CVIT 2023 clinical expert consensus document on intravascular ultrasound

Complex PCI and 1-year outcomes in the OPTIVUS-complex PCI study multivessel cohort

It remains unknown whether intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) can improve the clinical outcomes of complex PCI to a level equivalent to that of non-complex PCI. In the OPTIVUS-Complex PCI (Optimal Intravascular Ultrasound-Guided Complex PCI) Study multivessel cohort, a total of 1011 patients who underwent multivessel PCI involving a target lesion in the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) were divided into 2 groups: complex PCI (N = 760) and non-complex PCI groups (N = 251). Complex PCI was defined as a procedure with the following characteristics: 3 vessels treated, 3 stents implanted, 3 lesions treated, bifurcation with 2 stents implanted, total stent length > 60 mm, or target of chronic total occlusion. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event (MACCE) defined by a composite of death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or any coronary revascularization. The cumulative 1-year incidences of the primary endpoint and any coronary revascularization were not significantly different between the complex and non-complex PCI groups (10.9% vs. 8.3%, P = 0.24, and 7.7% vs. 4.8%, P = 0.12, respectively). In the multivariable Cox proportional hazards models, there was no significant excess risk of the complex PCI group relative to the non-complex PCI group for the primary endpoint (HR, 1.35; 95%CI, 0.83-2.18; P = 0.22), or for any coronary revascularization (HR, 1.64; 95%CI, 0.87-3.06; P = 0.11). After optimal IVUS-guided multivessel PCI with a target lesion in the LAD, 1-year risk of MACCE or coronary revascularization in patients with complex PCI was numerically higher than that in patients with non-complex PCI.

Impact of pullback speed on evaluation of lipid core plaque using near-infrared spectroscopy-intravascular ultrasound

Near-infrared spectroscopy-intravascular ultrasound (NIRS-IVUS) can assess the amount of lipid core plaque, and the latest generation catheter allows for imaging at several different pullback speeds. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of pullback speed on evaluation of lipid core plaque using the latest generation NIRS-IVUS catheter. Patients with coronary artery disease who underwent coronary angiography or percutaneous coronary intervention with NIRS-IVUS examination at 2 different pullback speeds (0.5 and 2.0 mm/sec) for the same vessel were enrolled. The values of lipid core burden index (LCBI) and maxLCBI4mm were compared between the images recorded with pullback speeds of 0.5 and 2.0 mm/sec, and match or mismatch of the location where maxLCBI4mm was detected was investigated. In a total of 286 NIRS-IVUS image sets, the location of maxLCBI4mm measured at 0.5 and 2.0 mm/sec was mismatched in 81 (28.3%) image sets. In comparison by vessel type, 20.8% were mismatched in LAD, 31.1% in LCx, and 37.8% in RCA (p = 0.023). In 205 image sets with matched maxLCBI4mm location, the maxLCBI4mm value at 2.0 mm/sec was significantly greater compared with that at 0.5 mm/sec (348.0 vs. 302.0 in median, p < 0.001). In a substantial proportion of patients, the location of maxLCBI4mm values measured at 0.5 and 2.0 mm/sec was mismatched. In the image sets with matched maxLCBI4mm location, the maxLCBI4mm value at 2.0 mm/sec was significantly greater compared with that at 0.5 mm/sec. These results should be noted when applying the cut-off values of maxLCBI4mm recorded at 2.0 mm/sec.

CVIT 2025 clinical expert consensus document on intravascular ultrasound

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) provides precise anatomic information in coronary arteries including quantitative measurements and morphological assessment. To standardize the IVUS analysis in the current era, this updated expert consensus document summarizes the methods of measurements and assessment of IVUS images and the clinical evidence of IVUS use in percutaneous coronary intervention.

Deep dive into intravascular coronary imaging in calcified lesions

Percutaneous coronary intervention has been developed for patients with coronary artery disease. Calcified lesions are recognized as an unsolved issue where many clinical devices have evolved and some disappeared. Understanding intracoronary imaging of the calcified lesions can help operators to make decisions during the procedure. There are several potential stories of progression of calcification, although a precise mechanism of progression of calcification remains unknown. In the process of a large calcification, it is histologically believed that lipid is replaced by calcification. This process can be observed by intracoronary imaging devices, i.e., intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography. Calcified nodule is a unique type of calcifications. Among the calcified lesions, especially calcified nodule has serious clinical outcomes such as target lesion revascularization (TLR) with stent under-expansion. Additionally, in-stent calcified nodule is a distinctive type of restenosis pattern after stenting to calcified nodule, leading to malignant cycle of repeated TLR. Recently, calcified nodule is divided into two types based on the surface irregularity: (1) eruptive and (2) non-eruptive calcified nodule. Eruptive calcified nodule has higher rate of target vessel revascularization than non-eruptive calcified nodule despite greater stent expansion in eruptive calcified nodule. It is thought that there are differences of component such as the amount of fibrin and the size of calcific nodules between both, although it is common for both to include calcific nodules and fibrin. Histopathological understanding calcified nodule can be helpful to choose the treatment devices during the procedure in the area where there is no correct answer.

