Rotational atherectomy multicenter registry: acute results, complications and 6-month angiographic follow-up in 709 patients

Outcomes of rotational atherectomy followed by cutting balloon versus plain balloon before drug-eluting stent implantation for calcified coronary lesions: A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to compare outcomes of rotational atherectomy and cutting balloon (RACB) versus rotational atherectomy and plain balloon (RAPB) before drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation in calcified coronary lesions.

METHODS

Randomized controlled trials (RCT) and observational studies comparing RACB with RAPB were identified through a systematic search of published literature across multiple databases. Random effect meta-analysis was performed to compare the outcome between the two groups.

RESULTS

Four studies were included in the meta-analysis (three observational and one RCT) involving a total of 315 patients. 166 patients had RACB, and 149 patients had RAPB before DES placement with a median follow-up of 11.5 months. Compared with patients who had RAPB there was no difference in MACE (composite of death, myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization) (odds ratio [OR]: 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.25-2.18], slow flow/no reflow (OR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.23-2.16), all-cause mortality (OR: 2.02; 95% CI: 0.28-14.60), and device success rate (OR: 1.79; 95% CI: 0.28-11.18) in the RACB approach. There was a benefit towards less target lesion revascularization in the RACB group; however, this outcome was reported in two studies (OR: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.08-0.99). On meta-regression there was no association between age, sex, diabetes, or lesion location with MACE and all-cause mortality. The studies were homogenous across all outcomes.

CONCLUSION

RACB, as compared with RAPB, had a similar risk of MACE, all-cause mortality, device success, and complication, but a lower risk of target lesion revascularization.

Calcium Modification Therapies in Contemporary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Coronary Artery Calcification (CAC) has been known to be associated with worse Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) short- and long-term outcomes. Nowadays, with the increased prevalence of the risk factors leading to CAC in the population and also more PCI procedures done in older patients and with the growing number of higher-risk cases of Chronic Total Occlusion (CTO) PCI and PCI after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG), severe cases of CAC are now encountered on a daily basis in the catheterization lab and remain a big challenge to the interventional community, making it crucial to identify cases of severe CAC and plan a CAC PCI modification strategy upfront. Improved CAC detection with intravascular imaging helped identify more of these severe CAC cases and predict response to therapy and stent expansion based on CAC distribution in the vessel. Multiple available therapies for CAC modification have evolved over the years. Familiarity with the specifics and special considerations and limitations of each of these tools are essential in the choice and application of these therapies when used in severe CAC treatment. In this review, we discuss CAC pathophysiology, modes of detection, and different available therapies for CAC modification.

Contemporary technologies to modify calcified plaque in coronary artery disease

With aging society, one of the more challenging obstacles in percutaneous coronary interventions are calcified coronary lesions. Calcified lesions may impede stent delivery, limit balloon and stent expansion, cause uneven drug distribution, and hinder wire advancement. Even in the setting of acceptable procedural success, vessel calcification is independently associated with increased target lesion revascularization rates at follow-up and lower survival rates. In order to effectively manage such lesions, dedicated technologies have been developed. Atherectomy aims at excising tissue and debulking plaques, as well as compressing and reshaping the atheroma, generally referred to as lesion preparation that enables further balloon and/or stent expansion in contemporary clinical practice. In the current review, we will discuss the available methods for atherectomy, including rotational, orbital, and excimer laser coronary atherectomy, as well as intravascular lithotripsy. In addition, we will review the role of imaging in calcified lesions.

Acute Angulation and Sequential Lesion Increase the Risk of Rotational Atherectomy Failure

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to assess anatomical and procedural predictors of clinical and procedural failure of rotational atherectomy (RA) in an all-comers population.Methods and Results:A total of 534 consecutive patients who underwent RA were included in a double-center observational study. The primary composite endpoint consisted of: rota-wire introduction failure, burr-passage failure, periprocedural complications and procedure-related major adverse events. The second primary endpoint included rota-wire introduction failure and burr-passage failure. The primary endpoint occurred in 76 (14.2%) patients and the second primary endpoint occurred in 64 (12%) Periprocedural complications occurred in 23 (4.3%) and procedure-related adverse events in 23 (4.3%) patients. Multivariable analysis revealed angulation on lesion ≤90° (HR=2.18, 95% CI: 1.21-3.94, P=0.0096) and sequential lesion (HR=1.89, 95% CI: 1.01-3.54, P=0.046) as independent predictors of no clinical success of RA. Multivariable analysis revealed again that angulation on lesion ≤90° (HR=2.26, 95% CI: 1.16-4.40, P=0.02) and sequential lesion (HR=3.77, 95% CI: 1.64-8.69, P<0.01) as independent predictors of no procedural success of RA.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of an acute angulation on lesion and sequential lesion are independent determinants of clinical and procedural failure of RA. Further research is necessary to establish a score predicting RA failure, which can help in preproceduralrisk stratification of patients undergoing complex percutaneous coronary intervention with RA.

