVES

The authors sought to evaluate outcomes of complex PCI and the efficacy of ticagrelor vs clopidogrel in stable patients randomized in the ALPHEUS (Assessment of Loading with the P2Y12 inhibitor ticagrelor or clopidogrel to Halt ischemic Events in patients Undergoing elective coronary Stenting) trial.

METHODS

All PCI procedures were blindly reviewed and classified as complex if they had at least 1 of the following criteria: stent length >60 mm, 2-stent bifurcation, left main, bypass graft, chronic total occlusion, use of atherectomy or guiding catheter extensions, multiwire technique, multiple stents. The primary endpoint was a composite of type 4a or b myocardial infarction (MI) and major myocardial injury during the 48 hours after PCI. We compared the event rates according to the presence or not of complex PCI criteria and evaluated the interaction with ticagrelor or clopidogrel.

RESULTS

Among the 1,866 patients randomized, 910 PCI (48.3%) were classified as complex PCI. The primary endpoint was more frequent in complex PCI (45.6% vs 26.6%; P < 0.001) driven by higher rates of type 4 MI and angiographic complications (12.2% vs 4.8 %; P < 0.001 and 19.3% vs 8.6%; P < 0.05, respectively). The composite of death, MI, and stroke at 48 hours (12.7% vs 5.1 %; P < 0.05) and at 30 days (13.4% vs 5.3%; P < 0.05) was more frequent in complex PCI. No interaction was found between PCI complexity and the randomized treatment for the primary endpoint (Pinteraction = 0.47) nor the secondary endpoints.

CONCLUSIONS

In chronic coronary syndrome, patients undergoing a complex PCI have higher rates of periprocedural and cardiovascular events that are not reduced by ticagrelor as compared with clopidogrel.

A non-interventional cardiologist's guide to coronary chronic total occlusions

Coronary chronic total occlusions (CTO) are present in up to one-third of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). It is thus essential for all clinical cardiologists to possess a basic awareness and understanding of CTOs, including optimal evaluation and management. While percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for CTO lesions has many similarities to non-CTO PCI, there are important considerations pertaining to pre-procedural evaluation, interventional techniques, procedural complications, and post-procedure management and follow-up unique to patients undergoing this highly specialized intervention. Distinct from other existing topical reviews, the current manuscript focuses on key knowledge relevant to non-interventional cardiologists.

Complex High-Risk Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Types, Trends, and Outcomes in Nonsurgical Centres

BACKGROUND

Limited data are available on complex high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (CHiP) trends and outcomes in nonsurgical centres (NSCs), particularly in health care systems where most centres are NSCs.

METHODS

Using data from a national registry, we studied the characteristics and outcomes of CHiP procedures performed for stable angina from 2006 to 2017 according to the presence or absence of on-site surgical cover. Multivariate regression analyses and propensity score matching were used to determine risks for in-hospital death, major bleeding, and major cardiovascular or cerebral events (MACCE).

RESULTS

Out of 134,730 CHiP procedures, 42,433 (31.5%) were performed in NSCs, increasing from 12.5% in 2006 to 42% in 2017. Compared with surgical centres (SCs), patients who had a CHiP procedure undertaken in NSCs were, on average, 2.4 years older and had a greater prevalence of cardiovascular risks. Common CHiP procedures performed in NSCs included poor left ventricular function (41.6%), chronic renal failure (38.8%), and chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention (31.1%). NSC-based CHiP is associated with lower odds of mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.5-0.8) and major bleeding (aOR 0.7, 95% CI 0.6-0.8). In both groups, MACCE odds were similar (aOR 1.0, 95% CI 0.9-1.1).

CONCLUSIONS

CHiP numbers have steadily increased in NSCs. NSC patients were older and had a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risks than SC patients. Mortality and major bleeding odds were significantly lower in those cases undertaken in NSCs, although MACCE odds were not different between the groups.

Numerical Analysis of Stress Force on Vessel Walls in Atherosclerotic Plaque Removal through Coronary Rotational Atherectomy

Coronary rotational atherectomy is an effective technique for treating cardiovascular disease by removing calcified tissue using small rotary grinding tools. However, it is difficult to analyze the stress force on vessel walls using experiments directly. Using computational fluid dynamics is a better way to study the stress force characteristics of the burr grinding procedure from a fluid dynamics perspective. For this purpose, physical and simulation models of atherosclerotic plaque removal were constructed in this study. The simulation results show that smaller ratios between the burr and arterial diameter (B/A = 0.5) result in a more stable flow field domain. Additionally, the pressure and stress force generated by the 4.5 mm diameter grinding tool reach 92.77 kPa and 10.36 kPa, surpassing those of the 2.5 mm and 3.5 mm grinding tools. The study has demonstrated the use of computational fluid dynamics to investigate wall shear stress characteristics in medical procedures, providing valuable guidance for optimizing the procedure and minimizing complications.

Intravascular lithotripsy compared to rotational atherectomy for the treatment of calcified distal left main coronary artery disease: A single center experience

BACKGROUND

The safety and efficacy of intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) for the treatment of calcified distal left main (LM) disease remains unclear, especially compared to rotational atherectomy (RA).

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the baseline clinical, angiographic, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) characteristics and procedural outcomes of 107 patients who underwent distal LM percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with IVL (with or without adjunct atherectomy) versus RA alone for plaque modification before stenting at a single center between 2020 and 2022.

RESULTS

A total of 50 patients underwent calcium modification with IVL with or without adjunct atherectomy and 57 with RA only. The mean age was 73 years and with a high prevalence of diabetes (58.9%), chronic kidney disease (42.1%), prior revascularization (coronary artery bypass graft surgery [36.4%] or prior PCI [32.7%]). Acute coronary syndrome was the primary indication for PCI in over 50% of the patients in both groups. Medina 1-1-1 LM bifurcation disease was identified in 64% and 60% of the IVL and RA groups (p = 0.64) respectively. Final minimum stent area in distal LM (>8.2 mm2 ), ostial LAD (>6.3 mm2 ) and ostial LCX (>5.0 mm2 ) were achieved in 96%, 85% and 89% of cases treated with IVL respectively and 93%, 93% and 100% of cases treated with RA respectively (LM p = 1.00; LAD p = 0.62; LCX; p = 1.00 for difference between the two groups). Procedural success (technical success without in-hospital major adverse events) was achieved in 98% of the IVL group and 86% of the RA-only group (p = 0.04). There were eight procedural complications (flow-limiting dissection, perforation, or slow/no-reflow) in the RA group compared to four in the IVL group (NS), and one patient in the RA required salvaged mechanical support compared to none in the IVL group.

