Usefulness and safety of intracoronary administration of nicorandil for evaluating fractional flow reserve in Japanese patients

Pd/Pa fluctuation with continuous ATP administration indicates inaccurate FFR measurement caused by insufficient hyperemia

Continuous intravenous adenosine triphosphate (ATP) administration is the standard method for inducing maximal hyperemia in fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurements. Several cases have demonstrated fluctuations in the ratio of mean distal coronary pressure to mean arterial pressure (Pd/Pa) value during ATP infusion, which raised our suspicions of FFR value inaccuracy. This study aimed to investigate our hypothesis that Pd/Pa fluctuations may indicate inaccurate FFR measurements caused by insufficient hyperemia. We examined 57 consecutive patients with angiographically intermediate coronary lesions who underwent fractional flow reverse (FFR) measurements in our hospital between November 2016 and September 2018. Pd/Pa was measured after continuous ATP administration (150 μg/kg/min) via a peripheral forearm vein for 5 min (FFRA); and we analyzed the FFR value variation in the final 20 s of the 5 min, defining 'Fluctuation' as variation range > 0.03. Then, 2 mg of nicorandil was administered into the coronary artery during continued ATP infusion, and the Pd/Pa was remeasured (FFRA+N). Fluctuations were observed in 23 of 57 patients. The cases demonstrating discrepancies of > 0.05 between FFRA and FFRA+N were observed more frequently in the fluctuation group than in the non-fluctuation group (12/23 vs. 1/34; p < 0.0001). The discrepancy between FFRA and FFRA+N values was smaller in the non-fluctuation group (mean difference ± SD; -0.00026 ± 0.04636 vs. 0.02608 ± 0.1316). Pd/Pa fluctuation with continuous ATP administration could indicate inaccurate FFR measurements caused by incomplete hyperemia. Additional vasodilator administration may achieve further hyperemia when Pd/Pa fluctuations are observed.

Comprehensive effect of Naoxintong capsule combined with Western medicine on coronary heart disease after percutaneous coronary intervention: a meta-analysis

Aims

To systematically evaluate the comprehensive effect of combining Naoxintong capsule (NXT) with Western medicine (WM) on coronary heart disease post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of NXT for patients with CHD after PCI were systematically searched across multiple databases, including the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), and Wan Fang, from inception until 31 January 2023. Study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment were performed by two independent reviewers. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool (RoB 2), and data analysis was performed using R4.2.2.

Results

Fifteen RCTs conducted between 2011 and 2022 and involving 1,551 patients were identified, with 774 and 777 patients in the experimental and control groups respectively. It was found that the NXT and WM combination was superior to the WM therapy alone in terms of the effective clinical rate (odds ratio [OR] = 4.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.13-10.30), effective rate in electrocardiogram (OR = 6.92, 95% CI = 3.44-13.92), effective rate in angina (OR = 5.90, 95% CI = 3.04-11.46), left ventricular ejection fraction (mean difference [MD] = 4.94, 95% CI = 2.89-6.99), brain natriuretic peptide (MD = -294.00, 95% CI = -584.60 to -3.39), creatine kinase-MB (MD = -7.82, 95% CI = -13.26 to -2.37), major adverse cardiovascular events (OR = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.14-0.43), maximum platelet aggregation rate (MD = -8.33, 95% CI = -11.64 to -5.01), and Chinese medicine evidence score (OR = 9.79, 95% CI = 3.57-26.85). However, there was no significant difference in cardiac troponin I level reduction (MD = -0.13, 95% CI = 0.35-0.09) or the occurrence of adverse medicine events (OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.41-2.05). Meta-regression and subgroup analyses indicated that NXT capsule dosage, treatment duration, and patient baseline characteristics contributed to the heterogeneity.

Conclusion

A combination of NXT and WM can improve clinical outcomes in patients undergoing PCI. However, further studies are needed to confirm the reliability and safety of this combined treatment approach.

Systematic Review Registration

PROSPERO, https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=369174, Identifier CRD42022369174.

Intracoronary nicorandil induced hyperemia for physiological assessments in the coronary artery lesions

OBJECTIVE

Maximal hyperemia is a key element of invasive physiological examination. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of intracoronary (IC) nicorandil in comparison with adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) intravenous (i.v.) injection for fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurement in coronary artery lesions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, 46 patients who had their FFR measured were enrolled, including 51 lesions. Hyperemia was induced by bolus 2 mg nicorandil and ATP (40 mg ATP + 36 ml saline, weight × 10 ml/h) for FFR measurement. The safety and efficacy of IC nicorandil were evaluated.