Comparison of Drug-Eluting Stent and Plain Old Balloon Angioplasty After Rotational Atherectomy in Severe Calcified and Large Coronary

Drug-eluting stent (DES) is well known to be effective in severely calcified lesion after rotational atherectomy (ROTA). However, there are still some situations when stents should be avoided and plain old balloon angioplasty (POBA) should be the preferred option. The present study aims to explore whether POBA is comparably effective to DES in large and calcified coronary pretreated by ROTA in clinical outcomes.Consecutive patients treated for severely calcified lesions in the large (≥ 3 mm) coronary using ROTA + DES or ROTA + POBA were retrospectively analyzed. The major adverse cardiac events (MACE), including all-cause/cardiac death and target lesion revascularization (TLR) at 1 year and 2 years posttreatment, were compared between groups using the Cox regression analysis to identify independent predictors of TLR and MACE.The analysis included 285 cases in the ROTA + DES group and 47 cases in the ROTA + POBA group, without relevant differences in clinical baseline characteristics. Of note, lesion length was greater in the ROTA + DES group (37.2 versus 19.3 mm, P < 0.001); the ROTA + DES group had a higher rate of chronic total occlusion (CTO) lesions, with 8.4%, and the ROTA + POBA group had none. The inhospital/30-day mortality rate (5.3%, ROTA + DES; 6.4%, ROTA + POBA) and the 12- and 24-month all-cause/cardiac mortality rate (9.3%, ROTA + DES; 7.7%, ROTA + POBA) were not significantly different between the two groups. TLR rates were not significantly different between the two groups at 12 (4.6%, ROTA + DES; 4.3%, ROTA + POBA) and 24 (5.3%, ROTA + DES; 6.4%, ROTA + POBA) months.Outcomes were comparable for ROTA + DES and ROTA + POBA in severely calcified large coronary artery intervention with respect to midterm death or TLR rate, especially for short lesion of < 20 mm.

Clinical Outcomes of Dialysis Patients Treated with Drug-Eluting Stent for Left Main Distal Bifurcation Lesions

AIMS

We assessed clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) distal bifurcation lesions using drug-eluting stents (DES) in hemodialysis (HD) patients compared to non-HD patients.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We identified 1,858 consecutive patients who underwent PCI for ULMCA distal bifurcation lesions at 4 high-volume centers in Japan, Italy, and Taiwan between January 2005 and December 2015. Of them, 1,416 patients were treated with DES including 113 HD patients and 1,303 non-HD patients. The primary end point was target lesion failure (TLF) defined as a composite of cardiac death, target lesion revascularization (TLR), and myocardial infarction. HD patients were more likely to be younger and have diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, peripheral artery disease, lower ejection fraction, and higher EuroSCORE. TLF rate at 3 years was significantly higher in HD group than in non-HD group (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 2.43 [1.75-3.38], p < 0.001). Cardiac mortality and TLR rate were also significantly higher in HD group than in non-HD group (adjusted HR 3.85 [2.34-6.34], p < 0.001, and HR 2.10 [1.41-3.14], p < 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

HD was strongly associated with adverse cardiac events after PCI for ULMCA distal bifurcation lesions with DES.

Comparison of bailout and planned rotational atherectomy for severe coronary calcified lesions

Background

To compare outcomes of bailout and planned rotational atherectomy (RA) in the treatment of severe calcified coronary lesions.

Methods

Data of patients treated with RA from 2017 to 2018 at a single-center registry were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were divided into planned RA and bailout RA groups, data between two groups were compared.

Results

A total of 190 patients were included in this study, 138 patients received planned RA and 52 patients received bailout RA. Baseline clinical characteristics had no significant differences between groups. The number of implanted stents and total stents length were similar. But the number of balloon (1.6 ± 0.8 vs. 2.7 ± 1.3, P < 0.001), procedure time (83.5 ± 26.2 vs. 100.8 ± 36.4 min, P = 0.007), fluoroscopy volume (941 ± 482 vs. 1227 ± 872 mGy, P = 0.012] and contrast amount (237 ± 62 vs. 275 ± 90 ml, P = 0.003) were all lower in planned RA group. Planned RA had a higher procedural success rate (99.3% vs. 92.3%, P = 0.007) and a lower complication incidence (4.3% vs. 17.3%, P = 0.009). But the primary outcomes at 3 years (9.2 and 16.6%, log rank p = 0.24) had no difference between groups.