CONCLUSION

Plaque modification with coronary IVL appears to be efficacious and safe for the treatment of severely calcified distal LM lesions compared to RA only. Larger randomized studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Complex high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention types, trends, and outcomes according to vascular access site

BACKGROUND

Radial access is associated with improved outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI); however, its role in complex, high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (CHiP) remains poorly studied.

METHODS

We studied retrospectively all registered patients's records from the British Cardiovascular Intervention Society dataset and compared the baseline characteristics, trends and outcomes of CHiP procedures performed electively between January 2006 and December 2017 according to the access site.

RESULTS

Out of 137,785 CHiP procedures, 61,825 (44.9%) were undertaken via transradial access (TRA). TRA use increased over time (14.6% in 2006 to 67% in 2017). The TRA patients were older, with a greater prevalence of previous stroke, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, and smokers. TRA was used more frequently in most CHiP procedures (elderly (51.6%), chronic renal failure (52.6%), poor left ventricular (LV) function (47.6%), left main PCI (48.0%), treatment for severe vascular calcification (50.3%); although transfemoral access (TFA) was used more commonly in those with prior history of coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and PCI to a chronic total occlusion and LV support patients. Following adjustment for differences in clinical and procedural characteristics, TFA was independently associated with higher odds for mortality [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.3 (1.1-1.7)], major bleeding [aOR: 2.9 (2.3-3.4)], and MACCE (following propensity score matching) [aOR: 1.2 (1.1-1.4)]. The same was found with multiple accesses: mortality [aOR: 2.1 (1.5-2.8)], major bleeding [aOR: 5.5 (4.3-6.9)], and MACCE [aOR: 1.4 (1.2-1.7)].

CONCLUSION

TRA has become the predominant access site for CHiP procedures and is associated with significantly lower mortality, major bleeding and MACCE odds than TFA.

Early experience of intravascular lithotripsy in unprotected calcified left main coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND

Treatment of unprotected severely calcified left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease is a complex interventional procedure. Intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) and rotational atherectomy (RA) are safe and effective methods of treating coronary calcification in the non-LMCA setting. This retrospective analysis assessed the feasibility of IVL versus RA in unprotected LMCA disease.

METHODS

We analyzed IVL and RA procedures performed at a large tertiary hospital in the Northeast of England from January 1, 2019 to April 31, 2022. Major safety and efficacy endpoints were procedural and angiographic success, defined by stent delivery with <50 % residual stenosis and without clinical or angiographic complications, respectively. Another important clinical endpoint was the composite of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 1 year.

RESULTS

From 242 patients, 44 had LMCA IVL, 81 had LMCA RA and 117 had non-LMCA IVL. Patients with LMCA disease were older and more likely to have aortic stenosis. IVL was a second-line or bailout technique in 86.4 % LMCA and 92.2 % non-LMCA cases. Procedural and angiographic success rates were ≥ 84 % across all groups (p > 0.05). In 3 LMCA IVL and 3 LMCA RA cases arrhythmias and cardiac tamponade complicated the procedures respectively. At 1 year, MACE occurred in 10/44 (22.7 %) LMCA IVL, 16/81 (19.8 %) LMCA RA and 25/117 (21.4 %) cases (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

In our single center retrospective analysis, IVL is feasible in unprotected calcified LMCA as a second-line and third-line adjuvant calcium modification technique. Its use in unprotected calcified LMCA disease should be formalized with the undertaking of large randomized controlled trials.

State-of-art review: intravascular imaging in percutaneous coronary interventions

The history of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) reflects the relentless pursuit of innovation in interventional cardiology. These intravascular imaging technologies have played a pivotal role in our understanding of coronary atherosclerosis, vascular pathology, and the interaction of coronary stents with the vessel wall. Two decades of clinical investigations demonstrating the clinical efficacy and safety of intravascular imaging modalities have established these technologies as staples in the contemporary cardiac catheterization lab's toolbox and earning their place in revascularization clinical practice guidelines. In this comprehensive review, we will delve into the historical evolution, mechanisms, and technical aspects of IVUS and OCT. We will discuss the expanding evidence supporting their use in complex percutaneous coronary interventions, emphasizing their crucial roles in optimizing patient outcomes and ensuring procedural success. Furthermore, we will explore the substantial advances that have propelled these imaging modalities to the forefront of contemporary interventional cardiology. Finally, we will survey the latest developments in the field and explore the promising future directions that have the potential to further revolutionize coronary interventions.

Single versus Dual-Operator Approaches for Percutaneous Coronary Interventions within Chronic Total Occlusion-An Analysis of 27,788 Patients

(1) Background: Since the treatment of chronic total occlusion (CTO) with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with high procedural complexity, it has been suggested to use a multi-operator approach. This study was aimed at evaluating the procedural outcomes of single (SO) versus dual-operator (DO) CTO-PCI approaches. (2) Methods: This retrospective analysis included data from the Polish Registry of Invasive Cardiology Procedures (ORPKI), collected between January 2014 and December 2020. To compare the DO and SO approaches, propensity score matching was introduced with equalized baseline features. (3) Results: The DO approach was applied in 3604 (13%) out of 27,788 CTO-PCI cases. Patients undergoing DO CTO-PCI experienced puncture-site bleeding less often than the SO group (0.1% vs. 0.3%, p = 0.03). No differences were found in the technical success rate (successful revascularization with thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow grade 2/3) of the SO (72.4%) versus the DO approach (71.2%). Moreover, the presence of either multi-vessel (MVD) or left main coronary artery disease (LMCA) (odds ratio (OR), 1.67 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.20-2.32); p = 0.002), as well as lower annual and total operator volumes of PCI and CTO-PCI, could be noted as factors linked with the DO approach. (4) Conclusions: Due to the retrospective character, the findings of this study have to be considered only as hypothesis-generating. DO CTO-PCI was infrequent and was performed on patients who were more likely to have LMCA lesions or MVD. Operators collaboratively performing CTO-PCIs were more likely to have less experience. Puncture-site bleeding occurred less often in the dual-operator group; however, second-operator involvement had no impact on the technical success of the intervention.

