Rescue percutaneous coronary intervention following coronary artery bypass graft--a descriptive analysis of the changing interface between interventional cardiologist and cardiac surgeon

Clinical significance, angiographic characteristics, and short-term outcomes in 30 patients with early coronary artery graft failure

BACKGROUND

Despite technical advances in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), early postoperative myocardial ischaemia still remains a challenging problem. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence, clinical features, angiographic characteristics, and management of early graft failure in the present CABG era.

METHODS

Between January 1997 and December 2002, 1731 patients underwent CABG at our institution. Coronary angiography was performed in patients with clinical evidence of early postoperative ischaemia (</=3 months). Thirty of these patients with graft failure constituted the population of this study.

RESULTS

Off-pump and on-pump CABG were almost evenly performed in these patients [n=16 (53%) and n=14 (47%) respectively]. Acute myocardial infarction and unstable angina were the leading indications for coronary angiography in the majority of patients [n=28 (93%)]. The most common cause of graft failure was occlusion / thrombosis [n=20 (67%)]. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was offered to the majority of patients [n=22 (73%)]. Of these patients, 14 underwent PCI to native coronary arteries, whereas eight underwent PCI to the culprit vessel. Three patients underwent reoperation, and five received medical management. Four patients (13%) died in hospital (two after redo CABG, one after unsuccessful PCI, and one patient managed medically). Two patients (7%) had nonfatal major complications (one non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction and one stroke).

CONCLUSION

Early graft failure generally presents as acute coronary syndrome. Graft occlusion/ thrombosis is the leading cause of ischaemia. Patients with graft failure can undergo PCI with a relatively low risk, but the need for redo CABG in associated with a high mortality. (Neth Heart J 2009;17:13-7.).

Immediate results and six-month clinical outcome after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with prior coronary artery bypass surgery

BACKGROUND

Redo coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG) is associated with a higher risk of mortality than the first operation. However, the impact of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on the outcome in such patients is currently unclear. We evaluated the in-hospital and six-month clinical outcomes of post-CABG patients who underwent PCI in our center.

METHODS

Between April 2008 and July 2009, 71 post-CABG patients (16 women and 55 men) underwent 110 stent implantations (74% drug-eluting stents) for 89 lesions. Sixty percent of the PCI procedures were performed on the native coronary arteries, 32% on graft arteries, and 8% on both types of vessels. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were recorded in hospital and at six months' follow-up.

RESULTS

The procedural success rate was 93%, and the in-hospital MACE rate was 5.6 % (1 death, 3 myocardial infarctions). At 6 months, the incidence of MACE was 5.6% (no death or myocardial infarction, but 4 target lesion revascularizations) and 4 (5.6 %) in-stent restenoses. There was no statistically significant difference in the comparison of MACE between the patients treated in either native arteries or in the grafts (15% vs.12%, p value = 0.8). According to the univariate analysis, hypertension and the use of the bare metal stent vs. the drug-eluting stent were the significant predictors of MACE, whereas the multivariate analysis showed that only hypertension (OR = 3.7, 95% CI 3.4-4, p value < 0.048) was the independent predictor of MACE. The mean of the left ventricular ejection fraction had no effect on the incidence of MACE (p value = 0.9). The multivariate analysis showed hypertension (p value < 0.048) and the use of the bare metal stent (p value < 0.018) were the independent predictors of MACE. The chronic total occlusion (CTO) (p value < 0.01) was the independent predictor of the success rate. The prevalence of diabetes had no impact on the incidence of MACE according to the univariate analysis (p value = 0.9). Our multivariate analysis showed that hypertension and the use of the bare metal stent were the independent predictors of MACE and that chronic total occlusion was the independent predictor of the procedural failure rate.

CONCLUSION

PCI is preferable to redo CABG for post-CABG patients. The independent predictors of MACE were hypertension and bare metal stents.

Trends in percutaneous coronary interventions in new South Wales, Australia

This is the first detailed study on percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Hospital data for PCIs carried out between 1 July 1990 and 30 June 2002 are analysed. The study explores trends in PCI rates by selected socio-demographic factors, the utilisation of angioplasties vis-a-vis stents, emergency admissions, and selected coexisting conditions which determine the disease status of PCI patients. Logistic regression models are used to study the medical conditions that require both PCI and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). The PCI rate has grown rapidly at 12.1% per annum, with a particularly rapid increase for persons aged 75+. The rate of multiple stent utilisation increased at 4.6% per annum. Pacific-born and Middle-Eastern-born patients are more than twice as likely as the Australian-born to have diabetes. Factors affecting failure of PCI requiring CABG include perforation and multi-vessel disease. PCI services in public hospitals need to be increased to facilitate the availability of these procedures to all segments of the population, as do targeted community-level programmes to educate high-risk groups in the control of heart diseases.

Transport and centralization of acute coronary syndrome care

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the optimal treatment for patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). But PCI facilities are not widely available, and the majority of patients who receive reperfusion therapy are treated with thrombolytic therapy. However, with significant improvements in the procedural success of PCI, there has been a concomitant reduction in the need for emergency bypass surgery and there is evidence to support primary PCI without on-site cardiac surgical facilities. Others have proposed immediate transfer to a suitable hospital for immediate primary PCI. An alternative treatment strategy is facilitated PCI, which might combine the early benefits of thrombolysis with the higher patency rates and superior clinical outcomes of primary PCI, although this remains unproven. Finally, rescue PCI remains a reasonable treatment option for patients with failed thrombolysis, but there is insufficient evidence to support this option as a preferred treatment strategy for patients with STEMI.