A New Scoring System Predicting Side-Branch Occlusion in Patients Undergoing Left Main Bifurcation Intervention: The LM V-RESOLVE Score

BACKGROUND

The risk of side-branch (SB) occlusion is pivotal for decision making of stenting strategies during unprotected left main (LM) bifurcation percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Accordingly, this study aimed to develop a scoring system for predicting SB occlusion during unprotected LM bifurcation PCI.

METHODS

A total of 855 consecutive patients undergoing unprotected LM bifurcation PCI with provisional strategy at Fuwai Hospital from January 2014 to December 2016 were recruited. A prediction model was selected by means of all-subsets logistic regression, and a multivariable risk score (Left Main Visual Estimation for Risk Prediction of Side Branch Occlusion in Coronary Bifurcation Intervention [LM V-RESOLVE]) was then established with incremental weights attributed to each component variable based on its estimate coefficients. SB occlusion was defined as any decrease in Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade or absence of flow in SB after main vessel (MV) stenting.

RESULTS

SB occlusion occurred in 19 LM bifurcation lesions (2.22%). In multivariable model, 3 variables, including MV/SB diameter ratio, MV plaque ipsilateral to SB, and baseline diameter stenosis of SB, were independent predictors for SB occlusion (model C-statistic 0.829, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.735-0.923, with good calibration). The risk score had a C-statistics of 0.830 (95% CI 0.738-0.923) with good calibration. Satisfactory discriminative ability of the risk score was also preserved in external validation (C-statistic 0.794, 95% CI 0.691-0.896).

CONCLUSIONS

The LM bifurcation-specific novel scoring system, LM V-RESOLVE, based on 3 simple baseline angiographic findings, could help to rapidly discriminate lesions at risk of SB occlusion during LM bifurcation PCI.

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention vs. Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Left Main Coronary Artery Disease: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Recently, both US and European guidelines have predominantly recommended coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) as the preferred revascularisation method. However, emerging data have raised the possibility of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) being a viable and effective alternative. This meta-analysis sought to evaluate the latest insights from major clinical trials to ascertain whether PCI could be as effective as CABG in treating left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease. To achieve this, a comprehensive systematic search was conducted across databases, including Medline (via PubMed), Embase, Cochrane, and clinicaltrials.gov. The search spanned from the inception of these databases to August 20, 2022, and exclusively focused on randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Employing the random effects model, selected studies underwent rigorous analysis. The study outcomes encompassed a spectrum of factors such as all-cause mortality, major adverse cerebrovascular and cardiovascular events (MACCE), myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and revascularisation procedures. The observation periods of interest included the 30-day mark, 1 year, 5 years, and 10 years. The analysis integrated six RCTs, revealing noteworthy patterns. In terms of all-cause mortality, PCI demonstrated non-inferiority to CABG across all observed time frames: 30 days (OR 0.6), 1 year (OR 0.77), 5 years (OR 1.41), and 10 years (OR 1.08). Analysis of MACCE outcomes favored PCI at 30 days and CABG at 5 years. The utilisation of the original five-year EXCEL (Evaluation of XIENCE versus Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery for Effectiveness of Left Main Revascularisation) trial definition for MI highlighted higher MI rates for PCI compared to CABG (OR 1.66, P < 0.05). Intriguingly, when the subsequently released EXCEL data, aligned with the third universal MI definition, was incorporated, the five-year data consistently leaned towards CABG. Specifically, the PCI group exhibited 7.5% MI rates in contrast to the 3.6% in the CABG cohort (OR 2.19, P < 0.001). Concerning stroke, PCI proved advantageous at 30 days and 1 year while exhibiting no significant disparity at 5 and 10 years. Revascularisation procedures favoured CABG at one and five years, with comparability at the remaining time points. In summation, the outcomes of this comprehensive meta-analysis suggest that PCI could serve as a feasible alternative to CABG in the context of uncomplicated LMCA disease. It's worth noting that CABG might still hold an advantage for complex lesions.