Conclusions

For severe coronary artery calcification, although planned RA did not improved the long term prognosis compared with bailout RA, but it can improve the immediate procedural success rate, reduce the incidence of complications, the procedure time and the volume of contrast.

Predictors of In-Hospital Adverse Outcomes after Rotational Atherectomy: Impact of the Target Vessel SYNTAX Score

BACKGROUND

Rotational atherectomy (RA) is an established treatment of calcified lesions, but has some inherent procedural hazards. However, predictors of in-hospital adverse outcomes after RA are poorly investigated.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the predictors of in-hospital adverse outcomes after RA and to introduce the target vessel SYNTAX score (tvSS) as a potential causal variable.

METHODS

Patients who underwent RA at our center (n = 323) were divided into two groups according to the occurrence of in-hospital adverse outcomes (a composite of residual stenosis ≥30%, persistent slow flow, dissection requiring additional stenting beyond the primary lesion, perforation, burr entrapment, and in-hospital major adverse cardiac events [MACE]).

RESULTS

In-hospital adverse outcomes were more frequent in patients with severely-tortuous target vessels or lesions >20 mm, while aorto-ostial and bifurcation lesions, as well as chronic total occlusion rates, were equally distributed among patients with and without adverse outcomes. TvSS was 18 [13-24] vs. 12 [8-17] in patients with vs. without in-hospital adverse outcomes (p < 0.001). A tvSS cut-off value of 15 showed 73% sensitivity and 62% specificity for predicting in-hospital adverse outcomes. TvSS emerged as an independent predictor for in-hospital adverse outcomes along with bailout RA and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). However, after one year, the occurrence of in-hospital adverse outcomes was not associated with an increase in the MACE rate (log-rank p = 0.857).

CONCLUSION

In-hospital adverse outcomes are higher in patients with more complex target vessel anatomies as indicated by a higher tvSS. Bailout RA and reduced LVEF emerged as additional predictors of in-hospital adverse outcomes.

Percutaneous coronary intervention of severely/moderately calcified coronary lesions using single-burr rotational atherectomy: A retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of percutaneous coronary intervention in moderately and severely calcified coronary lesions, which are either not crossed or dilated using a Scoreflex balloon at nominal pressure, using single-burr rotational atherectomy (burr-artery ratio, ≤0.6) followed by scoring balloon dilatation (balloon-artery ratio, 0.9).

METHODS

We retrospectively identified 144 patients with severely and moderately calcified native coronary lesions, which were either not crossed or fully opened using an appropriately sized Scoreflex balloon at nominal pressure, from a tertiary care center in India. All patients underwent rotational atherectomy. The primary endpoint was angiographic and procedural success and in-hospital clinical outcomes. The secondary endpoint was the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at one-year clinical follow-up.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 68.75±8.37 years, and 83.33% of them were over 60 years old. Moderate calcification was present in 21.53%, and the remaining 78.47% had severe calcification. Procedural success was achieved in 139 (96.52%) patients. In-hospital death was reported in four (2.77%) patients. Multiple regression analysis revealed that in severely calcified coronary lesions, burr rotation speed and heparin dose were significantly associated with in-hospital MACE occurrence (p=0.0337).

CONCLUSION

A modified small-burr rotational atherectomy technique with scoring balloon angioplasty pre-dilatation is a safe and effective surgical procedure with favorable clinical outcomes for moderately and severely calcified coronary lesions.

Successful angioplasty of saphenous venous graft in-stent restenosis using rotational atherectomy

An 81-year-old, functionally independent woman with a history of bypass surgery and a previous vein graft intervention presented to us with significant angina refractory to medical management. An urgent angiogram revealed severe in-stent restenosis (ISR) in the proximal stent of the right coronary artery graft. At the same time, multiple trials to predilate the tight ISR using various-sized non-compliant and cutting balloons were unsuccessful. During the second attempt the next day, rotational atherectomy was used for plaque modification as the lesion appeared fibrocalcific angiographically. A good imaging result was obtained after final dilatation with a drug-eluting balloon, and the patient also achieved immediate angina relief. Even though rotational atherectomy is contraindicated in vein graft interventions, it can be successfully used in selected cases when routine angioplasty techniques fail.