Comparison of angiogram-based physiological assessment system sizing tool and intravascular ultrasound imaging measurements

BACKGROUND

The diagnostic performance of an angiogram-based physiological assessment system (FFRangio™, CathWorks) has been already demonstrated. Besides performing a functional assessment, the FFRangio system provides a 3-dimensional quantitative coronary angiogram-based sizing tool (FFRangioST) to measure lumen diameter and vessel length. We aim to compare the measurements obtained using FFRangioST against measurements obtained with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODS

We analyzed data from consecutive patients who underwent IVUS-guided PCI after FFRangio physiological assessment and FFRangioST assessment of lesion diameters and length from the Japan FFRangio clinical outcome registry (ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT05648396). For each lesion undergoing PCI, the correlation and mean difference for lesion length (LL), proximal reference diameter (RD) and distal RD as measured by FFRangioST/IVUS were assessed using pairwise comparisons, Pearson's correlation and Bland-Altman plots.

RESULTS

Our cohort included 121 lesions from 115 patients. The FFRangio value in this cohort was 0.60 ± 0.1 (mean ± standard deviation). Mean LL (mm) was 31.1 ± 13.9 and 30.3 ± 14.3 by FFRangioST and IVUS, respectively. Correlation between the LL measurements was r = 0.986 (p < 0.001). Proximal RD (mm) was 2.6 ± 0.5 and 3.2 ± 0.6 by FFRangioST and IVUS, respectively, with correlation of r = 0.756 (p < 0.001). Distal RD (mm) was 2.2 ± 0.5 and 2.7 ± 0.5 by FFRangioST and IVUS, respectively, with correlation of r = 0.832 (p < 0.001). After inflating the original FFRangioST diameter value by 25 %, the average difference between the IVUS and FFRangioST measurements was 0.02 mm and -0.02 mm, for proximal and distal RD, respectively.

CONCLUSION

FFRangioST measurement has an excellent correlation with lesion length and high degree of correlation with a predictable coefficient (25 % inflation) with proximal and distal reference diameters when compared with IVUS measurement in PCI.

Patterns and Prognostic Impact of Postdischarge Ischemic, Bleeding, and Heart Failure Events After Myocardial Infarction

Although the in-hospital prognosis after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has considerably improved to date, ischemic, bleeding, and heart failure (HF) events after discharge remain clinical challenges. However, the pattern of such events is not fully understood in contemporary clinical practice. This study aimed to evaluate the timing and prognostic impact of cardiovascular and bleeding events after AMI. This multicenter, retrospective registry included 2,059 patients with AMI who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. Patients were grouped according to their first events after discharge, consisting of ischemic events (recurrent AMI or ischemic stroke), major bleeding, and HF hospitalization, whereas those without such events were classified as the no cardiovascular event group. All-cause mortality after discharge and the ischemic, bleeding, and HF events were evaluated. Ischemic events, major bleedings, and HF hospitalization as their first clinical outcome measures after discharge occurred in 99 (4.8%), 57 (2.8%), and 75 (3.6%) patients, respectively, during the median follow-up period of 538 days. Postdischarge mortality was highest in the major bleeding group, followed by the ischemic events, HF hospitalization, and no cardiovascular event groups. HF hospitalization occurred earlier than major bleeding and ischemic events after discharge. The mortality impact after the first events was greater in the major bleeding rather than ischemic events and HF hospitalization. In conclusion, patterns and prognostic impact of postdischarge outcomes differed significantly among ischemic, bleeding, and HF events, suggesting that timely and tailored follow-up may be needed after AMI.

Impact of the Stress Hyperglycemia Ratio on Heart Failure and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Events After Acute Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND

An acute hyperglycemic status is reportedly associated with poor prognosis in patients with acute cardiovascular diseases. Although the stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) is used to evaluate the hyperglycemic condition on admission, relationships between SHR and clinical outcomes, particularly heart failure (HF), remain uncertain in acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

METHODS AND RESULTS

This retrospective multicenter study included 2,386 patients with AMI undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. SHR was calculated using blood glucose and HbA1c levels. Co-primary endpoints included HF-related events (death, worsening HF, and hospitalization for HF) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; death, recurrent AMI, and ischemic stroke) during the index hospitalization and after discharge. The mean (±SD) SHR was 1.30±0.51; HF events and MACE occurred in 680 (28.5%) and 233 (9.8%) patients during hospitalization, respectively. SHR was independently associated with in-hospital HF events and MACE. Of 2,017 patients who survived to discharge, 195 (9.7%) and 214 (10.6%) experienced HF events and MACE, respectively, over a median follow-up of 536 days. The risk of HF events was higher in patients with a high (>1.45) SHR than in those with SHR ≤1.45; there was no significant difference in MACE rates after discharge between these 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In AMI patients, SHR was predictive of in-hospital outcomes, including HF events and MACE, whereas after discharge a higher SHR was associated with higher HF risks, but not MACE.