The Role of Intracoronary Imaging for the Management of Calcified Lesions

Interventional cardiologists in everyday practice are often confronted with calcified coronary lesions indicated for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). PTCA of calcified lesions is associated with diverse technical challenges resulting in suboptimal coronary stenting and adverse long-term clinical outcomes. Angiography itself offers limited information regarding coronary calcification, and the adjuvant use of intracoronary imaging such as intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) can guide the treatment of calcified coronary lesions, optimizing the different stages of the procedure. This review offers a description of why, when, and how to use intracoronary imaging for PTCA of calcified coronary lesions in order to obtain the most favorable results. We used the PubMed and Google Scholar databases to search for relevant articles. Keywords were calcified coronary lesions, intracoronary imaging, IVUS, OCT, coronary calcium modification techniques, PTCA, and artificial intelligence in intracoronary imaging. A total of 192 articles were identified. Ninety-one were excluded because of repetitive or non-important information.

Intracoronary imaging-guided rotational atherectomy combined with intravascular lithotripsy in the treatment of severe coronary artery calcification-A case report

Background

Severe coronary artery calcification increases the difficulty of percutaneous coronary intervention procedures and impairs stent expansion. Herein, we report a case of a patient who was successfully treated with rotational atherectomy using a stepped burr strategy combined with intravascular lithotripsy for plaque modification under intracoronary imaging.

Case summary

A 65 year-old woman presented to our hospital with recurrent chest pain evolving for 1 year. Coronary angiography showed approximately 80% stenosis of the proximal mid-left anterior descending artery. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) revealed a 360° annular calcification. The calcification was rotablated with 1.5 and 1.75 burrs, and the lesion was undilatable with a 3.0 mm non-compliant balloon at 14 atm. Subsequently, the intravascular lithotripsy was reset for the modification of the calcified lesion. A shockwave balloon measuring 3.0 mm × 12 mm was delivered, and 40 pulses were performed at 6 atm. Intravascular imaging modalities (IVUS and OCT) revealed a circumferential calcified plaque with deep fractures. After post-balloon expansion followed by drug-eluting stent placement with a final stent expansion of 84%, there were no intraoperative complications and no major adverse cardiovascular events within 90 days postoperatively.

Conclusion

A combination of rotational atherectomy and intravascular lithotripsy may be an effective and complementary strategy for the treatment of severely calcified lesions that cannot be resolved using a single procedure. However, more clinical studies are required to clarify this finding.

What do we mean by complex percutaneous coronary intervention? An assessment of agreement amongst interventional cardiologists for defining complexity

BACKGROUND

In the last decade, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has evolved toward the treatment of complex disease in patients with multiple comorbidities. Whilst there are several definitions of complexity, it is unclear whether there is agreement between cardiologists in classifying complexity of cases. Inconsistent identification of complex PCI can lead to significant variation in clinical decision-making.

AIM

This study aimed to determine the inter-rater agreement in rating the complexity and risk of PCI procedures.

METHOD

An online survey was designed and disseminated amongst interventional cardiologists by the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Intervention (EAPCI) board. The survey presented four patient vignettes, with study participants assessing these cases to classify their complexity.

RESULTS

From 215 respondents, there was poor inter-rater agreement in classifying the complexity level (k = 0.1) and a fair agreement (k = 0.31) in classifying the risk level. The experience level of participants did not show any significant impact on the inter-rater agreement of rating the complexity level and the risk level. There was good level of agreement between participants in terms of rating 26 factors for classifying complex PCI. The top five factors were (1) impaired left ventricular function, (2) concomitant severe aortic stenosis, (3) last remaining vessel PCI, (4) requirement fort calcium modification and (5) significant renal impairment.

CONCLUSION

Agreement among cardiologists in classifying complexity of PCI is poor, which may lead to suboptimal clinical decision-making, procedural planning as well as long-term management. Consensus is needed to define complex PCI, and this requires clear criteria incorporating both lesion and patient characteristics.

Randomized ComparIson of Strategies to PrepAre SeveRely CALCified Coronary Lesions 2: Design and Rationale of the ISAR-CALC 2 Trial

BACKGROUND

The percutaneous treatment of severely calcified coronary lesions has been associated with lower performance of coronary stents and poor clinical long-term outcomes. Adequate lesion preparation before stent implantation is of paramount importance to minimize the risk of stent failure. Balloon-based techniques for lesion preparation have been the subject of numerous investigations, albeit comparative data from randomized trials are scarce.

STUDY DESIGN AND OBJECTIVES

The ISAR-CALC 2 (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05072730) is an investigator-initiated, prospective, randomized, multicentre, assessors-blind, open-label trial designed to compare a lesion preparation strategy with either super high-pressure balloon or intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) before drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation in patients with severely calcified, undilatable coronary lesions. In total, 80 patients are required for trial completion. The primary endpoint will be final angiographic minimal lumen diameter (MLD) after stent implantation. Key secondary endpoints include stent expansion assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT), procedural and strategy success, need for complementary lesion preparation with rotational atherectomy, acute lumen gain, and major adverse cardiac events up to 30-day follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

The ISAR-CALC 2 trial aims to demonstrate the superiority of a lesion preparation strategy with a super high-pressure balloon as compared with intravascular lithotripsy prior to DES implantation in patients with severely calcified undilatable coronary lesions.

Complex primary percutaneous coronary intervention with ultrathin-strut biodegradable versus thin-strut durable polymer drug-eluting stents in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: A subgroup analysis from the BIOSTEMI randomized trial

BACKGROUND

Ultrathin-strut biodegradable polymer sirolimus-eluting stents (BP-SES) are superior to thin-strut durable polymer everolimus-eluting stents (DP-EES) with respect to target lesion failure (TLF) at 2 years among patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We sought to determine the impact of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) complexity on long-term clinical outcomes with BP-SES versus DP-EES in STEMI patients.

METHODS

We performed a post hoc subgroup analysis from the BIOSTEMI (NCT02579031) randomized trial, which included individual data from 407 STEMI patients enrolled in the BIOSCIENCE trial (NCT01443104). STEMI patients were randomly assigned to treatment with ultrathin-strut BP-SES or thin-strut DP-EES, and further categorized into those undergoing complex versus noncomplex pPCI. Complex pPCI was defined by the presence of ≥1 of the following criteria: 3 vessel treatment, ≥3 stents implanted, ≥3 lesions treated, bifurcation lesion with ≥2 stents implanted, total stent length ≥60 mm, and/or chronic total occlusion treatment. The primary endpoint was TLF, a composite of cardiac death, target-vessel myocardial reinfarction, or clinically indicated target lesion revascularization, within 2 years.