Rotational Atherectomy in Acute STEMI with Heavily Calcified Culprit Lesion is a Rule Breaking Solution

BACKGROUND

Calcified coronary lesions represent technical challenges during percutaneous coronary intervention and are associated with a high frequency of restenosis and target lesion revascularization. Rotational atherectomy has been shown to increase procedural success in severely calcified lesions, facilitate stent delivery in undilatable lesions and ensure complete stent expansion. However, rotational atherectomy in ST-elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) is traditionally avoided given the concern for slow or no reflow and considered a contraindication in lesions with a visible thrombus by its manufacturer (Rotablator, Boston Scientific).

CONCLUSION

This case demonstrates the successful use of rotational atherectomy to facilitate dilation and revascularization of a heavily calcified culprit lesions in a patient with acute anterior STEMI with ongoing chest pain.

In-hospital outcomes after rotational atherectomy in patients with low ejection fraction

OBJECTIVES

This study evaluated angiographic success and in-hospital outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with rotational atherectomy (RA) in patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

DESIGN

Between January 2010 and March 2014, 272 consecutive patients with heavily calcified lesions underwent elective PCI with RA. Of these, 33 patients had LVEF ≤35% (low LVEF group), whereas 237 patients had LVEF >35% (preserved LVEF group). The primary endpoint was angiographic success and in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE). MACE included death from any cause, postprocedure onset MI, emergency coronary artery bypass grafting, and target vessel revascularization. The secondary endpoints were MACE and the components within 30days after PCI. The components of MACE were evaluated.

RESULTS

Angiographic success, defined as <30% residual stenosis with thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow 3 at final angiography, was achieved in all patients without fatal complications. Intra-aortic ballon pumping (IABP) was used significantly more frequently in the low LVEF group compared with the preserved LVEF group (15.2% vs. 2.1%, p = .003). There were no significant differences between groups regarding in-hospital and clinical outcomes within 30 days following PCI.

CONCLUSION

If medications and mechanical support were appropriately performed, the angiographic success rate and in-hospital MACE rate of PCI with RA in patients with low LVEF could be expected to have good outcomes similar to those for patients with preserved LVEF.

Predictors of in-hospital effectiveness and complications of rotational atherectomy (from the ORPKI Polish National Registry 2014-2016)

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to assess trends in the use and periprocedural outcomes of rotational atherectomy (RA) in Poland between January 2014 and December 2016.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, due to the aging population, RA is becoming more commonly used to treat heavily calcified coronary artery stenoses.

METHODS

Data were prospectively collected using the Polish Cardiovascular Intervention Society national registry on all percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures performed in Poland. In total, 1,175 RA procedures were recorded from 317,175 PCI procedures (incidence of 0.37%).

RESULTS

Patients undergoing RA were older (71.7 ± 9.7 vs. 66.9 ± 10.8, P < 0.00001) and less often males (68.3% vs. 76.4%, P < 0.00001). The complication rate was significantly higher in the RA group (P = 0.0012) with the leading coronary artery perforation (CAP) (P < 0.0001). Complication frequency decreased significantly in the last 3 years and was accompanied by an increase in the percentage of radial access and patients with stable angina. Among several predictors of the use of RA during PCI in multivariate analysis, the strongest one was previous coronary artery by-pass grafting (P < 0.0001), whereas the strongest, predictor of CAP was the RA procedure (P = 0.00004). The increase in RA frequency over the last 3 years may reflect population aging, some fluctuations in indications for RA and reimbursement policies.

CONCLUSIONS

We observed a substantial increase in the utilization of RA during PCIs performed in Poland; however, it still needs to be increased. Decreased frequency of RA procedures follows change in indications for RA and vascular access. Periprocedural complication rates significantly decreased over the last 3 years.

Ten Years of Advancements in Interventional Cardiology

The past decade has seen the evolution of an exciting technology that has changed forever the treatment of aortic aneurysmal disease. From rather crude homemade stent-grafts constructed in the surgical suite to elegant commercially manufactured devices in a variety of configurations and sizes, the aortic endograft has experienced a meteoric rise in popularity to become a beneficial, minimally invasive therapy that can obviate the risk of rupture and death. There are now 3 approved endovascular devices on the market for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, and it is likely that additional and improved devices will become available in the future. This review revisits the developmental history of the aortic endograft, noting the ongoing refinements that have arisen from our experiences with the growing population of stent-graft patients. Although research continues to search for solutions to the problems of endoleak and migration, long-term results even with the earlier second and third-generation devices are better than has been achieved with open surgical repair.