Clinical Review of Cardiogenic Shock After Acute Myocardial Infarction - Revascularization, Mechanical Circulatory Support, and Beyond

Owing to recent advances in early reperfusion and pharmacological therapies, the prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has considerably improved over the past decades. However, the mortality rate remains high at ~40-50% after AMI when complicated by cardiogenic shock. Although immediate coronary revascularization of the infarct-related artery has been the only evidence-based treatment, temporary mechanical circulatory support with a microaxial flow pump (Impella) has become another therapeutic option supported by randomized trial data in highly selected patients. Here we summarize the latest evidence concerning clinical challenges in patients with AMI and cardiogenic shock.

Acute and Mid-Term Assessment of Microvascular Dysfunction with Index of Microcirculatory Resistance in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients

In patients diagnosed with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), despite exhibiting normal patency in the culprit arteries following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), coronary microvessels do not recover adequately, leading to microvascular dysfunction (MVD). Limited data are available regarding microcirculation assessed through invasive measures during the midterm period. This study aimed to investigate the assessment of MVD in STEMI patients using the index of microvascular resistance (IMR) during the midterm period.We prospectively evaluated 41 patients with STEMI who underwent PCI. IMR was measured by placing a coronary pressure wire with intravenous adenosine at 1 week as the acute phase and at 6 months after primary PCI as the midterm period. An improvement in IMR was observed from baseline to follow-up, with values changing from 30.00 (15.00-45.50) to 19.00 (10.50-30.50) (P = 0.020). The degree of MVD significantly decreased during follow-up (from 61.0% to 34.1%, McNemar's test: P = 0.016). Compared to patients with normal microcirculation, those with MVD (IMR > 25) at midterm follow-up exhibited significantly elevated levels of brain natriuretic peptide (180.25 [68.25-370.65] pg/mL versus 75.90 [18.70-169.70] pg/mL, P = 0.043) and prolonged symptom-onset-to-balloon time (727.00 [213.50-1170.00] minutes versus 186.00 [125.00-316.00] minutes, P = 0.002).These findings indicate that the extent of MVD 6 months post-PCI has significantly diminished compared to discharge levels and is associated with symptom-onset-to-balloon time. Therefore, MVD in patients with STEMI can potentially improve in the midterm under specific circumstances.

The Effect of Intravascular Imaging-Guided Percutaneous Coronary Intervention on Coronary Artery Perforation

Background

Intravascular imaging (IVI) complements coronary angiography and may help prevent coronary artery perforation (CAP) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Objectives

The authors evaluated whether IVI-guided PCI is associated with a lower risk of PCI-related CAP in a real-world cohort.

Methods

This observational study analyzed consecutive PCI procedures from January 2006 to October 2023. The procedures were divided into 4 groups according to the year performed: 2006 to 2010 (P1), 2011 to 2015 (P2), 2016 to 2020 (P3), and 2021 to 2023 (P4). We evaluated the trend of IVI-guided PCI and the incidence of CAP. A mixed effects logistic model was employed to assess their relationship.

Results

CAP occurred in 368 (1.6%) of 22,368 PCIs. IVI-guided PCI accounted for 63% of all cases, of which 95% were intravascular ultrasound procedures. From P1 to P3, the ratio of IVI-guided PCI increased linearly (P1: 30%, P2: 61%, P3: 93%, P4: 97%), while the incidence of CAP decreased (P1: 2.10%, P2: 1.74%, P3: 1.13%, P4: 1.18%). IVI-guided PCI showed a significant association with a lower risk of the overall incidence of CAP (adjusted OR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.61-0.99; P = 0.047). This relationship was particularly significant for chronic total occlusion PCI (adjusted OR: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.43-0.80; P = 0.001) and PCI for moderate or severe calcification (adjusted OR: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.33-0.74; P = 0.001).

Conclusions

IVI-guided PCI may help prevent PCI-related CAP, especially in the setting of chronic total occlusion PCI and PCI for moderate or severe calcification.