RESULTS

The mean FFR values measured by nicorandil and ATP were 0.810 ± 0.013 and 0.799 ± 0.099, p < 0.001, respectively. There was a strong correlation between FFR measured by nicorandil and ATP (r = 0.983, R 2 = 0.966, FFRnicorandil = 0.937 × FFRATP + 0.061). The rate of FFR ≤ 0.75 in the nicorandil and ATP groups was 31.37 vs. 35.29%, respectively (p = 0.841), the consistency rate was 96.08%; the FFR ≤ 0.8 rate was 41.18 and 43.14%, respectively (p = 0.674), and the consistency rate was 90.20%. In five lesions, the FFR value measured by nicorandil ranged between 0.79 and 0.82, indicating inconsistency according to FFR ≤ 0.8. The blood pressure changes caused by nicorandil and ATP were 12.96 ± 6.83 and 22.22 ± 11.44 mmHg (p < 0.001); the heart rate changes were 2.43 ± 1.31 and 6.52 ± 2.87 beats/min, respectively (p < 0.001); and the PR interval changes were 6.0 (1.0-11.0) and 9.0 (2.0-19.0) ms, respectively (p < 0.001). Visual analog scale (VAS) scores in the nicorandil group were all in the range 0-2, while in the ATP group were mostly in the range of 3-5.

CONCLUSION

Intracoronary bolus of nicorandil (2 mg) infusion induces stable hyperemia, and it could be considered as an alternative drug to ATP for FFR measurement with a lower side effect profile in most patients.

Diagnostic utility and safety of intracoronary nicorandil as a hyperemic agent for the measurement of fractional flow reserve

We investigated the diagnostic utility and safety of intracoronary bolus administration of nicorandil compared with intravenous administration of adenosine for evaluating FFR in patients with intermediate (40-70%) coronary stenosis. The FFR values obtained with nicorandil and adenosine showed linear relationship. This correlation is statistically significant with regression coefficient of 0.932 (R2 = 0.834, p < 0.001). The side effects such as bronchospasm, hypotension, and bradycardia were significantly higher after administration of adenosine compared to nicorandil (20% vs. 1.66%, p = 0.001). Intracoronary use of nicorandil seems to be promising in offering the advantages of lesser side effects, similar efficacy, and lesser cost as compared to adenosine.

[Application of free-style perforator flap for soft tissue defect of knee]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effectiveness of free-style perforator flap in repairing the soft tissue defect of knee.

METHODS

Between December 2011 and October 2017, 13 patients with the soft tissue defects of knees were repaired with the free-style perforator flaps. There were 9 males and 4 females, with an average age of 40 years (range, 14-65 years). The injuries were caused by traffic accident in 7 cases, crushing in 4 cases, and falling from height in 2 cases. The soft tissue defects in 9 cases formed after 2 weeks-2 months (mean, 1 month) of lower extremity fractures fixation. The other 4 cases were urgently admitted to the hospital after injury, and the time from injury to admission was 0.5-18.0 hours (mean, 8 hours). The size of soft tissue defect ranged from 3 cm×2 cm to 12 cm×8 cm after debridement. Nine propeller flaps, 6 rotating flaps, and 2 V-Y advanced flaps were used; and 9 cases were repaired by single flap and 4 cases were repaired by combined flaps. The size of flap ranged from 7.5 cm×2.5 cm to 20.0 cm×6.0 cm. The donor sites were sutured directly.

RESULTS

The flaps survived smoothly and incisions healed by first intention in 12 cases. The congestion occurred in 1 case, which obtained delayed healing after symptomatic treatment. All incisions at donor sites healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 3-24 months with an average of 6 months. The shape and motions of knee were satisfactory.

CONCLUSION

The free-style perforator flap can maximize the utilization of the donor area around the knee wound, with reliable blood supply, small trauma, and easy operation. It is an ideal flap for the soft tissue defect of knee.

Utility and Validity of Intracoronary Administration of Nicorandil Alone for the Measurement of Fractional Flow Reserve in Patients With Intermediate Coronary Stenosis

BACKGROUND

Intracoronary (IC) administration of nicorandil has been proposed as an alternative choice of hyperemic agent for fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurements. This study evaluated the utility and validity of IC nicorandil administration alone to induce maximal hyperemia.Methods and Results:Two-hundred-seven patients with coronary artery disease listed for coronary angiography with FFR were prospectively enrolled. FFR was measured after (1) IC administration of nicorandil 2 mg (ICNIC2 mg); (2) continuous intravenous (IV) adenosine triphosphatase (ATP) infusion at 150 μg/kg/min (IVATP150); (3) IV ATP infusion at 210 μg/kg/min (IVATP210); (4) IC administration of 0.5 mg nicorandil during IVATP150 (ICNIC0.5 mg+IVATP150); (5) IC administration of 1 mg nicorandil during IVATP150 (ICNIC1 mg+IVATP150); and (6) IC administration of 2 mg nicorandil during IVATP150 (ICNIC2 mg+IVATP150). The average FFR values and the rate of achieving maximum hyperemia after ICNIC2 mg, IVATP150, IVATP210, ICNIC0.5 mg+IVATP150, ICNIC1 mg+IVATP150, and ICNIC2 mg+IVATP150 were 0.85±0.08, 0.89±0.08, 0.85±0.09, 0.84±0.08, 0.83±0.08, 0.83±0.08 (P<0.01), and 92%, 54%, 91%, 96%, 99%, 99% (P<0.01), respectively. The incidence of systolic aortic pressure drop, chest discomfort, and transient atrioventricular block increased in a dose-dependent manner after IV ATP infusion, but almost no adverse effects were observed after ICNIC2 mg.