Treatment of calcified coronary artery lesions

Heavily calcified coronary plaques represent a complex lesion subset and a challenge to the interventional cardiologist, as they are often resistant to simple plaque modification with conventional balloon angioplasty. Inadequate plaque modification can lead to stent underdeployment, which itself predisposes to in-stent restenosis and stent thrombosis. Over the years, a number of mechanical devices ranging from modified angioplasty balloons to atherectomy devices have become available in order to tackle such lesions. Here we review these devices concentrating on the evidence behind their use.

Rotational atherectomy before paclitaxel-eluting stent implantation in complex calcified coronary lesions: Two-year clinical outcome of the randomized ROTAXUS trial

BACKGROUND

In the randomized ROTAXUS trial, routine lesion preparation of complex calcified coronary lesions using rotational atherectomy (RA) prior to paclitaxel-eluting stent implantation did not reduce the primary endpoint of angiographic late lumen loss at 9 months compared to stenting without RA. So far, no long-term data of prospective head-to-head comparisons between both treatment strategies have been reported.

METHODS AND RESULTS

ROTAXUS randomly assigned patients with complex calcified coronary lesions to RA followed by stenting (n = 120) or stenting without RA (n = 120). The primary endpoint of the current analysis was the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 2-year follow-up defined as the composite of death, myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization (TVR). At 2 years, MACE occurred in 32 patients in the RA group and 37 patients in the standard therapy group (29.4% vs. 34.3%, P = 0.47). The rates of death (8.3% vs. 7.4%, P = 1.00), myocardial infarction (8.3% vs. 6.5%, P = 0.80), target lesion revascularization (TLR, 13.8% vs. 16.7%, P = 0.58), and TVR (19.3% vs. 22.2%, P = 0.62) were similar in both groups.

CONCLUSION

Despite high rates of initial angiographic success, nearly one third of patients enrolled in ROTAXUS experienced MACE within 2-year follow-up, with no differences between patients treated with or without RA.

Rotational atherectomy: Technical update

Percutaneous coronary intervention is currently the most common form of revascularization for symptomatic coronary artery disease. In elderly, diabetic and renal patients, there is an increased prevalence of calcified coronary disease. Rotational atherectomy (RA) can be useful in the treatment of these lesions. Plaque removal was initially proposed as an alternative to balloon angioplasty, hence RA required high-velocity protocols with large-sized burrs (over 2.0 mm). With a high incidence of acute complications and disappointing restenosis rates, the use of RA dwindled. However, the advent of drug-eluting stents, which significantly decreased the rate of restenosis, led to the repositioning of RA as an adjunctive technique in the preparation of densely calcified lesions, improving stent delivery and expansion. In recent years, a better understanding of the mechanism of action of RA has changed it from a plaque debulking to a compliance modifying technique. As a result, RA has become less aggressive, using smaller size burrs and lower rotational speeds. This conservative approach has improved immediate results, with increased safety and better long-term outcomes. In this review paper, the technique of RA is explained in the light of current knowledge.

Rotablation in the treatment of high-risk patients with heavily calcified left-main coronary lesions

Objective

Heavily calcified left-main coronary diseases (LMCA) remain a formidable challenge for percutaneous interventions (PCI). This study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of using rotational atherectomy (RA) in treating such lesions in actual practice.

Methods

From February 2004 to March 2012, all consecutive patients who received RA for heavily-calcified LMCA lesions in our cath lab were enrolled. The relevant clinical and angiographic characteristics at the time of index PCI, as well as the clinical follow-up outcomes, were retrieved and analyzed.

Results

A total of 34 consecutive patients were recruited with a mean age 77.2 ± 10.2 years. There were 82.4% presented with acute coronary syndrome and 11.8% with cardiogenic shock. Chronic renal disease and diabetes were seen in 64.7% and 52.9%, respectively. Triple-vessel coronary disease was found in 76.5% of them. The mean SYNTAX score was 50 ± 15 and EuroSCORE II scale 5.6 ± 4.8. The angiographic success rate was 100% with a procedural success rate of 91.2%. The mean number of burrs per patient was 1.7 ± 0.5. Crossing-over stenting was used in 64.7%. Most stents were drug-eluting (67.6%). Intra-aortic ballon pump was used in 20.6% of the procedures. Three patients died during hospitalization, all due to presenting cardiogenic shock. No major complication occurred. Among 31 hospital survivors, the major adverse cardiac events (MACE) rate was 16.1%, all due to target lesion revascularization or target vessel revascularization.