Long-term outcomes and operators' experience in primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is typically performed by experienced operators. Therefore, the safety of pPCI for STEMI performed by less experienced operators with the support of experienced operators remains unknown. We aimed to investigate the long-term outcomes of pPCI for STEMI performed by less experienced operators with the support of experienced operators. In total, 775 STEMI patients were enrolled and divided into groups according to operator experience in PCI: less experienced (n = 384) and experienced (n = 391) operator groups. Experienced operators were defined as those who had performed > 50 elective PCI procedures per year as the first operator or instructional assistant, whereas less experienced operators were defined as others. When less experienced operators performed the pPCI, experienced operators supported them. The primary endpoint was any cardiovascular event, defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and unplanned hospitalization for heart failure. In the propensity score-matched analysis, 324 patients were included in each group. The cumulative incidence of the primary endpoint over a median of 5 years in the less experienced operator group was similar to that in the experienced operator group (15% vs. 18%, P = 0.209). In the multivariate Cox proportional hazards model, there was no excess risk for patients operated upon by less experienced operators for the primary endpoint (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.85; 95% confidence interval, 0.58-1.25; P = 0.417). pPCI for STEMI by less experienced operators did not increase the risk of in-hospital mortality or 5-year long-term cardiovascular events if supported by experienced operators.

Effectiveness of the repeated 3-time-balloon-inflation method in reducing coronary stent edge dissection

The optimal procedural protocol for coronary stent deployment remains undetermined. Post-dilation with a high-pressure balloon is often performed to optimize the stent expansion. However, high-pressure dilation also carries the potential risk of coronary artery injury. A previous in vitro study reported that multiple-times balloon inflation at the same pressure resulted in better stent expansion compared to one-time balloon inflation. In our facility, we frequently perform the repeated 3-time-balloon-inflation method, wherein the stent delivery balloon was inflated 3 times at nominal pressure to deploy the stent, to improve stent expansion without high-pressure balloon inflation. Although this method seems effective in avoiding excessive high-pressure dilation, its clinical data are insufficient. In this study, we investigated the clinical outcomes of the repeated 3-time-balloon-inflation method. This retrospective study included 370 patients with 467 stented coronary lesions. These subjects were divided into two groups: one with standard balloon inflation and the other with repeated 3-time balloon inflation, and treatment outcomes were compared. The repeated 3-time-balloon-inflation group had 254 lesions, and the standard-balloon-inflation group had 213 lesions. Stent edge dissection occurred in 6 lesions (2.8%) in the standard-balloon-inflation group, whereas did not occur in the repeated 3-time-balloon-inflation group. A statistically significant difference remained even after propensity score matching (p = 0.040). The final minimum stent area and long-term clinical outcomes were not significantly different between the two groups. The repeated 3-time-balloon-inflation method may reduce stent edge dissection while demonstrating comparable minimal stent area and long-term outcomes to the standard-balloon-inflation method.

Emerging nanoprobes for the features visualization of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a major cause of cardiovascular disease. In particular, the unpredictable rupture of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques (VASPs) can cause serious cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction, stroke, and even sudden death. Therefore, early evaluation of the vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaques is of great importance. However, clinical imaging techniques are only marginally useful in the presence of severe anatomical structural changes, making it difficult to evaluate plaque vulnerability at an early stage. With the development of molecular imaging and nanotechnology, specific nanoprobes constructed for the pathological features of VASPs have attracted much attention for their ability to visualize VASPs early and noninvasively at the cellular and molecular levels. Here, we outline the pathological features of VASPs, analyze the superiority and limitations of current clinical imaging techniques, introduce the rational design principles of nanoprobes, and systematically summarize the application of nanoprobes to visualize the features of VASPs at the cellular and molecular levels. In addition, we discussed the prospects and urgent challenges in this field, and we believe it will provide new ideas for the early and accurate diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases.

Lipid profile and risk factors for neoatherosclerosis after drug-eluting stent implantation in acute coronary syndrome

BACKGROUND

Predictors of neoatherosclerosis in patients who received primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to investigate the frequency and risk factors of neoatherosclerosis 1-year after the onset of ACS.

METHODS

This study investigated 83 patients who underwent PCI for ACS followed by 1-year follow-up optical coherence tomography. The patients were categorized into the neoatherosclerosis (n = 11) and non-neoatherosclerosis groups (n = 72). Baseline characteristics, PCI procedures, medical therapies, and blood tests at 1-year, including detailed lipid profiles, were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Diabetes mellitus was more prominent in the neoatherosclerosis than in the non-neoatherosclerosis group (45% vs. 17%, respectively, p = 0.03). Total cholesterol (171 ± 37 mg/dL vs. 145 ± 25 mg/dL, respectively, p < 0.01), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) (124 ± 36 mg/dL vs. 94 ± 24 mg/dL, respectively, p < 0.01), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (94 ± 36 mg/dL vs. 72 ± 19 mg/dL, respectively, p < 0.01), and lipoprotein (a) (Lp[a]) (70 [19-112] mg/dL vs. 10 [3-25] mg/dL, respectively, p = 0.03) at follow-up were significantly higher in the neoatherosclerosis group. Multivariate analysis revealed that neoatherosclerosis was associated with high serum non-HDL-C (odds ratio [OR]: 1.075; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.011-1.144; p < 0.01) and high serum Lp(a) levels (> 30 mg/dL) (OR: 11.0; 95% CI: 1.492-81.02; p = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

Poorly controlled non-HDL-C and Lp(a) would be risk factors of neoatherosclerosis in patients 1-year after ACS.