Peri-Procedural Troponin Elevation after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Left Main Coronary Artery Disease

Left main (LM) percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) are challenging and highly invasive procedures. Periprocedural myocardial injury (Troponin (Tn) elevation > 99th percentile) is frequently detected after LM PCI, being identified even in up to 67% of patients. However, the prognostic implications of periprocedural Tn elevation after LM PCI remain controversial. We aim to assess the impact and prognostic significance of the periprocedural troponin elevation on long-term outcomes in patients undergoing LM PCI in a real-world setting. Consecutive 673 patients who underwent LM PCI in our department between January 2015 to February 2021 were included in a prospective registry. The first group consisted of 323 patients with major cardiac Troponin I elevation defined as an elevation of Tn values > 5× the 99th percentile in patients with normal baseline values or post-procedure Tn rise by >20% in patients with elevated pre-procedure Tn in whom the Tn level was stable or falling (based on the fourth universal definition of myocardial infarction). The second group consisted of patients without major cardiac Troponin I elevation. Seven-year long-term all-cause mortality was not higher in the group with major Tn elevation (36.9% vs. 40.6%; p = 0.818). Naturally, periprocedural myocardial infarction was diagnosed only in patients from groups with major Tn elevation (4.9% of all patients). In-hospital death and other periprocedural complications did not differ significantly between the two study groups. The adjusted HRs for mortality post-PCI in patients with a periprocedural myocardial infarction were not significant. Long-term mortality subanalysis for the group with criteria for cardiac procedural myocardial injury showed no significant differences (39.5% vs. 38.8%; p = 0.997). The occurrence of Tn elevation (>1×; >5×; >35× and >70× URL) after LM PCI was not associated with adverse long-term outcomes. The results of the study suggest that the isolated periprocedural troponin elevation is not clinically significant.

Left main coronary disease: evolving management concepts

Remarkable advances in the management of coronary artery disease have enhanced our approach to left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease. The traditional role of coronary artery bypass graft surgery has been challenged by the less invasive percutaneous coronary interventional approach. Additionally, major strides in optimal medical therapy now provide a rich menu of treatment choices in selected circumstances. Although a LMCA stenosis >70% is an acceptable threshold for revascularization, those patients with a LMCA narrowing between 40 and 69% present a more complex scenario. This review examines the relative merits of the different treatment options, addresses key diagnostic and therapeutic unknowns, and identifies future work likely to advance progress.

Living on a Thread: A Case of Critical Left Main Coronary Artery Disease With an Unusual Presentation

The left main disease is significant stenosis of the left coronary artery, which is responsible of supplying blood to a major portion of the left ventricle. In this report, we describe a unique case of critical left main disease with a special clinical presentation.

A 66-year-old male with insignificant past medical history presented with dyspepsia. Patient presented twice to the emergency department seeking for help for his persistent complaint. During his second visit, patient was diagnosed with type one myocardial infarction and underwent coronary angiography which showed 90% stenosis in the left main coronary artery. Patient underwent successful coronary artery bypass grafting and was sent home.

This case is a unique representation of type 1 myocardial infarction as the peak troponin I level does not correlate with the extent of the myocardium being jeopardized. A big portion of the heart is at risk of injury with the 90% stenosis found in this patient’s left main coronary artery, yet the peak troponin I level is minimum. This report provides a possible explanation of the discrepancy between the peak troponin I level and the extent of the myocardium being jeopardized and describes a common yet easily missed clinical presentation of acute coronary syndrome.

Left main disease is a relatively uncommon presentation of acute coronary syndrome, with potentially serious detrimental consequences. Discrepancies do occur among patients of critical left main disease, and promptly diagnosing and managing is of great importance.

Short- and Long-Term Outcomes of Left Main Coronary Artery Stenting in Patients Disqualified from Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

The study aims to evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes of left main percutaneous coronary interventions (LM PCI) in patients disqualified from coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). We included 459 patients (mean age: 68.4 ± 9.4 years, 24.4% females), with at least 1-year follow-up; 396 patients in whom PCI was offered as an alternative to CABG (Group 1); and 63 patients who were disqualified from CABG by the Heart Team (Group 2). The SYNTAX score (29.1 ± 9.5 vs. 23.2 ± 9.7; p < 0.001) and Euroscore II value (2.72 ± 2.01 vs. 2.15 ± 2.16; p = 0.007) were significantly higher and ejection fraction was significantly lower (46% vs. 51.4%; p < 0.001) in Group 2. Patients in Group 2 more often required complex stenting techniques (33.3% vs. 16.2%; p = 0.001). The procedure success rates were very high and did not differ between groups (100% vs. 99.2%; p = 0.882). We observed no difference in periprocedural complication rates (12.7% vs. 7.8%; p = 0.198), but the long-term all-cause mortality rate was higher in Group 2 (26% vs. 21%; p = 0.031). LM PCI in patients disqualified from CABG is an effective and safe procedure with a low in-hospital complication rate. Long-term results are satisfactory.

