Complications of coronary intervention: device embolisation, no-reflow, air embolism

Coronary artery embolism and acute coronary syndrome: A critical appraisal of existing data

The occurrence of coronary artery embolism (CE) has been associated with various clinical conditions, including aortic and mitral prosthetic heart valve implantation, atrial fibrillation (AF), dilated cardiomyopathy, neoplasia, infective endocarditis, atrial septal defect, cardiac tumors, and hypercoagulable states. CE is also a rare cause of myocardial infarction (MI), with a prevalence of about 5%, a figure probably underestimated. The purpose of this article was to determine the current state of knowledge on acute coronary syndrome (ACS) related to CE. We thus performed a comprehensive structured literature search of the MEDLINE database for articles published between 1 January 1990 and 31 December 2021. The diagnosis of CE remains difficult despite the currently used Shibata classification, which is based on major criteria, including angiographic characteristics: globular filling defects, saddle thrombi or multiple filling defects and absence of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries. Suspected or confirmed CE requires the identification of an etiology. There are only two published series on CE, including about 50 cases each. The three main causes in these series were: 1) atrial fibrillation (73% vs 28.3%), 2) cardiomyopathy (9.4% vs 25%) and 3) malignancy (9.6% vs 15.1%). Finally, 26.3% of the MI patients with CE had no identifiable cause of CE. When anatomically possible, analyzing the thrombus after thrombectomy may help. MI due to CE requires systematic assessment of other locations, i.e. multiple coronary and extracardiac locations. Simultaneous systemic embolization to the brain (67%), limbs (25%), kidneys (25%) or spleen (4%) is frequent, occurring in approximately 25% of CE-related MI. In the setting of acute MI, CE is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Coronary artery thromboembolism is a rare, non-atherosclerotic, cause of ACS, and prospective studies are needed to evaluate a systematic diagnostic approach and personalized therapeutic strategies.

The many roles of urgent catheter interventions: from myocardial infarction to acute stroke and pulmonary embolism

INTRODUCTION

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of cardiovascular mortality and a major contributor to disability worldwide. The prevalence of CVDs is continuously increasing, and from 1990 to 2019, it has doubled. Global cardiovascular mortality has increased from 12.1 million in 1990 to 18.6 million cases in 2019. The development of therapeutic options for these diseases is at the forefront of interest concerning the extensive socio-economic consequences. Modern endovascular transcatheter therapeutic options contribute to the reduction of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

AREAS COVERED

The article concentrates on the triad of the most common causes of acute cardiovascular mortality and morbidity - myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and pulmonary embolism. Current evidence-based indications, specific interventional techniques, and remaining unsolved issues are reviewed and compared. A personal perspective on the possible implications for the future is provided.

EXPERT OPINION

Primary angioplasty for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction is a well-established therapeutic option with proven mortality benefits. We suppose that catheter-based interventions for acute stroke will spread quickly from centers of excellence to routine clinical practice. We believe that ongoing research will provide a basis for the expansion of interventional treatment of pulmonary embolism soon.

Preparation of PCI Balloons: What Is the Best Method to Avoid Air in the Balloon? A Comparison of Different Methods of Connecting PCI Balloons and the Inflation Syringe while Removing Air from the Balloon

As the techniques to connect percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) balloons and the inflation syringe vary in the instructions for use and in practice, we measured the amount of air in PCI balloons after testing three connection methods to an inflation syringe. Following the preparation using one of the three methods, 114 balloons and stent balloons were tested four times. Method 1 connected the syringe and the balloon catheter directly after purging and filling the lumen, while method 3 omitted the purging and filling process. With method 2, the catheter lumen was purged, filled and fully vented via a three-way valve. The primary endpoint answered whether air remained in the balloon, and if so, the secondary endpoint indicated the total volume of remaining air. The connection with a three-way valve achieved significantly less air in the inflated balloon as compared with either direct connection approach (27% vs. 44% and 51%; p = 0.015). For the direct connection, no significant difference between purging and filling the lumen prior to making the connection or not existed. According to these findings, the best method to connect a PCI balloon to the inflation syringe while removing air involves using a three-way valve.

Advances in Coronary No-Reflow Phenomenon-a Contemporary Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Coronary artery no-reflow phenomenon is an incidental outcome of percutaneous coronary intervention in patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction. Despite advances in pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies, coronary no-reflow phenomenon occurs more commonly than desired. It often results in poor clinical outcomes and remains as a relevant consideration in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. In this systematic review, we have sought to discuss the topic in detail, and to relay the most recent discoveries and data on management of this condition.

RECENT FINDINGS

We discuss several pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments used in the prevention and management of coronary no-reflow and microvascular obstruction. Covered topics include the understanding of pharmacologic mechanisms of current and future agents, and recent discoveries that may result in the development of future treatment options. We conclude that the pathophysiology of coronary no-reflow phenomenon and microvascular obstruction still remains incompletely understood, although several plausible theories have led to the current standard of care for its management. We also conclude that coronary no-reflow phenomenon and microvascular obstruction must be recognized as a multifactorial condition that has certain predispositions and characteristics, therefore its prevention and treatment must begin pre-procedurally and be multi-faceted including certain medications and operator techniques in the cardiac catheterization laboratory.

Complications encountered in coronary chronic total occlusion intervention: Prevention and bailout

Despite the continuing developments of improved medical devices and increasing operator expertize, coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) remains as one of the most challenging lesion subsets in interventional cardiology. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of CTO is a complex procedure carrying the risk of complications that are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. The complications can be classified as coronary (such as coronary occlusion, perforation, device embolization, or entrapment); cardiac non-coronary (such as periprocedural myocardial infarction); extra cardiac (such as vascular access complications, systemic embolization, contrast-induced nephropathy, and radiation-induced injury). Further, certain complications (such as donor vessel dissection or thrombosis) are unique to CTO-PCI. There are also complications related to specialized techniques, such as dissection/reentry and retrograde crossing techniques. A thorough understanding of the potential complications is critical to mitigate risk during these complex procedures.