RESULTS

Among a total of 1707 STEMI patients, 421 (24.7%) underwent complex pPCI. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. At 2 years, TLF occurred in 14 patients (7.1%) treated with BP-SES and 25 patients (11.6%) treated with DP-EES (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.62; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.32-1.19; p = 0.15) in the complex pPCI group, and in 28 patients (4.4%) treated with BP-SES and 49 patients (8.2%) treated with DP-EES (HR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.34-0.86; p = 0.008; p for interaction = 0.74) in the noncomplex pPCI group. Individual TLF components and stent thrombosis rates did not significantly differ between groups.

CONCLUSION

In a post hoc subgroup analysis from the BIOSTEMI randomized trial, ultrathin-strut BP-SES were superior to thin-strut DP-EES with respect to TLF at 2 years among STEMI patients undergoing both complex and noncomplex pPCI.

Ten-year clinical outcomes of drug-eluting stents with different polymer coating strategies by degree of coronary calcification: a pooled analysis of the ISAR-TEST 4 and 5 randomised trials

BACKGROUND

Long-term data concerning the efficacy of different polymer-coating strategies of new-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) in patients with coronary artery calcification (CAC) are scant.

AIMS

We aimed to investigate 10-year outcomes by degree of CAC after new-generation DES implantation with different polymer-coating strategies.

METHODS

We analysed individual patient and lesion characteristics of patients randomised to treatment with polymer-free sirolimus-eluting, biodegradable-polymer sirolimus-eluting and permanent-polymer zotarolimus- or everolimus-eluting stents. Endpoints of interest at 10 years were all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), target lesion revascularisation (TLR) and definite or probable stent thrombosis (ST) according to the degree of CAC (no, mild, moderate or severe) and coating strategy (polymer-free vs biodegradable-polymer vs permanent-polymer).

RESULTS

A total of 4,953 patients with 6,924 lesions were included. No, mild, moderate or severe CAC was present in 24.5%, 41.8%, 25.8% and 8.0% of patients, respectively. At 10-year follow-up, overall event rates were high, with an incremental increase according to the degree of CAC (all-cause mortality: no 25.3%, mild 32.1%, moderate 41.7%, severe CAC 46.5%; adjusted [adj.] p=0.004; TLR: no 17.4%, mild 16.5%, moderate 19.8%, severe CAC 28.7%; adj. p=0.001; MI: no 4.9%, mild 5.9%, moderate 6.0%, severe CAC 10.5%; adj. p=0.02; and ST: no 1.3%, mild 1.4%, moderate 1.8%, severe CAC 3.6%; adj. p=0.57). In patients with moderate-severe CAC, event rates were comparable, regardless of the DES polymer-coating strategy.

CONCLUSIONS

At 10 years after PCI with new-generation DES, there was an incremental increase in adverse events by degree of coronary calcification. These detrimental effects do not seem to be impacted by different polymer-coating strategies.

Optimized patient selection in high-risk protected percutaneous coronary intervention

Percutaneous mechanical circulatory support (pMCS) is increasingly used in patients with poor left-ventricular (LV) function undergoing elective high-risk percutaneous coronary interventions (HR-PCIs). These patients are often in critical condition and not suitable candidates for coronary artery bypass graft surgery. For the definition of HR-PCI, there is a growing consensus that multiple factors must be considered to define the complexity of PCI. These include haemodynamic status, left-ventricular ejection fraction, clinical characteristics, and concomitant diseases, as well as the complexity of the coronary anatomy/lesions. Although haemodynamic support by percutaneous LV assist devices is commonly adopted in HR-PCI (protected PCI), there are no clear guideline recommendations for indication due to limited published data. Therefore, decisions to use a nonsurgical, minimally invasive procedure in HR-PCI patients should be based on a risk–benefit assessment by a multidisciplinary team. Here, the current evidence and indications for protected PCI will be discussed.

Complex, high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention types, trends, and in-hospital outcomes among different age groups: An insight from a national registry

BACKGROUND

Complex, high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (CHiP) is increasingly being undertaken in octogenarians. However, limited data exist on CHiP types, trends, and outcomes in the octogenarian.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study from a national registry dataset on CHiP undertaken in patients with stable angina in England and Wales (January 2006 and December 2017) according to three age groups (group 1 [G1]: &lt; 65 years; group 2 [G2]: 65-79 years; and group 3 [G3]: ≥80 years).

RESULTS

Of 424,290 elective PCI procedures, 138,831 (33.0%) were CHiP [G1: 46,832 (33.7%); G2: 59,544 (42.9%); G3: 32,455 (23.4%)]. Among CHiP types, chronic total occlusion (CTO) (49.2%), prior coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) (30.4%), and severe vascular calcification (21.8%) were common in G1; prior CABG (42.9%), CTO (32.9%), and severe vascular calcifications (27%) were common in G2; prior CABG (15.8%), severe vascular calcification (15.5%), and chronic renal failure (11.1%) were common CHiP among the octogenarians. The older age groups had higher adjusted odds (aOR) for adverse outcomes [G2: mortality, aOR 1.7, 95% confidence interval (CI): (1.3-2.3); major bleeding, aOR 1.3, 95% CI (1.1-1.5); MACCE, aOR 1.2, 95% CI (1.0-1.3); G3: mortality, aOR 2.6, 95%CI (1.9-3.6); major bleeding, aOR 1.4, 95% CI (1.1-1.7); MACCE, aOR 1.3, 95% CI (1.1-1.5)].

CONCLUSION

There were significant differences in the types of CHiP cases undertaken and clinical outcomes across age groups.

Implications of Payment for Acute Myocardial Infarctions as a 90-Day Bundled Single Episode of Care: A Cost of Illness Analysis

OBJECTIVES

Evaluate the cost of illness associated with the 90-day period following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and the implication of care pathway (percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI] vs medical management [MM]), in order to assess the potential financial risk incurred by providers for AMI as an episode of care.

PERSPECTIVE

Reimbursement payment systems for acute care episodes are shifting from 30-day to 90-day bundled payment models. Since follow-up care and readmissions beyond the early days/weeks post-AMI are common, financial risk may be transferred to providers.