Conclusions

In high-surgical-risk elderly patients, plaque modification with RA in PCI of heavily-calcified LMCA could be safely accomplished with a minimal complication rate and low out-of-hospital MACE.

Comparison of long-term clinical outcomes between sirolimus-eluting stents and paclitaxel-eluting stents following rotational atherectomy

Rotational atherectomy (RA) can facilitate smooth stent delivery and stent expansion through lesion modification for a calcified coronary lesion. Several studies reported that sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) implantation following RA showed a lower rate of revascularization compared with bare-metal stents (BMS). However, there are limited data that compared the clinical outcomes between SES and paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES) after RA. We compared the long-term clinical outcomes of SES and PES following RA. Two hundred and thirty-three consecutive patients (SES n = 179, PES n = 54) who were treated with SES or PES following RA between 10^th September 2004 and 13^th April 2010 were investigated. Follow-up data for clinical outcomes were obtained in 91.4% of all subjects. The median follow-up period was 630 days (interquartile range, 300 to 1170 days) in the SES group, and 625 days (interquartile range, 285 to 900 days) in the PES group. Clinical outcomes including target lesion revascularization (TLR) (SES 4.9% versus PES 9.8%, P = 0.31), target vessel revascularization (TVR) (SES 6.8% versus PES 11.8%, P = 0.25), and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) (SES 14.8% versus PES 13.7%, P = 0.8) were not statistically different between the groups. The unadjusted cumulative event rates estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test showed no significant differences between the two groups for time to event for TLR, cardiovascular death, all-cause death, or MACE. In conclusion, there was no significant difference in the long-term clinical outcomes between SES and PES following RA.

Impact of lesion calcification on clinical and angiographic outcome after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation in real-world patients

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have demonstrated similar efficacy of the drug-eluting stent (DES) in patients with and without calcified lesions. However, most of the randomized trials have excluded patients with severe calcified lesions. This study aimed to examine the impact of lesion calcium on clinical and angiographic outcome after sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) implantation in real-world patients.

METHODS

Consecutive 380 patients with 556 lesions treated with SES were enrolled. Lesions were divided into Calc lesions (moderate or sever calcification; 195 lesions) and non-Calc lesions (none or mild calcification; 361 lesions) according to the lesion calcium. Quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) parameters, binary restenosis rate (%restenosis), target lesion revascularization (TLR) rate, and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) during follow-up were compared between the two groups. All patients were contacted at 1, 6, and 12 months after the procedure.

RESULTS

Lesion success rate was similar in the two groups. %Restenosis (9.2% vs. 3.6%; P<.05) and TLR (7.3% vs. 2.8%; P<.05) were significantly higher in Calc lesions. Stent thrombosis was observed in 0.7% of overall lesions with no difference between the two groups. The MACE rate in Calc patients (13.8%) was significantly higher than in non-Calc patients (6.1%). By multivariate analysis, hemodialysis (HD) and requirement of rotational atherectomy (RA) were predictive factors of TLR in the Calc lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

Coronary lesions with calcification comprise a high-risk cohort and are associated with a higher TLR and binary restenosis rates in real-world patients treated with SES. Moreover, patients with calcified lesions and on HD are associated with higher MACE rate.

Periprocedural creatine kinase-MB elevations: long-term impact and clinical implications

Since the introduction of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), percutaneous intervention with balloon catheters, stents, and atherectomy devices has become a widely accepted practice. The persistent complication of non-Q-wave myocardial infarction (MI), as evidenced by increased cardiac enzyme levels after intervention, has aroused only moderate concern because its incidence was perceived to be small and not clinically relevant. With more systematic assessments of cardiac enzymes--specifically, creatine kinase (CK) and its MB isoform--evidence has begun to clarify both the incidence and the prognosis of periprocedural non-Q-wave MI: It appears to occur nearly three times more often than is clinically evident across all device types (8 to 9% of all interventions) and is directly and continuously associated with adverse outcomes, including late death. Although directional and rotational atherectomy improve angiographic outcome compared with PTCA, periprocedural infarction occurs at least twice as often with these newer technologies; the incidence associated with stent placement is comparable to and possibly higher than that of PTCA. Factors that may cause elevated CK-MB levels include distal embolization, side branch occlusion, thrombus, and coronary spasm. Analyses of the major trials of platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitors, a class of potent antiplatelet agents, show striking effectiveness of these drugs in reducing the incidence of "enzyme-only" or "silent" MI and in improving long-term clinical outcomes. The findings implicate platelet mediation in the occurrence of periprocedural infarction and suggest an important role for antiplatelet therapy, particularly GP IIb/IIIa receptor inhibition, in protecting patients undergoing percutaneous intervention.