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

BACKGROUND

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

METHODS

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

RESULTS

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

CONCLUSION

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

Unprotected Left Main Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With or Without Hemodynamic Support

Hemodynamic support is widely utilized for unprotected left main (ULM) percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) despite lack of evidence from randomized studies and the risk of device-related complications. We aimed to compare ULMPCI with and without intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) support. A single-center, retrospective analysis was performed for patients undergoing ULMPCI with and without IABP support. Clinical, procedural, in-hospital, and 30-day cardiovascular outcomes were compared. From 2003 through 2018, 217 patients underwent non-emergent ULMPCI, 55 with elective IABP support (IABP group), and 162 without support (No-IABP group). The study population comprised 56.4% men and 74.5% Caucasians in the IABP group and 53.7% men and 62.3% Caucasians in the No-IABP group. The mean age for IABP and No-IABP group patients was 75.75 ± 12.34 years and 73.47 ± 15.19 years, respectively (p = 0.315). Procedural success was achieved in 99% of IABP and 95.3% of No-IABP patients (p = 0.089). In-hospital and 30-day mortality was 5.5% for the IABP group and 5.6% for the No-IABP group (p = 0.977). Rates of major complications were statistically similar between the groups. Bailout IABP was required in 10% of No-IABP patients. Hospital and intensive care unit length of stay was statistically longer in the IABP group. In conclusion, ULMPCI without IABP support was not associated with increased mortality and major cardiovascular outcomes compared with supported patients and was associated with shorter hospital and intensive care unit stay. A randomized trial comparing unsupported versus supported ULMPCI is warranted to identify patients who would benefit from hemodynamic support.

Implications of Periprocedural Myocardial Biomarker Elevations and Commonly Used MI Definitions After Left Main PCI

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to: 1) assess the relationship of different thresholds of creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB) and cardiac troponin with subsequent mortality; and 2) evaluate the prognostic significance of periprocedural myocardial infarction (PMI) according to various definitions of myocardial infarction in patients with left main (LM) coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND

The magnitude of postprocedural biomarker elevation representing a clinically meaningful PMI after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is controversial.

METHODS

A total of 4,013 consecutive patients undergoing LM PCI at a single center from January 2004 to December 2016 were enrolled. CK-MB and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) were routinely collected at baseline and at frequent intervals between 8 and 48 hours after PCI. The primary and secondary outcomes were the covariate-adjusted 3-year rates of cardiovascular (CV) and all-cause mortality, respectively.

RESULTS

The 3-year rate of CV mortality progressively increased with higher peak CK-MB values. CV mortality was first independently predicted by postprocedural CK-MB 3 to 5 times the upper reference limit (URL) (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 2.93; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-8.40), whereas all-cause death was independently predicted only by CK-MB ≥ 10 × URL (aHR: 3.25; 95% CI: 1.37-7.70). In contrast, no level of peak postprocedural cTnI was associated with CV or all-cause death. PMI by the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI), Academic Research Consortium-2 (ARC-2), and fourth universal definition of myocardial infarction (UDMI) occurred in 1.3%, 3.1%, and 5.1% of patients, respectively. The SCAI definition was significantly associated with 3-year CV mortality (aHR: 4.93; 95% CI: 1.92-12.69) and all-cause mortality (aHR: 3.11; 95% CI: 1.33-7.27), whereas the ARC-2 and fourth UDMI definitions were not.

CONCLUSIONS

In a large cohort of consecutive patients undergoing LM PCI, intermediate (≥3 × URL) and high (≥10 × URL) levels of peak postprocedural CK-MB independently predicted 3-year CV and all-cause mortality, respectively, whereas even large elevations of post-PCI cTnI did not. The SCAI definition (but not the ARC-2 or fourth UDMI) of PMI was independently associated with mortality after LM PCI.

Impact of lesion preparation strategies on outcomes of left main PCI: The EXCEL trial

OBJECTIVES

We examined outcomes according to lesion preparation strategy (LPS) in patients with left main coronary artery (LMCA) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the EXCEL trial.