SETTING

AMI hospitalization Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) standard analytical files between 10/1/2015 and 9/30/2016 were reviewed.

METHODS

Included patients were Medicare beneficiaries with a primary diagnosis of AMI subsequently treated with either PCI or MM. Payments were standardized to remove geographic variation and separated into reimbursements for services during the hospitalization and from discharge to 90 days post-discharge. Results were stratified by Medicare Severity Diagnosis Related Groups (MS-DRGs) individually and grouped between patients treated with MM and PCI. Risk-adjusted likelihood of utilization of post-acute nursing care and all-cause readmission was assessed by logistic regression.

RESULTS

A total of 96,546 patients were included in the analysis. The highest total mean payment (US$32,714) was for MS-DRG 248 (PCI with non-drug-eluting stent with major complication or comorbidity). Total payments were similar between MM and PCI patients, but MM patients incurred the majority of costs in the post-acute period after discharge, with the converse true for PCI patients. MM without catheterization was associated with a twofold increase in risk of requiring post-acute nursing care and 90-day readmission versus PCI (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 2.01 [1.92-2.11] and 2.17 [2.08-2.27]). Smaller hospital size, diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, prior AMI, and multivessel disease were predictors of higher healthcare utilization.

CONCLUSIONS

MS-DRGs associated with the lowest reimbursements (and presumably, lowest costs of inpatient care) incur the highest post-discharge expenditures. As the CMS Bundled Payment for Care Improvement and similar programs are implemented, there will be a need to account for heterogeneous post-discharge care costs. Video abstract (MP4 274659 KB).

Contemporary Management of Severely Calcified Coronary Lesions

Coronary artery calcification is increasingly prevalent in our patient population. It significantly limits the procedural success of percutaneous coronary intervention and is associated with a higher risk of adverse cardiovascular events both in the short-term and long-term. There are several modalities for modifying calcified plaque, such as balloon angioplasty (including specialty balloons), coronary atheroablative therapy (rotational, orbital, and laser atherectomy), and intravascular lithotripsy. We discuss each modality’s relative advantages and disadvantages and the data supporting their use. This review also highlights the importance of intravascular imaging to characterize coronary calcification and presents an algorithm to tailor the calcium modification therapy based on specific coronary lesion characteristics.

Clinical expert consensus document on the use of percutaneous left ventricular assist devices during complex high-risk PCI in India using a standardised algorithm

Over the past decade, percutaneous left ventricular assist devices (pLVAD), such as the Impella microaxial flow pump (Abiomed), have been increasingly used to provide haemodynamic support during complex and high-risk revascularisation procedures to reduce the risk of intraprocedural haemodynamic compromise and to facilitate complete and optimal revascularisation. A global consensus on patient selection for the use of pLVADs, however, is currently lacking. Access to these devices is different across the world, thus, individual health care environments need to create and refine patient selection paradigms to optimise the use of these devices. The Impella pLVAD has recently been introduced in India and is being used in several centres in the management of high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and cardiogenic shock. With this increasing utilisation, there is a need for a standardised evaluation protocol to guide Impella use that factors in the unique economic and infrastructural characteristics of India's health care system to ensure that the needs of patients are optimally managed. In this consensus document, we present an algorithm to guide Impella use in Indian patients: to establish a standardised patient selection and usage paradigm that will allow both optimal patient outcomes and ongoing data collection.

Intravascular Lithotripsy for Treatment of Calcified Coronary Artery Disease

Intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) uses acoustic shock waves in a balloon-based delivery system to modify severely calcified atherosclerotic coronary vascular lesions in preparation for stent implantation. IVL results in circumferential and longitudinal calcium fracture, which improves transmural vessel compliance and facilitates subsequent stent expansion without requiring high-pressure balloon dilation. Clinical trials have demonstrated IVL to be safe (low rates of major adverse cardiac events in hospital and to 1 year; low rates of severe angiographic complications), effective (high rates of procedural success), and easy to use (little or no learning curve) when applied in the treatment of severely calcified coronary arteries.

Rotational Atherectomy or Balloon-Based Techniques to Prepare Severely Calcified Coronary Lesions

BACKGROUND

The comparative efficacy of percutaneous techniques for the preparation of calcified lesions before stenting remains poorly studied.

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to compare the performance of up-front rotational atherectomy (RA) or balloon-based techniques before drug-eluting stent implantation in severely calcified coronary lesions as assessed by angiography and optical coherence tomography (OCT).

METHODS

Patient-level data from the PREPARE-CALC (Comparison of Strategies to Prepare Severely Calcified Coronary Lesions) and ISAR-CALC (Comparison of Strategies to Prepare Severely Calcified Coronary Lesions) randomized trials were pooled. The primary endpoint was stent expansion as assessed by OCT imaging. The secondary endpoints included stent eccentricity, stent asymmetry, angiographic acute lumen gain, strategy success and in-hospital occurrence of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, and repeat revascularization.

RESULTS

Among 274 patients originally randomized, 200 participants with available OCT data after lesion preparation with RA (n = 63), a modified balloon (MB, n = 103), or a super high-pressure balloon (n = 34) before stenting were analyzed. The use of RA versus MB or a super high-pressure balloon led to comparable stent expansion (73.2% ± 11.6% vs 70.8% ± 13.6% vs 71.8% ± 12.2%, P = 0.49) and stent asymmetry (P = 0.83). Compared with RA or MB, a super high-pressure balloon was associated with less stent eccentricity (P = 0.03) with a numerically higher acute lumen gain, albeit not significantly different (P = 0.08). Strategy success was more frequent with RA versus MB (P = 0.002) and numerically more frequent with RA versus a super high-pressure balloon (P = 0.06). Clinical outcomes did not differ between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with severely calcified lesions undergoing drug-eluting stent implantation, lesion preparation with RA, MB, or a super high-pressure balloon was associated with comparable stent expansion. A super high-pressure balloon is associated with less stent eccentricity, whereas strategy success is more frequent with RA.