Impact of multiple ballooning on coronary lesions as assessed by optical coherence tomography and intravascular ultrasound

BACKGROUND

Optimal lesion preparation for coronary lesions has been reappraised in the interventional community, given the increasing use of drug-coated balloons for de novo lesions; however, whether multiple ballooning could achieve more favorable angiographic results compared with single ballooning remains unknown. We aimed to investigate the incremental effect of multiple ballooning on de novo coronary lesions over single ballooning as assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODS

Patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) undergoing PCI were enrolled. Ballooning before stent implantation was repeatedly performed for three times using the same semi-compliant balloon. OCT and IVUS were performed after each balloon dilatation. Primary outcome measure was the difference in the mean lumen area between post-1st ballooning (1B) and post-3rd ballooning (3B) as assessed by OCT.

RESULTS

A total of 32 lesions in 30 patients undergoing PCI between May 2021 and August 2022 were analyzed. Major plaque types of the lesions were fibrous (68.8%) and lipid (28.1%). Mean lumen area by OCT was significantly increased from 1B to 3B (5.9 ± 2.9 mm2 vs. 6.0 ± 2.9 mm2, difference: 0.2 ± 0.4 mm2, p = 0.040). There were significant increases from 1B to 3B in minimum lumen area by OCT (3.1 ± 1.5 mm2 vs. 3.6 ± 1.7 mm2, difference: 0.5 ± 0.6 mm2, p < 0.001) and mean dissection angle by OCT (65.6 ± 24.9° vs. 95.2 ± 34.0°, difference: 29.6 ± 25.5°, p < 0.001). Additionally, mean plaque area by IVUS was significantly decreased (8.0 ± 4.2 mm2 vs. 7.8 ± 4.1 mm2, difference: -0.2 ± 0.2 mm2, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Among CCS patients with mainly non-calcified lesions, multiple ballooning significantly increased the lumen area and dissection angle compared with single ballooning.

Comprehensive review of pulmonary vein stenosis post-atrial fibrillation ablation: diagnosis, management, and prognosis

Pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) can occasionally occur in the follow-up after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for atrial fibrillation (AF). During PVI, ablation is performed at the PV ostium or distal part, leading to tissue damage. This damage can result in fibrosis of the necrotic myocardium, proliferation, and thickening of the vascular intima, as well as thrombus formation, further advancing PVS. Mild-to-moderate PVS often remains asymptomatic, but severe PVS can cause symptoms, such as dyspnea, cough, fatigue, decreased exercise tolerance, chest pain, and hemoptysis. These symptoms are due to pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary infarction. Imaging evaluations such as contrast-enhanced computed tomography are essential for diagnosing PVS. Early suspicion and detection are necessary, as underdiagnosis can lead to inappropriate treatment, disease progression, and poor outcomes. The long-term prognosis of PVS remains unclear, particularly regarding the impact of mild-to-moderate PVS over time. PVS treatment focuses on symptom management, with no established definitive solutions. For severe PVS, transcatheter PV angioplasty is performed, though the risk of restenosis remains high. Restenosis and reintervention rates have improved with stent implantation compared with balloon angioplasty. The role of subsequent antiplatelet therapy remains uncertain. Dedicated evaluation is essential for accurate diagnosis and appropriate management to avoid significant long-term impacts on patient outcomes.

Antithrombotic management in atrial fibrillation patients following percutaneous coronary intervention: A clinical review

Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) often develop acute coronary syndrome and undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and vice versa. Acute coronary syndrome and PCI mandate the use of dual antiplatelet therapy, while oral anticoagulation is recommended in patients with AF to mitigate thromboembolic risks. Clinical evidence concerning antithrombotic treatment in patients with AF and PCI has been accumulated, but when combined, the therapeutic strategy becomes complex. Although triple therapy, a combination of oral anticoagulation with dual antiplatelet therapy, has been used for patients with AF undergoing PCI as an initial antithrombotic strategy, less intensive regimens may be associated with a lower rate of bleeding without an increased risk in thrombotic events. This narrative review article summarizes currently available evidence of antithrombotic therapy in patients with AF undergoing PCI.

State-of-the-art percutaneous coronary intervention for left main coronary artery disease in Japan

Percutaneous coronary intervention for left main coronary artery disease (LM-PCI) represents a high-risk yet life-saving procedure that has evolved significantly over the years. This review outlines the current state-of-the-art practices for LM-PCI in Japan in detail, emphasizing the integration of coronary physiology and intracoronary imaging alongside with evidence-based standardized technique using latest drug-eluting stents. These advancements enable precise lesion assessment, stent sizing, and optimal deployment, thereby enhancing procedural safety and efficacy. Despite discrepancies between current guidelines favoring coronary artery bypass grafting and real-world practice trends towards increased LM-PCI adoption, particularly in elderly populations with multiple comorbidities, careful patient selection and procedural planning are critical. Future perspectives include further refining LM-PCI through conducting randomized controlled trials integrating advanced techniques and addressing the issue of ostial left circumflex lesions and nationwide standardization of medical care for LM disease.