BACKGROUND

The optimal LPS for LMCA PCI is unclear.

METHODS

We categorized LPS hierarchically (high to low) as: (a) rotational atherectomy (RA); (b) cutting or scoring balloon (CSB); (c) balloon angioplasty (BAL); and d) direct stenting (DIR). The primary endpoint was 3-year MACE; all-cause death, stroke, or myocardial infarction.

RESULTS

Among 938 patients undergoing LMCA PCI, RA was performed in 6.0%, CSB 9.5%, BAL 71.3%, and DIR 13.2%. In patients treated with DIR, BAL, CSB, and RA, respectively, there was a progressive increase in SYNTAX score, LMCA complex bifurcation, trifurcation or calcification, number of stents, and total stent length. Any procedural complication occurred in 10.4% of cases overall, with the lowest rate in the DIR (7.4%) and highest in the RA group (16.1%) (p_trend  = .22). There were no significant differences in the 3-year rates of MACE (from RA to DIR: 17.9%, 20.2%, 14.5%, 14.7%; p = .50) or ischemia-driven revascularization (from RA to DIR: 16.8%, 10.8%, 12.3%, 14.2%; p = .65). The adjusted 3-year rates of MACE did not differ according to LPS.

CONCLUSIONS

The comparable 3-year outcomes suggest that appropriate lesion preparation may be able to overcome the increased risks of complex LMCA lesion morphology.

Long-term clinical outcomes in transradial versus transfemoral access for left main percutaneous coronary intervention

OBJECTIVE

The present study compared 10-year clinical outcomes between transradial access (TRA) and transfemoral access (TFA) for left main (LM) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

BACKGROUND

There are limited data regarding the long-term safety and efficacy of TRA for LM PCI.

METHODS

This retrospective study evaluated consecutive patients who underwent unprotected LM PCI between January 2004 and December 2008 at Fu Wai Hospital. The exclusion criteria were age of less than 18 years and presentation with acute myocardial infarction. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac or cerebrovascular events (MACCE), which was defined as a composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, stroke, and any revascularization at the 10-year follow-up.

RESULTS

Among 913 eligible patients, TRA was used for 417 patients (45.7%) and TFA was used for 496 patients (54.3%). The 30-day clinical outcomes were similar between the two groups. Results from the 10-year follow-up revealed that MACCE occurred in 180 patients (46.7%) from the TRA group and in 239 patients (51.2%) from the TFA group (log-rank p = .3). The TRA and TFA groups also had low and comparable cumulative rates of all-cause death (14.6% vs. 17.3%, log-rank p = .56) and cardiac death (7.9% vs. 9.1%, log-rank p = .7).

CONCLUSION

The present study revealed no significant differences in long-term clinical outcomes when TRA or TFA were used for LM PCI.

Repeat Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: A Meta-Analysis of Off-Pump versus On-Pump Techniques in a Large Cohort of Patients

BACKGROUND

Redo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) can be performed with either the off-pump (OPCAB) or the on-pump (ONCAB) technique.

METHOD

Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), this meta-analysis compared the safety and efficacy of OPCAB versus ONCAB redo CABG.

RESULTS

Twenty-three (23) eligible studies were included (OPCAB, n=2,085; ONCAB, n=3,245). Off-pump CABG significantly reduced the risk of perioperative death (defined as in-hospital or 30-day death rate), myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, and acute kidney injury. The two treatment approaches were comparable regarding 30-day stroke and late all-cause mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Off-pump redo CABG resulted in lower perioperative death and periprocedural complication rates. No difference was observed in perioperative stroke rates and long-term survival between the two techniques.

Percutaneous Intervention or Bypass Graft for Left Main Coronary Artery Disease? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

The safety and efficacy of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for stable left main coronary artery disease (LMCAD) remains controversial.

Methods

Digital databases were searched to compare the major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and its components. A random effect model was used to compute an unadjusted odds ratio (OR).