An iatrogenic coronary arteriovenous fistula causing a steal phenomenon: an intracoronary Doppler study

We present the case of a 67-year-old man in whom a guidewire broke at rotablation of the right coronary artery, creating an iatrogenic aneurysmal arteriovenous fistula to the coronary sinus. Successful Doppler wire-guided fistula occlusion by percutaneous coil embolization lead to normalization of coronary blood flow and relief of the patient's symptoms. Myocardial ischemia in this patient may have been due to a steal phenomenon caused by coronary artery fistulae, as suggested by blood flow velocity data obtained before and after fistula occlusion.

Immediate and chronic results of cutting balloon angioplasty: a matched comparison with conventional angioplasty

BACKGROUND

At the initial stages of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), several studies reported on the feasibility of coronary artery incision and dilatation leading to the extension of the PTCA technique.

HYPOTHESIS

This study was designed to determine the immediate and chronic results of cutting balloon (CB) angioplasty.

METHODS

This procedure was performed on 127 lesions in 110 patients (male 83%, age 61.8 +/- 9.3 years).

RESULTS

The overall procedural success rates for the CB were 93.7% (119 lesions) and 92.7% (102 patients), while solitary CB without pre- and/or postdilatation was 76.4% (91 lesions). There was one major in-hospital complication (Q-wave myocardial infarction, 0.9%), but there were no deaths or emergency coronary artery bypass graftings. Significant angiographic dissections (> or = grade C) occurred in four patients, and coronary perforation occurred in one. The successfully treated CB group (95 lesions) was matched with the successful conventional angioplasty group (PTCA group) for chronic result assessment in regard to reference vessel size and lesion characteristics. In the CB group, postprocedural minimal luminal diameters were significantly larger and the percentage of stenosis at the stenotic site was significantly lower compared with the PTCA group. Restenosis occurred in 22 lesions (23.1%). This showed a significantly lower restenosis rate compared with the PTCA group (42.1%). In addition, the restenosis rate of the CB without inclusion of the pre- and/or postdilatation-treated lesions was 19.7%.

CONCLUSIONS

(1) Cutting balloon angioplasty procedures can be performed with high success rates with few major inhospital events. (2) The restenosis rate in the CB group was significantly lower compared with the PTCA group.

Heavily calcified chronic total occlusion of common iliac artery successfully treated with Tornus microcatheter and rotational atherectomy

A 58-year-old man who required long-term hemodialysis was referred to our institution for the management of life-limiting intermittent claudication of the right lower extremity. The diagnostic arteriography demonstrated heavily calcified chronic total occlusion in the right common iliac artery. The lesion was successfully treated with the combination of a Tornus microcatheter (Asahi Intecc, Aichi, Japan) and rotational atherectomy. We describe in this article a niche application of the Tornus microcatheter and the effect of the combination technique of it with rotational atherectomy in peripheral interventions.

Drug-Eluting Stents Versus Bare Metal Stents Following Rotational Atherectomy for Heavily Calcified Coronary Lesions: Late Angiographic and Clinical Follow-Up Results

OBJECTIVES

To study the effectiveness of drug-eluting stents following rotablation of severely calcified lesions.

BACKGROUND

Drug-eluting stents are increasingly showing promising results in complex lesions and high-risk patients. Heavily calcified stenoses have not been adequately studied, and form a challenge both for the immediate and late outcomes.

METHODS

Single-center prospective study among 27 patients treated by rotablation followed by a drug-eluting stent implantation for angiographically heavily calcified lesions, compared with a historical control of 34 patients treated by rotablation followed by bare stent implantation for the same indication. The primary endpoint was the late lumen loss at 9 months; secondary endpoints were binary restenosis and major adverse cardiac events at 9 months. A 2-year follow-up directed to death and myocardial infarction was added.

RESULTS

Both groups were comparable regarding baseline and procedural characteristics. Angiographic success was 100% for both groups. At 9 months, there was a significant difference in the late lumen loss (0.11 +/- 0.7 mm in the DES group and 1.11 +/- 0.9 mm in the BMS group, P = 0.001). This difference was manifest in the clinical event rates at late follow-up (combined incidence of death due to any cause, MI, and TLR was 7.4% in the DES group and 38.2% in the BMS group; P = 0.004). At 2 years, there were 5 deaths in each group (P = 0.5) and 2 infarctions in the BMS group versus none in the DES group (P = 1.0).