Advances in Technology and Technique in Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Clinical Review

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has become the standard procedure for patients with angina and acute coronary syndrome. From the perspective of technology and technique, PCI has advanced over the last four decades, resulting in considerably improved clinical outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease in the current era. In this review article, we summarize recent advances, promising technologies, and areas for research in the field of PCI.

Widespread Use of Imaging-Guided PCI in Asia: Time for Extended Application

In recent years, a wealth of clinical data has emerged regarding intravascular imaging involving either intravascular ultrasound or optical coherence tomography. This surge in data has propelled the adoption of intravascular imaging-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in daily clinical practice. The findings of current randomized clinical trials regarding imaging guidance have lent strong support to the benefits of intravascular imaging-guided PCI. This holds especially true for the diagnosis and treatment of complex lesions, such as left main disease, diffuse long lesions, chronic total occlusion, severely calcified lesions, bifurcations, and in-stent restenosis, as well as in high-risk patients such as those with acute myocardial infarction or chronic kidney disease. During intravascular imaging-guided PCI, operators attempt to achieve stent optimization for maximized benefits of imaging guidance. This paper provides a comprehensive review on the updated clinical data of intravascular imaging-guided PCI and intravascular ultrasound/optical coherence tomography-derived stent optimization criteria.

Volume-Outcome Relationships for Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump in Acute Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a major scenario for the use of an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), particularly when complicated by cardiogenic shock, although the utilization of mechanical circulatory support devices varies widely per hospital. We evaluated the relationship, at the hospital level, between the volume of IABP use and mortality in AMI.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Using a Japanese nationwide administrative database, 26,490 patients with AMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) from 154 hospitals were included in this study. The primary endpoint was the observed-to-predicted in-hospital mortality ratio. Predicted mortality per patient was calculated using baseline variables and averaged for each hospital. The associations among PCI volume for AMI, observed and predicted in-hospital mortality, and observed and predicted IABP use were assessed per hospital. Of 26,490 patients, 2,959 (11.2%) were treated with IABP and 1,283 (4.8%) died during hospitalization. The annualized number of uses of IABP per hospital in AMI was 4.5. In lower-volume primary PCI centers, IABP was more likely to be underused than expected, and the observed-to-predicted in-hospital mortality ratio was higher than in higher-volume centers.

CONCLUSIONS

A lower annual number of IABP use was associated with an increased mortality risk at the hospital level, suggesting that IABP use can be an institutional quality indicator in the setting of AMI.

Development and Validation of Artificial Intelligence-Based Algorithms for Predicting the Segments Debulked by Rotational Atherectomy Using Intravascular Ultrasound Images

We develop and evaluate an artificial intelligence (AI)-based algorithm that uses pre-rotation atherectomy (RA) intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) images to automatically predict regions debulked by RA. A total of 2106 IVUS cross-sections from 60 patients with de novo severely calcified coronary lesions who underwent IVUS-guided RA were consecutively collected. The 2 identical IVUS images of pre- and post-RA were merged, and the orientations of the debulked segments identified in the merged images were marked on the outer circle of each IVUS image. The AI model was developed based on ResNet (deep residual learning for image recognition). The architecture connected 36 fully connected layers, each corresponding to 1 of the 36 orientations segmented every 10°, to a single feature extractor. In each cross-sectional analysis, our AI model achieved an average sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of 81%, 72%, 46%, 90%, and 75%, respectively. In conclusion, the AI-based algorithm can use information from pre-RA IVUS images to accurately predict regions debulked by RA and will assist interventional cardiologists in determining the treatment strategies for severely calcified coronary lesions.

Coronary Artery Calcium and Aging: Physiological Basis, Assessment, and Treatment Options in Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Coronary artery calcification is a complex anatomical and histological pathology with different pathways that contribute to calcium deposit and calcification progression. As part of the atherosclerotic process, extensive calcifications are becoming more common and are associated with poorer PCI outcomes if not properly addressed. Since no drug has shown to be effective in changing this process once it is started, proper knowledge of the underlying pathogenesis and how to diagnose and manage it is essential in contemporary coronary intervention. Atherosclerosis is a pandemic disease, quickly spreading across the world and not limited anymore to the industrialized Western world. In this paper, we review the role of intracoronary imaging and the main technologies available and propose a simple and rational algorithm for the choice of a preferential first strategy in the treatment of severely calcified coronary atherosclerosis, followed by three emblematic cases on how we successively applied it.