Results

A total of 43 studies (37 observational and 6 RCTs) consisting of 29,187 patients (PCI 13,709 and CABG 15,478) were identified. The 30-day rate of MACCE (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.42-0.76; p = 0.0002) and all-cause mortality (OR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.30-0.91; p = 0.02) was significantly lower in the PCI group. There was no significant difference in the rate of myocardial infarction (MI) (p = 0.17) and revascularization (p = 0.12). At 5 years, CABG was favored due to a significantly lower rate of MACCE (OR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.18-2.36; p = <0.04), MI (OR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.35-2.06; p = <0.00001), and revascularization (OR, 2.80; 95% CI, 2.18-3.60; p = <0.00001), respectively. PCI was associated with a lower overall rate of a stroke, while the risk of all-cause mortality was not significantly different between the two groups at 1- (p = 0.75), 5- (p = 0.72), and 10-years (p = 0.20). The Kaplan-Meier curve reconstruction revealed substantial variations over time; the 5-year incidence of MACCE was 38% with CABG, significantly lower than 45% with PCI (p = <0.00001).

Conclusion

PCI might offer early safety advantages, while CABG provides greater durability in terms of lower long-term risk of ischemic events. There appears to be an equivalent risk for all-cause mortality.

Prognostic Effects of Treatment Strategies for Left Main Versus Non-Left Main Bifurcation Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Current-Generation Drug-Eluting Stent

Background:

Although 1-stent with provisional approach is the preferred strategy for the treatment of bifurcation lesions, the optimal treatment strategy according to lesion location is still debatable. This study aimed to identify whether clinical outcomes according to treatment strategy differed between left main (LM) and non-LM bifurcation lesions in the second-generation drug-eluting stent era.

Methods:

The Coronary Bifurcation Stenting registry III is a retrospective multicenter registry of 2648 patients with bifurcation lesions who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with second-generation drug-eluting stent. Among the study population, 935 (35.3%) patients had an LM bifurcation lesion. The primary outcome was target lesion failure, a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and target lesion revascularization.

Results:

Median follow-up duration was 53 months. LM bifurcation was associated with a higher risk of target lesion failure (HR adj , 1.846 [95% CI, 1.317–2.588]; P <0.001) than non-LM bifurcation. Two-stent strategy was more frequently applied in patients with LM bifurcation than in patients with non-LM bifurcation (27.1% versus 11.7%; P <0.001). In the LM bifurcation group, compared with the 1-stent strategy, the 2-stent strategy showed a significantly higher risk of target lesion failure (2-stent versus 1-stent, 17.4% versus 10.6%; HR adj , 1.848 [95% CI, 1.045–3.266]; P =0.035), mainly driven by the higher rate of target lesion revascularization (15.3% versus 5.5%; HR adj , 2.698 [95% CI, 1.276–5.706]; P =0.009). However, the risk of cardiac death or myocardial infarction did not differ between the 2 groups (4.4% versus 6.6%; HR adj , 0.694 [95% CI, 0.306–1.572]; P =0.381). For patients with non-LM-bifurcation, there was no significant difference in the rate of target lesion failure between 1-stent and 2-stent strategies (5.6% versus 6.3%; HR adj , 0.925 [95% CI, 0.428–2.001]; P =0.843).

Conclusions:

Even in the second-generation drug-eluting stent era, the 1-stent strategy, if possible, should initially be considered the preferred approach for the treatment of LM bifurcation lesions.

Registration:

URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT03068494.

Unrestricted use of polymer-free sirolimus eluting stents in routine clinical practice

Stent designs with ultrathin struts may further increase the procedural success of challenging lesion subsets. The objective of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of ultrathin strut, polymer-free sirolimus eluting stent (PF-SES) implantations in a large scale, unselected patient population.Adult patients underwent percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) with a thin-strut PF-SES. Data from two all-comers observational studies having the same protocol (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: NCT02629575 and NCT02905214) were pooled. The accumulated target lesion revascularization (TLR) rate at 9-12 months was the primary endpoint. All dual antiplatelet therapy strategies according to the applicable guidelines were permissible.In total, 7243 patients were prospectively enrolled for PCI with PF-SES in stable coronary artery disease or acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Major risk factors in the overall cohort were diabetes (37.3%), ST elevation myocardial infarction (18.1%) and non-ST myocardial infarction (24.6%). The follow-up rate was 88.6% in the overall population. The TLR rate in the overall cohort was 2.2% whereas definite/probable stent thrombosis (ST) occurred in 0.7%. In patients with in-stent restenosis lesions, the major adverse cardiac events rate was 6.4% whereas the corresponding rate for isolated left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease was highest with 6.7% followed by patients with culprit lesions in vein bypasses (VB, 7.1%). The mortality rate in patients treated in VB lesions was highest with 5.4%, followed by the isolated LMCA subgroup (3.4%) and ACS (2.6%).PCI with PF-SES in an unselected patient population, is associated with low clinical event and ST rates. Furthermore, PF-SES angioplasty in niche indications demonstrated favorable safety and efficacy outcomes with high procedural success rates.

