Value of Registries in ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Care in Both the Pre-Coronavirus Disease 2019 and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Eras

Sustained Mechanical Aspiration Thrombectomy for High Thrombus Burden Coronary Vessel Occlusion: The Multicenter CHEETAH Study

BACKGROUND

Poor myocardial reperfusion due to distal embolization and microvascular obstruction after percutaneous coronary intervention is associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Prior trials have not shown a clear benefit of routine manual aspiration thrombectomy. Sustained mechanical aspiration may mitigate this risk and improve outcomes. The objective of this study is to evaluate sustained mechanical aspiration thrombectomy before percutaneous coronary intervention in high thrombus burden acute coronary syndrome patients.

METHODS

This prospective study evaluated the Indigo CAT RX Aspiration System (Penumbra Inc, Alameda CA) for sustained mechanical aspiration thrombectomy before percutaneous coronary intervention at 25 hospitals across the USA. Adults presenting within 12 hours of symptom onset with high thrombus burden and target lesion(s) located in a native coronary artery were eligible. The primary end point was a composite of cardiovascular death, recurrent myocardial infarction, cardiogenic shock, or new or worsening New York Heart Association class IV heart failure within 30 days. Secondary end points included Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction thrombus grade, Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction flow, myocardial blush grade, stroke, and device-related serious adverse events.

RESULTS

From August 2019 through December 2020, a total of 400 patients were enrolled (mean age 60.4 years, 76.25% male). The primary composite end point rate was 3.60% (14/389 [95% CI, 2.0-6.0%]). Rate of stroke within 30 days was 0.77%. Final rates of Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction thrombus grade 0, Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction flow 3, and myocardial blush grade 3 were 99.50%, 97.50%, and 99.75%, respectively. No device-related serious adverse events occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

Sustained mechanical aspiration before percutaneous coronary intervention in high thrombus burden acute coronary syndrome patients was safe and was associated with high rates of thrombus removal, flow restoration, and normal myocardial perfusion on final angiography.

Symptoms-to-emergency-call timing delay in acute coronary syndrome before and during COVID-19: independent predictors and their impact on mortality

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted global health. The aim of this study was to compare predictors of symptoms-to-emergency-call timing delay in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and their impact on mortality before and during the COVID-19 outbreak.

METHODS

We collected sociodemographic, clinical data, procedural features, preadmission and intra-hospital outcomes of consecutive patients admitted for ACS in seventeen Italian centers from March to April 2018, 2019, and 2020.

RESULTS

In 2020, a 32.92% reduction in ACS admissions was observed compared to 2018 and 2019. Unstable angina, typical and atypical symptoms, and intermittent angina were identified as significant predictors of symptoms-to-emergency-call timing delay before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (P<0.005 for all the items). Differently from 2018-2019, during the pandemic, hypertension and dyspnea (P=0.002 versus P=0.490 and P=0.001 vs. P=0.761 for 2018-2019 and 2020, respectively) did not result as predictors of delay in symptoms-to-emergency-call timing. Among these predictors, only the atypical symptoms (HR 3.36; 95% CI: 1.172-9.667, P=0.024) in 2020 and the dyspnea (HR 2.64; 95% CI: 1.345-5.190, P=0.005) in 2018-2019 resulted significantly associated with higher mortality. Finally, the family attendance at the onset of the symptoms resulted in a reduction in symptoms-to-emergency-call timing (in 2020 P<0.001; CI: -1710.73; -493.19) and in a trend of reduced mortality (HR 0.31; 95% CI: 0.089-1.079, P=0.066) in 2020.

CONCLUSIONS

During the COVID-19 outbreak, atypical symptoms and family attendance at ACS onset were identified, respectively, as adverse and favorable predictors of symptoms-to-emergency-call timing delay and mortality.

Cardiac Registries During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learned

PURPOSE OF THIS REVIEW

We discuss the role of observational studies and cardiac registries during the COVID-19 pandemic. We focus on published cardiac registries and highlight contributions to the field that have had clinical implications.

RECENT FINDINGS

We included observational studies of COVID-19 patients published in peer-reviewed medical journals with defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, defined study design, and primary outcomes. A PubMed and MEDLINE literature review results in 437 articles, of which 52 include patients with COVID-19 with cardiac endpoints. From July 2020 to December 2021, the average time from last data collected to publication was 8.9 ± 4.1 months, with an increasing trend over time (R = 0.9444, p < 0.0001). Of the 52 articles that met our inclusion criteria, we summarize main findings of 4 manuscripts on stroke, 14 on acute coronary syndrome, 4 on cardiac arrest, 7 on heart failure, 7 on venous thromboembolism, 5 on dysrhythmia, and 11 on different populations at risk for cardiovascular. Registries are cost effective, not disruptive to essential health services, and can be rapidly disseminated with short intervals between last data point collected and publication. In less than 2 years, cardiac registries have filled important gaps in knowledge and informed the care of COVID-19 patients with cardiovascular conditions.

STEMI care 2021: Addressing the knowledge gaps

Tremendous progress has been made in the treatment of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the most severe and time-sensitive acute coronary syndrome. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the preferred method of reperfusion, which has stimulated the development of regional STEMI systems of care with standardized protocols designed to optimize care. However, challenges remain for patients with cardiogenic shock, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, an expected delay to reperfusion (>120 min), in-hospital STEMI, and more recently, those with Covid-19 infection. Ultimately, the goal is to provide timely reperfusion with primary PCI coupled with the optimal antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapies. We review the challenges and provide insights into the remaining knowledge gaps for contemporary STEMI care.

[Treatment of acute myocardial infarction in Peru and its relationship with in-hospital adverse events: results from the second peruvian registry of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (PERSTEMI-II).]

Background

ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), is an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and myocardial reperfusion, when adequate, reduces the complications of this entity. The aim of the study was to describe the clinical and treatment characteristics of STEMI in Peru and the relationship of successful reperfusion with in-hospital adverse events.

Materials and methods

Prospective, multicenter cohort of STEMI patients attended during 2020 in public hospitals in Peru. We evaluated the clinical, therapeutic characteristics and in-hospital adverse events, also the relationship between successful reperfusion and adverse events.

Results

A total of 374 patients were included, 69.5% in Lima and Callao. Fibrinolysis was used in 37% of cases (pharmacoinvasive 26% and fibrinolysis alone 11%), primary angioplasty with < 12 hours of evolution in 20%, late angioplasty in 9% and 34% did not access adequate reperfusion therapies, mainly due to late presentation. Ischemia time was longer in patients with primary angioplasty compared to fibrinolysis (median 7.7 hours (RIQ 5-10) and 4 hours (RIQ 2.3-5.5) respectively). Mortality was 8.5%, the incidence of post-infarction heart failure was 27.8% and of cardiogenic shock 11.5%. Successful reperfusion was associated with lower cardiovascular mortality (RR:0.28; 95%CI: 0.12-0.66, p=0.003) and lower incidence of heart failure during hospitalization (RR: 0.61; 95%CI: 0.43-0.85, p=0.004).

Conclusions

Fibrinolysis continues to be the most frequent reperfusion therapy in public hospitals in Peru. Shorter ischemia-to-reperfusion time was associated with reperfusion success, and in turn with fewer in-hospital adverse events.