A multi-center, randomized, double-blinded, parallel, placebo-controlled study to assess the efficacy and safety of Shenqisuxin granule in complex coronary artery disease after PCI: Study protocol

Introduction

The Shenqisuxin granule (SQSX), a novel Chinese herbal formula, has the effect of preventing in-stent restenosis and improving angiogenesis. We intend to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SQSX to provide a possible therapeutic strategy for complex coronary artery disease (CCAD) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods/design

The study is a multi-center, randomized, double-blinded, parallel, placebo-controlled trial. A total of 120 participants will be randomized 1:1 into the intervention group and the control group. Based on standardized treatment, the intervention group and control group will receive SQSX and placebo for 2 months, respectively. The primary outcomes, metabolic equivalents (METS) and peak oxygen uptake (Peak VO₂), and the secondary outcomes, including other indicators of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), the European Quality of Life Questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L), the Seattle Angina Scale (SAQ), etc., will be assessed at baseline and 2 months ± 3 days. In addition, the survey scales will also be tested at 1 month ± 3 days. Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and gut microbiota features will be assessed at baseline and 2 months ± 3 days to probe possible mechanism. The major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and bleeding events will be monitored until the 12-month follow-up.

Discussion

This study is launched to assess the efficacy and safety of SQSX in CCAD after PCI and probe the possible mechanism.

Clinical trial registration

China Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2200060979, Registered on June 14, 2022.

How to deal with vessel diameter mismatch in left main bifurcation stenting

Left main coronary artery percutaneous coronary intervention is particularly complex when stenting across the distal bifurcation is required in the presence of a diameter mismatch between the proximal main and distal branches. A suboptimal procedural result increases the risk of thrombosis and restenosis. Considering the paucity of data published on this topic, our objective was to provide technical solutions to deal with this complex anatomy. We described four cases showing the use of devices and techniques which allowed us to overcome a diameter discrepancy between adjacent coronary segments: (1) self-expanding nitinol stent; (2) stent platform with noteworthy expansion capacity; (3) the 'extended skirt' technique; (4) the 'trouser-leg' technique. In conclusion, the use of specific strategies and devices allows a safe and effective approach to be used to perform treatment that respects the coronary anatomy, and to optimize percutaneous coronary intervention results in complex scenarios.

Clinical Outcomes of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Bifurcation Lesions According to Medina Classification

Background

Coronary bifurcation lesions (CBLs) are frequently encountered in clinical practice and are associated with worse outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention. However, there are limited data around the prognostic impact of different CBL distributions.

Methods and Results

All CBL percutaneous coronary intervention procedures from the prospective e‐Ultimaster (Prospective, Single‐Arm, Multi Centre Observations Ultimaster Des Registry) multicenter international registry were analyzed according to CBL distribution as defined by the Medina classification. Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare the hazard ratio (HR) of the primary outcome, 1‐year target lesion failure (composite of cardiac death, target vessel–related myocardial infarction, and clinically driven target lesion revascularization), and its individual components between Medina subtypes using Medina 1.0.0 as the reference category. A total of 4003 CBL procedures were included. The most prevalent Medina subtypes were 1.1.1 (35.5%) and 1.1.0 (26.8%), whereas the least prevalent was 0.0.1 (3.5%). Overall, there were no significant differences in patient and procedural characteristics among Medina subtypes. Only Medina 1.1.1 and 0.0.1 subtypes were associated with increased target lesion failure (HR, 2.6 [95% CI, 1.3–5.5] and HR, 4.0 [95% CI, 1.6–9.0], respectively) at 1 year, compared with Medina 1.0.0, prompted by clinically driven target lesion revascularization (HR, 3.1 [95% CI, 1.1–8.6] and HR, 4.6 [95% CI, 1.3–16.0], respectively) as well as cardiac death in Medina 0.0.1 (HR, 4.7 [95% CI, 1.0–21.6]). No differences in secondary outcomes were observed between Medina subtypes.

Conclusions

In a large multicenter registry analysis of coronary bifurcation percutaneous coronary intervention procedures, we demonstrate prognostic differences in 1‐year outcomes between different CBL distributions, with Medina 1.1.1 and 0.0.1 subtypes associated with an increased risk of target lesion failure.

Long-term outcomes of high-risk percutaneous coronary interventions under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support: An observational study

BACKGROUND

Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) offers hemodynamic support for patients undergoing high-risk percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs). However, long-term outcomes associated with VA-ECMO have not previously been studied.

AIM

To explore long-term outcomes in high-risk cases undergoing PCI supported by VA-ECMO.

METHODS

In the present observational cohort study, 61 patients who received VA-ECMO-supported high-risk PCI between April 2012 and January 2020 at the Sixth Medical Center of Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Hospital were enrolled. The endpoint characteristics such as all-cause mortality, repeated cardiovascular diseases, and cardiac death were examined.

RESULTS

Among 61 patients, three failed stent implantation due to chronic total occlusions with severely calcified lesions. One patient showed VA-ECMO intolerance because of high left ventricular afterload. PCI was successfully performed in 57 patients (93.4%). The in-hospital mortality was 23.0%, and the overall survival was 45.9%, with a median follow-up period of 38.6 (8.6-62.1) mo.

CONCLUSION

VA-ECMO can be used as a support in patients undergoing high-risk PCI as it is associated with favorable long-term patient survival.

Periprocedural Antithrombotic Treatment in Complex Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

ABSTRACT

In recent years, the management of complex lesions in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) constitutes a field of high interest and concern for the interventional cardiology. As more and more studies demonstrate the increased hazard of ischemic events in this group of patients, it is of paramount importance for the physicians to choose the optimal periprocedural (pre-PCI, during-PCI and post-PCI) antithrombotic treatment strategies wisely. Evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of current anticoagulation recommendation, the possible beneficial role of the pretreatment with a potent P2Y12 inhibitor in the subgroup of patients with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction with complex lesions, and the impact of a more potent P2Y12 inhibitor in individuals with stable coronary artery disease undergoing complex PCI are needed. This will provide and serve as a guide to clinicians to deploy the maximum efficacy of the current choices of antithrombotic therapy, which will lead to an optimal balance between safety and efficacy in this demanding clinical scenario.

Percutaneous coronary intervention in unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis: Mid-term outcomes of a single-center observational study

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is an appropriate alternative to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for revascularization of unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) disease in patients with low-to-intermediate anatomic complexity or when the patient refuses CABG even after adequate counselling by heart team. We assessed the safety, in-hospital and mid-term outcomes of ULMCA stenting with drug-eluting stents (DES) in Indian patients.

METHODS

Our study was a retrospective analysis of patients who had undergone ULMCA PCI at a tertiary center, between March 2011 and February 2020. Clinical characteristics, procedural data, and follow-up data were analyzed. The primary outcome was a composite of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) during the hospital stay and at follow-up. The median follow-up was 2.8 years (interquartile range: 1.5-4.1 years).