Impact of Cancer, Inflammation, and No Standard Risk Factors in Patients With Myocardial Infarction

Background

The lack of standard modifiable cardiovascular risk factors (SMuRFs), including hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and smoking, is reportedly associated with poor outcomes in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Among patients with no SMuRFs, cancer and chronic systemic inflammatory diseases (CSIDs) may be major etiologies of AMI.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with cancer, CSIDs, and no SMuRFs in AMI.

Methods

This multicenter registry included 2,480 patients with AMI undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Patients were divided into 4 groups: active cancer, CSIDs, no SMuRFs, and those remaining. The coprimary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and major bleeding events, during hospitalization and after discharge.

Results

Of 2,480 patients, 104 (4.2%), 94 (3.8%), and 120 (4.8%) were grouped as cancer, CSIDs, and no SMuRFs, respectively. During the hospitalization, MACE rates were highest in the no SMuRFs group, followed by the cancer, CSIDs, and SMuRFs groups (22.5% vs 15.4% vs 12.8% vs 10.2%; P < 0.001), whereas bleeding risks were highest in the cancer group, followed by the no SMuRFs, CSIDs, and SMuRFs groups (15.4% vs 10.8% vs 7.5% vs 4.9%; P < 0.001). After discharge, the rates of MACE (33.3% vs 22.7% vs 11.3% vs 9.2%; P < 0.001) and bleeding events (8.6% vs 6.7% vs 3.8% vs 2.9%; P = 0.01) were higher in the cancer group than in the CSIDs, no SMuRFs, and SMuRFs groups.

Conclusions

Patients with active cancer, CSIDs, and no SMuRFs differently had worse outcomes after AMI in ischemic and bleeding endpoints during hospitalization and/or after discharge, compared with those with SMuRFs.

Contemporary status of diagnostic endoluminal ultrasound and optical coherence tomography in the ureter

Objective

To evaluate via a review of published literature, the efficacy of endoluminal ultrasound (ELUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) in the following ureteric diseases: urolithiasis, upper tract urothelial carcinoma, stricture disease and pelvic-ureteric junction obstruction (PUJO).

Patients and methods

Ureteric high-frequency ELUS provides 360° imaging, to a depth of 20 mm, and has been demonstrated to assess ureteric stricture length, degree of fibrosis and aetiology. OCT produces high-quality images with a penetration depth of 2 mm. ELUS has proven to be useful at the time of endopyelotomy for PUJO as it can identify crossing vessels, some not detectable on CT angiography, allowing the urologist to avoid these when making their incision. Ureteric ELUS may be utilised for submucosal ureteric stones as they are highly visible. Endoluminal ultrasound may be deployed in the case of known sub-mucosal urolithiasis when the ureter appears stone-free. It may help identify sub-mucosal stones or stones within diverticulum.

Results

Endoluminal ultrasound has been analysed for its use in determining muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma of the ureter. The PPV for ≥pT2 was only 16.7% in one study of six patients with MIBC and 76.2% in 21 patients with

Conclusions

Ureteric ELUS has been reported to be a useful tool in endopyelotomy, urolithiasis and stricture disease. The staging of ureteric urothelial carcinoma remains unsatisfactory with current imaging techniques and biopsy methods, and, based on the current literature, ELUS does not appear to have a strong enough PPV to determine muscle invasion. Ureteric OCT may be a useful tool in the future staging of upper tract urothelial carcinoma, particularly in differentiating the stage of small tumours. Further studies are needed in this area.

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Key Words

• endoluminal ultrasound
• optical coherence tomography
• ureter

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MESH Headings Collapse

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Affiliation(s)

Samuel Sii Department of SurgeryUniversity of Melbourne, Austin HealthMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
Jeremy Bolton Monash UniversityMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
Jake Tempo Department of SurgeryUniversity of Melbourne, Austin HealthMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
Damien Bolton Department of SurgeryUniversity of Melbourne, Austin HealthMelbourneVictoriaAustralia

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Clinical Impacts of Urinary Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

BACKGROUND

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with poor prognosis in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a biomarker for renal injury. However, the association between urinary NGAL concentrations and renal and cardiovascular events in patients with CKD undergoing PCI has not been elucidated. This study investigated the clinical impact of urinary NGAL concentrations on renal and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with non-dialysis CKD undergoing PCI.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We enrolled 124 patients with non-dialysis CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2) undergoing elective PCI. Patients were divided into low and high NGAL groups based on the median urinary NGAL concentration measured the day before PCI. Patients were monitored for renal and cardiovascular events during the 2-year follow-up period. Kaplan-Meier analyses showed that the incidence of renal and cardiovascular events was higher in the high than low NGAL group (log-rank P<0.001 and P=0.032, respectively). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analyses revealed that urinary NGAL was an independent risk factor for renal (hazard ratio [HR] 4.790; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.537-14.924; P=0.007) and cardiovascular (HR 2.938; 95% CI 1.034-8.347; P=0.043) events.