CONCLUSION

The combination of rotablation and drug-eluting stent implantation (Rota-DES) has a favorable effect on clinical and angiographic outcomes at 9 months when treating heavily calcified lesions compared to rotablation followed by bare metal stent implantation. No safety concerns are observed at 2 years.

Sirolimus-eluting stents and calcified coronary lesions: clinical outcomes of patients treated with and without rotational atherectomy

This study examined the outcomes of patients who underwent sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) implantation for the treatment of heavily calcified coronary lesions (HCCL) with and without the use of rotational atherectomy (rotablator). We investigated 150 consecutive patients with angiographic evidence of HCCL who underwent SES implantation. Sixty-nine patients underwent SES implantation without the need of rotablator (SES), and 81 patients required rotational atherectomy to modify the plaque and facilitate the delivery of the stent (SES + rotational atherectomy). Clinical success was equivalent in both groups (>98%) and there were no in-hospital outcome differences. At 6 months, the target lesion revascularization rate was 4.9% in SES vs. 4.2% in SES + rotational atherectomy groups, respectively (P = NS). Mortality at 6 months was 7.9% in the SES group vs. 6.8% in the SES + rotational atherectomy group (P = NS). SES performs well in patients with complex HCCL, with a relative low event rate. Lesions requiring rotational atherectomy to facilitate dilation and stenting had similar outcomes after SES implantation to those that could be stented without the need for rotablator.

Assessment of the Histological Characteristics of Coronary Arterial Plaque With Severe Calcification

BACKGROUND

Several studies have shown that rotational atherectomy (RA) is associated with higher rates of the slow-flow phenomenon and that ablated particles may be the possible cause. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) has an intrinsic limitation in assessing plaque morphology behind the calcification because of acoustic shadowing. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate plaque characteristics behind severe calcification by histological examination.

METHODS AND RESULTS

One hundred eight coronary arterial segments from 40 human cadavers (24 males, 16 females, mean age 74+/-7 years) were examined. Serial images of IVUS were obtained and 18 severe calcified lesions were collected. Experienced observers quantitatively analyzed the lesions by computerized planimetry for fibrous, fibrofatty, calcification, and necrotic tissue area. Histologically, 15 of 18 severely calcified lesions (83%) had an extensive necrotic tissue containing large numbers of cholesterol crystals and microcalcifications; 16 of same 18 severely calcified lesions (89%) had fibrofatty tissue as well as calcification. The necrotic tissue occupied 14+/-13% and fibrofatty tissue occupied 13+/-11% of severely calcified lesions.

CONCLUSION

Necrotic core and fibrofatty tissue components "hidden" behind calcification might cause emboli-induced thrombus formation and distal flow disturbance during RA.

Comparison of the effects of nicorandil versus verapamil on the incidence of slow flow/no reflow during rotational atherectomy

In rotational atherectomy, the slow-flow/no-reflow phenomenon is a common complication, which usually results in myocardial injury. We prospectively randomized 111 patients with successful rotational atherectomy into a verapamil group (group V, n = 56) and a nicorandil group (group N, n = 55). We compared final burr size, total ablation time, maximum decrease in revolutions per minute, incidence of slow flow/no reflow, creatine kinase-MB increase, and cardiac troponin T increase between the 2 groups. Patient and procedural characteristics were not significantly different between groups. The incidence of no reflow/slow flow was significantly lower in group N than in group V (3.6% vs 17.9%, respectively, p <0.05). The incidence of a minor increase in cardiac markers was also significantly lower in group N than in group V (creatine kinase-MB 3.6% vs 16.1%, p <0.05; cardiac troponin T 5.5% vs 21.4%, p <0.05). In conclusion, our results showed that nicorandil decreases the incidence of slow flow/no reflow during rotational atherectomy.

Drug-Eluting Coronary Stents

The introduction and widespread use of coronary stents have been the most important advancement in the percutaneous treatment of coronary artery disease since the introduction of balloon angioplasty. Coronary artery stents reduce the rate of angiographic and clinical restenosis compared to balloon angioplasty. This angiographic restenosis was further reduced with the introduction of drug-eluting stents and hence further reduction in the frequency of major adverse cardiac events. Herein we present a comprehensive and up-to-date review about the use of drug-eluting stents in the treatment of coronary artery disease.