RESULTS

661 patients (mean age, 63.5 ± 10.9 years) had undergone ULMCA PCI. The mean SYNTAX score was 27.9 ± 10.4 and the mean LVEF was 58.0 ± 11.1%. 3-vessel disease and distal lesions were noted in 54% and 70.6% patients, respectively. The incidence of in-hospital MACCE was 1.8% and the MACCE during follow-up was 11.5% (including 48 [8.4%] cardiac deaths). The overall survival rates after one, three, five, and nine years were 94%, 88%, 84%, and 82%, respectively. The multivariate analysis revealed that age >65 years and high SYNTAX scores were independent predictors of mid to long-term mortality.

CONCLUSION

ULMCA PCI with DES is safe and has acceptable in-hospital and mid-term outcomes among patients with low-to-intermediate SYNTAX score.

The Evolution of Endovascular Therapy for Intracranial Aneurysms: Historical Perspective and Next Frontiers

The history of cerebral aneurysm treatment has a rich and storied past with multiple notable luminaries contributing insights. The modern era has transitioned from primarily clip ligation to increasing use of endovascular therapy. Even more recently, the use of intrasaccular flow diverters has been introduced for the treatment of wide necked aneurysms. The field is continuing to transform, and bioactive coils and stents have resurfaced as promising adjuvants to promote aneurysm healing. Advanced imaging modalities are being developed that could further advance the endovascular arsenal and allow for porous memory polymer devices to enter the field. This focused review highlights notable historic contributions and advances to the point of futuristic technology that is actively being developed.

Acute Myocardial Infarction and Cardiogenic Shock Interventional Approach to Management in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories

Despite advances in early reperfusion and a technologic renaissance in the space of Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS), Cardiogenic Shock (CS) remains the leading cause of in-hospital mortality following Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI). Given the challenges inherent to conducting adequately powered randomized controlled trials in this time-sensitive, hemodynamically complex, and highly lethal syndrome, treatment recommendations have been derived from AMI patients without shock. In this review, we aimed to (1) examine the pathophysiology and the new classification system for CS; (2) provide a comprehensive, evidence-based review for best practices for interventional management of AMI-CS in the cardiac catheterization laboratory; and (3) highlight the concept of how frailty and geriatric syndromes can be integrated into the decision process and where medical futility lies in the spectrum of AMI-CS care. Management strategies in the cardiac catheterization laboratory for CS include optimal vascular access, periprocedural antithrombotic therapy, culprit lesion versus multi-vessel revascularization, selective utilization of hemodynamic MCS tailored to individual shock hemometabolic profiles, and management of cardiac arrest. Efforts to advance clinical evidence for patients with CS should be concentrated on (1) the coordination of multi-center registries; (2) development of pragmatic clinical trials designed to evaluate innovative therapies; (3) establishment of multidisciplinary care models that will inform quality care and improve clinical outcomes.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes Among Patients Undergoing High-Risk Percutaneous Coronary Interventions by Single or Multiple Operators: Insights From the Veterans Affairs Clinical Assessment, Reporting, and Tracking Program

Background High-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (HR-PCI) is increasingly common among contemporary patients with coronary artery disease. Experts have advocated for a collaborative 2-operator approach to support intraprocedural decision-making for these complex interventions. The impact of a second operator on patient and procedural outcomes is unknown. Methods and Results Patients who underwent HR-PCI from 2015 to 2018 within the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System were identified. Propensity-matched cohorts were generated to compare the outcomes following HR-PCI performed by a single or multiple (≥2) operators. The primary end point was the 12-month rate of major adverse cardiovascular events. We identified 6672 patients who underwent HR-PCI during the study period; 6211 (93%) were treated by a single operator, and 461 (7%) were treated by multiple operators, with a nonsignificant trend toward increased multioperator procedures over time. A higher proportion of patients treated by multiple operators underwent left main (10% versus 7%, P=0.045) or chronic total occlusion intervention (11% versus 5%, P<0.001). Lead interventionalists participating in multioperator procedures practiced at centers with higher annual HR-PCI volumes (124±71.3 versus 111±69.2; standardized mean difference, 0.197; P<0.001) but otherwise performed a similar number of HR-PCI procedures per year (34.4±35.3 versus 34.7±30.7; standardized mean difference, 0.388; P=0.841) compared with their peers performing single-operator interventions. In a propensity-matched cohort, there was no significant difference in major adverse cardiovascular events (32% versus 30%, P=0.444) between patients who underwent single-operator versus multioperator HR-PCI. Adjusted analyses accounting for site-level variance showed no significant differences in outcomes. Conclusions Patients who underwent multioperator HR-PCI had similar outcomes compared with single-operator procedures. Further studies are needed to determine if the addition of a second operator offers clinical benefits to a subset of HR-PCI patients undergoing left main or chronic total occlusion intervention.

Radial versus femoral access for left main percutaneous coronary intervention: An analysis from the Veterans Affairs Clinical, Reporting, and Tracking Program

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to compare clinical characteristics and procedural outcomes of left main percutaneous interventions (LM-PCI) by transradial (TRA) versus transfemoral (TFA) approach in the VA healthcare system.

BACKGROUND

TRA for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is steadily increasing. However, the frequency and efficacy of TRA for LM-PCI remain less studied.

METHODS

All LM-PCIs performed in the VA healthcare system were identified for fiscal year 2008 through 2018. Patients' baseline characteristics and procedure-related variables were compared by access site. Both short- and long-term clinical outcomes were analyzed using propensity score matching.

RESULTS

A total of 4004 LM-PCI were performed in the VA via either radial or femoral access from 2008 to 2018. Among these, 596 (14.9%) LM PCIs were performed via TRA. Use of TRA for LM-PCI increased from 2.2% to 31.5% over the study period. Propensity matched outcome analysis, comparing TRA versus TFA, showed a similar procedural success (98.4% for TRA vs. 97.8% for TFA; RR: 1.01 [0.98, 1.03]) and 1-year major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (25.9% for TRA vs. 26.8% TFA; RR: 0.96 [0.74, 1.25]). There were no statistically significant differences among secondary outcomes analyses including major bleeding.

CONCLUSION

Use of TRA for LM-PCI has been steadily increasing in the VA healthcare system. These findings demonstrate similar procedural success and 1-year MACE across access strategies, suggesting an opportunity to continue increasing TRA use for LM-PCI.