CONCLUSIONS

Urinary NGAL could be a novel and informative biomarker for predicting subsequent renal and cardiovascular events in patients with CKD undergoing elective PCI.

Differential Prognostic Impact of Risk-Prediction Models for Heart Failure in Acute Myocardial Infarction: The Original and Revised Heart Failure Time-Points

Background: We previously developed a risk-scoring system for heart failure (HF) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI), namely "HF time-points (HFTPs)". In the original HFTPs, the presence of HF on admission, during hospitalization, and at short-term follow-up was individually scored. This study examined whether the revised HFTPs, with additional scoring of previous HF, provide better predictivity. Methods: This multicenter registry included a total of 1331 patients with acute MI undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. HF was evaluated at four time-points before and after acute MI onset: (1) a history of HF; (2) elevated natriuretic peptide levels on admission; (3) in-hospital HF events; and (4) elevated natriuretic peptide levels at a median of 31 days after the onset. When HF was present at each time-point, one point was assigned to a risk scoring system, namely the original and revised HFTPs, ranging from 0 to 3 and from 0 to 4. The primary endpoint was a composite of cardiovascular death and HF rehospitalization after discharge. Results: Of the 1331 patients, 65 (4.9%) had the primary outcome events during a median follow-up period of 507 (interquartile range, 335-1106) days. The increase in both original and revised HFTPs was associated with an increased risk of the primary outcomes in a stepwise fashion with similar diagnostic ability. Conclusions: The original and revised HFTPs were both predictive of long-term HF-related outcomes in patients with acute MI undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Yet, the original HFTPs may be sufficient to estimate HF risks after MI.

Prognostic Impact of Previous Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease on Short- and Long-Term Outcomes in Acute Myocardial Infarction

Patients with previous atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) are typically managed by secondary prevention modalities; however, they may experience recurrent events. In acute myocardial infarction (MI), the prognostic effect of preexisting ASCVD on the short- and long-term outcomes remains uncertain. This retrospective, multicenter registry included 2,475 patients with acute MI who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. Previous ASCVD was defined as a history of ischemic events in the coronary, cerebral, and peripheral arterial territories. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to preexisting ASCVD. The primary end point was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, recurrent MI, and ischemic stroke during hospitalization and after discharge. The bleeding outcomes were also evaluated. Of the 2,475 patients, 475 (19.2%) had previous ASCVD. Patients with previous ASCVD were older and likely to have more co-morbidities than those without ASCVD. During hospitalization, the MACE rates were higher in the ASCVD group than in the non-ASCVD group (16.4% vs 9.6%, p <0.001). Similarly, during a median follow-up of 542 days after discharge, patients with previous ASCVD had an increased risk of MACEs than those without ASCVD (13.4% vs 5.6%, p <0.001). The multivariable analyses identified previous ASCVD as a factor that was significantly associated with MACEs after discharge. Major bleeding events occurred more frequently in the ASCVD group than in the non-ASCVD group. In conclusion, preexisting ASCVD was often observed in patients with acute MI and was particularly associated with long-term ischemic outcomes after discharge; thus, further clinical investigations are needed in this vulnerable patient subset.

Diagnostic Ability of Manual Calcification Length Assessment on Non-Electrocardiographically Gated Computed Tomography for Estimating the Presence of Coronary Artery Disease

Background: Coronary artery calcification score (CACS) on electrocardiography (ECG)-gated computed tomography (CT) is used for risk stratification of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which requires dedicated analytic software. In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic ability of manual calcification length assessment on non-ECG-gated CT for epicardial coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: A total of 100 patients undergoing both non-ECG-gated plain CT scans with a slice interval of 1.25 mm and invasive coronary angiography were retrospectively included. We manually measured the length of the longest calcified lesions of coronary arteries on each branch. The relationship between the number of coronary arteries with the length of coronary calcium > 5, 10, or 15 mm and the presence of epicardial CAD on invasive angiography was evaluated. Standard CACS was also evaluated using established software. Results: Of 100 patients, 49 (49.0%) had significant epicardial CAD on angiography. The median standard CACS was 346 [7, 1965]. In both manual calcium assessment and standard CACS, the increase in calcium burden was progressively associated with the presence of epicardial CAD on angiography. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed similar diagnostic abilities of the two diagnostic methods. The best cut-off values for CAD were 2, 1, and 1 for the number of vessels with calcium > 5, 10, and 15 mm, respectively. Overall, the diagnostic ability of manual calcium assessment was similar to that of standard CACS > 400. Conclusions: Manual assessment of coronary calcium length on non-ECG-gated plain CT provided similar diagnostic ability for the presence of significant epicardial CAD on invasive angiography, as compared to standard CACS.