Synchronous versus Staged Carotid Endarterectomy and Coronary Artery Bypass Graft for Patients with Concomitant Severe Coronary and Carotid Artery Stenosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Due to the systemic nature of atherosclerosis, arteries at different sites are commonly simultaneously affected. As a result, severe coronary artery disease (CAD) requiring coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) frequently coexists with significant carotid stenosis that warrants revascularization. To compare simultaneous carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and CABG versus staged CEA and CABG for patients with concomitant CAD and carotid artery stenosis in terms of perioperative outcomes.

METHODS

This study was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A meta-analysis was conducted with the use of a random effects model. The I² statistic was used to assess for heterogeneity.

RESULTS

Eleven studies comprising 44,895 patients were included in this meta-analysis (21,710 in the synchronous group and 23,185 patients in the staged group). The synchronous CEA and CABG group had a statistically significant lower risk for myocardial infarction (MI) (odds ratio [OR] 0.15, 95% CI 0.04-0.61, I² = 0%) and higher risk for stroke (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.34-1.71, I² = 0%) and death (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.01-1.75, I² = 47.8%). Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.00-1.61, I² = 0.0%), postoperative bleeding (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.22-3.05, I² = 0.0%), and pulmonary complications (OR 1.52, 95% CI 0.24-9.60, I² = 67.5%) were similar between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients in the simultaneous CEA and CABG group had a significantly higher risk of 30-day mortality and stroke and lower risk for MI as compared to staged CEA and CABG group. The rates of TIA, postoperative bleeding, and pulmonary complications were similar between the 2 groups. Future randomized trials or prospective cohorts are needed to validate our results.

Clinical impact of complex percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with coronary artery disease

For the revascularization of patients with clinical and anatomical complexities, several technical skills are often required. However, the prognostic effect of complex percutaneous coronary intervention (C-PCI) on the clinical outcomes is not well known. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the C-PCI and mid-term clinical outcomes. We assessed 1062 patients who underwent PCI with newer-generation drug-eluting stent and stratified the patients according to whether they had complex PCI (C-PCI, n = 358) or non-complex PCI (non-C-PCI, n = 704). C-PCI was defined as a procedure with at least 1 of the following features: 3 vessels treated, ≥ 3 stents per vessel implanted, ≥ 3 lesions treated, use of a 2-stent technique, the total stent length per vessel > 60 mm, chronic total occlusion, unprotected left main coronary artery stenting, and rotational atherectomy use. All-cause death and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE; cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and non-fatal ischemic stroke) were evaluated. The median follow-up period was 1.9 (0.8-3.0) years. The baseline SYNTAX score was significantly higher in the C-PCI group than in the non-C-PCI group [20 (14-27) vs. 10 (6-17), p < 0.001]. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the cumulative incidences of all-cause death (log-rank p = 0.12) and MACCE (log-rank p = 0.64) did not differ between the two groups. On multivariable Cox analysis, C-PCI did not adversely affect the clinical outcomes. Despite a high rate of anatomically complex coronary lesions, the patients who underwent C-PCI had comparable "hard" clinical outcomes with those of non-C-PCI.

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Versus Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Treatment of Unprotected Left Main Stenosis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article reviews the latest data on unprotected left main (ULM) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, with a focus on the NOBLE and EXCEL trials.

RECENT FINDINGS

In EXCEL trial, the primary endpoint at 3 years was 15.4% in the PCI group and 14.7% in the CABG group (p = 0.02 for non-inferiority of PCI versus CABG). In NOBLE, the primary endpoint at 5 years was 28% and 18% for PCI and CABG, respectively (HR 1.51, CI 1.13-2.0, which did not meet the criteria for non-inferiority of PCI to CABG; p for superiority of CABG was 0.0044). Higher repeat revascularization and non-procedural myocardial infarction were noted in PCI group but there was no difference in all-cause or cardiac mortality between the two groups. A heart team approach with appropriate patient selection, careful assessment of LM lesions, and meticulous procedural technique makes PCI a valid alternative to CABG for ULM stenosis.