High Risk Percutaneous Coronary Intervention of Left Main Bifurcation Stenosis in a Peritoneal Dialysis Patient

Complex coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death in patients with end-stage renal disease. We report a case of a patient on peritoneal dialysis, preloaded with Prasugrel and acetylsalicylic acid as а potent dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). The patient underwent a high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) due to bifurcation stenosis of the left main stem branch. A "double kiss crush" bifurcation stenting technique was performed. This case provides additional data about the treatment of this group of patients, a group that is often excluded from randomized control trials, but is frequently encountered in cardiovascular practice. Furthermore, it helps to advance PCI treatment along with exploring the safety of potent DAPT in a group that is susceptible to both ischemia and bleeding, thus presenting a great challenge in the decision for treatment.

Hot topics in interventional cardiology: Proceedings from the society for cardiovascular angiography and interventions (SCAI) 2021 think tank

The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) Think Tank is a collaborative venture that brings together interventional cardiologists, administrative partners, and select members of the cardiovascular industry community annually for high-level field-wide discussions. The 2021 Think Tank was organized into four parallel sessions reflective of the field of interventional cardiology: (a) coronary intervention, (b) endovascular medicine, (c) structural heart disease, and (d) congenital heart disease. Each session was moderated by a senior content expert and co-moderated by a member of SCAI's Emerging Leader Mentorship program. This document presents the proceedings to the wider cardiovascular community in order to enhance participation in this discussion, create additional dialog from a broader base, and thereby aid SCAI, the industry community and external stakeholders in developing specific action items to move these areas forward.

Principles of Intravascular Lithotripsy for Calcific Plaque Modification

A significant proportion of lesions treated with transcatheter interventions in the coronary and peripheral vascular beds exhibit moderate to severe calcific plaques known to portend lower procedural success rates, increased peri-procedural adverse events, and unfavorable clinical outcomes compared with noncalcific plaques. Adapted from lithotripsy technology used for treatment of ureterorenal calculi, intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) is a novel technique for the treatment of severely calcific plaque lesions that uses acoustic shockwaves in a balloon-based delivery system. Shockwaves induce calcium fractures, which facilitate stent expansion and luminal gain. In this review, the authors summarize the physics, preclinical and clinical data on IVL use in the coronary and peripheral vasculature, and future directions of IVL in transcatheter cardiovascular therapies.

SCAI expert consensus update on best practices in the cardiac catheterization laboratory: This statement was endorsed by the American College of Cardiology (ACC), the American Heart Association (AHA), and the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) in April 2021

The current document commissioned by the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) and endorsed by the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, and Heart Rhythm Society represents a comprehensive update to the 2012 and 2016 consensus documents on patient-centered best practices in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Comprising updates to staffing and credentialing, as well as evidence-based updates to the pre-, intra-, and post-procedural logistics, clinical standards and patient flow, the document also includes an expanded section on CCL governance, administration, and approach to quality metrics. This update also acknowledges the collaboration with various specialties, including discussion of the heart team approach to management, and working with electrophysiology colleagues in particular. It is hoped that this document will be utilized by hospitals, health systems, as well as regulatory bodies involved in assuring and maintaining quality, safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of patient throughput in this high volume area.

Mechanical Circulatory Support in High-Risk Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

The use of mechanical circulatory devices to support high-risk elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has become more common as the group of patients considered inoperable or high risk for surgical revascularization has grown. Most of the data examining outcomes in high-risk PCI are observational and retrospective. Limited prospective randomized studies have been unable to show improved clinical outcomes with routine mechanical circulatory support (MCS) in patients with a high burden of coronary artery disease and reduced ejection fraction. The role for MCS in high-risk PCI continues to evolve as understanding of the appropriate groups for this therapy evolves.

A contemporary review of clinical significances of percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusions, with some Japanese insights

The clinical "significance" of percutaneous coronary intervention for coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO-PCI) has been evaluated. In the beginning, the effects on clinical endpoints were investigated by comparisons between cases of success and failure of CTO-PCI, which mostly demonstrated better long-term outcomes in the successful cases. Similarly, improvement of cardiac function or wall motion was proven by serial observational studies. Accordingly, several prospective randomized trials (RCTs), which should confirm such accumulated potential benefits, were recently conducted by comparison with studies of patients that had received optical medical therapy (OMT) alone. While they mostly demonstrated significant improvement of angina symptoms and quality of life (QOL) in the CTO-PCI group, they failed to prove a reduction of clinical events or improvement of left ventricle wall motion, compared with OMT. Concurrent guidelines or consensus documents emphasize that the principal indication for CTO-PCI is to improve symptoms. To determine strategy, the following must be discussed in each individual case: the probability of procedural success, the expectation of long-term patency, and an assessment of the balance between procedure-related complications and overall benefits. In essence, we believe the following facts to be the current sincere appraisal of CTO-PCI: (1) improvements of symptoms and QOL are established, but the others remain inconclusive, and; (2) their margins for improvement are narrowing and numbers of candidates are shrinking. Precision medicine or individualization may be the right directions to take, to enhance the potential of this treatment. This course of action demands discrimination of those candidates who will truly receive benefits from invasive treatment, and that still requires further clinical studies or actions.

Practical utilization of cardiac computed tomography for the success in complex coronary intervention

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for complex lesions is still technically demanding and is associated with less favorable procedural parameters such as lower success rate, longer procedural time, higher contrast volume and unexpected complications. Because the conventional angiographic analysis is limited by the inability to visualize the plaque information and the occluded segment, cardiac computed tomography has evolved as an adjunct to invasive angiography to better characterize coronary lesions to improve success rates of PCI. Adding to routine image reconstructions by coronary computed tomography angiography, the thin-slab maximum intensity projection method, which is a handy reconstruction technique on an ordinary workstation, could provide easy-to-understand images to reveal the anatomical characteristics and the lumen and plaque information simultaneously, and then assist to build an in-depth strategy for PCI. Especially in the treatment of chronic total occlusion lesion, these informations have big advantages in the visualization of the morphologies of entry and exit, the occluded segment and the distribution of calcium compared to invasive coronary angiography. Despite of the additional radiation exposure, contrast use and cost for cardiac computed tomography, the precise analysis of lesion characteristics would consequently improve the procedural success and prevent the complication in complex PCI.