CONCLUSIONS

ICNIC2 mg produced a more pronounced hyperemia than continuous IV ATP, and might be the preferred method for assessment of FFR.

Additive value of nicorandil on ATP for further inducing hyperemia in patients with an intermediate coronary artery stenosis

BACKGROUND

The induction of hyperemia is of importance to precisely assess the functional significance of coronary artery lesions with fractional flow reserve (FFR). Adenosine or ATP alone is used widely in this setting; however, little is known about the additive value of nicorandil, which acts as a nitrate and a K-ATP channel opener, to induce further hyperemia.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 183 intermediate native coronary artery lesions from 112 patients were prospectively enrolled into this study. FFR was measured using a coronary pressure wire during an intravenous ATP infusion alone (150 mcg/kg/min) (FFRATP) and repeated after an adjunctive intracoronary nicorandil injection (2.0 mg) (FFRATP+Nico).

RESULTS

Physiologic measurements were completed without any severe adverse effects from ATP and nicorandil in all patients. FFRATP and FFRATP+Nico had a strong linear correlation (R=0.79, P<0.001). The FFR value became significantly lower with an adjunctive intracoronary nicorandil injection compared with ATP alone [FFRATP vs. FFRATP+Nico, 0.87 (interquartile range: 0.81-0.92) vs. 0.85 (0.79-0.90), P<0.001]. A total of 18 lesions out of 183 (9.8%) were reclassified after a nicorandil injection (12 from FFR>0.80 to ≤0.80 vs. six from FFR≤0.80 to >0.80, P=0.26). The adjunctive effect of nicorandil was accentuated with each increment of FFRATP strata (per 0.05 increase, P for trend<0.001), but with minimal effect around the borderline FFR zone.

CONCLUSION

An adjunctive intracoronary nicorandil injection is safe, but appears to have little effect in inducing further hyperemia. Therefore, its effect on the clinical scenario is limited.

Impact of additional intracoronary nicorandil administration during fractional flow reserve measurement with intravenous adenosine 5'-triphosphate infusion

BACKGROUND

Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is a useful index for determining the functional severity of epicardial coronary artery stenosis as an invasive physiological method. Although intravenous adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) is generally used as a hyperemic agent for FFR measurement in Japan, there are some concerns about the variability of FFR measurement (short half-life, effect of caffeine, cyclic change). It is difficult to confirm sufficient maximum hyperemia after ATP infusion. Recent studies reported that nicorandil (NIC) could be an alternative to ATP as a hyperemic agent.

METHODS

Patients who underwent FFR assessments of angiographically intermediate lesions were included. All patients were asked to refrain from caffeine-containing products more than 12hours before FFR measurements. All patients first received intravenous (IV) ATP infusion (180μg/kg/min) for 3min to measure FFR (ATP-FFR). After additional intracoronary (IC) NIC administration (2mg/30s) during ATP infusion, FFR was measured again (NIC-FFR). To check cyclic change in FFR, we measured minimum and maximum FFR values during both ATP and NIC hyperemic phase.

RESULTS

In this study, 94 patients with 94 lesions were enrolled. Mean FFR value was 0.81±0.10 in ATP-FFR infusion and 0.80±0.09 in NIC-FFR, respectively. ATP-FFR and NIC-FFR had a strong correlation on the whole (r=0.92, p<0.001). In 18 patients (19%), FFR values were significantly lower in NIC-FFR than in ATP-FFR. In one-third of those patients (6%), it was possible to change therapeutic strategy from deferral range (>0.80) to interventional range (≦0.80) after NIC-FFR measurements. Cyclic change in FFR was smaller in NIC-FFR than in ATP-FFR (0.03±0.02 vs. 0.06±0.05, p<0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Additional IC NIC might be useful to confirm sufficient maximum hyperemia after IV ATP infusion in daily clinical practice. Furthermore, IC NIC could reduce cyclic change in FFR; thus, physicians might find it easier to determine FFR value during the procedure.