Treatment of Ostial Right Coronary Artery Narrowings: Outcomes From the Multicenter Prospective e-ULTIMASTER Registry

Background

Treatment of right coronary artery (RCA) aorto-ostial (AO) lesions with bare-metal stents and first-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) was associated with worse outcomes. This study aimed to assess the effect of RCA-AO stenting with current-generation DES on the clinical outcome.

Methods

The large all-comer, multicontinental e-ULTIMASTER registry included 37,198 patients of whom 4775 underwent ostial and proximal RCA percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using the Ultimaster stent (Terumo). The primary clinical end point was 1-year target lesion failure (TLF), a composite of cardiac death; target vessel-related myocardial infarction; or clinically indicated target lesion revascularization.

Results

We compared 591 (12.4%) patients who underwent RCA-AO PCI with 4184 (87.6%) patients who underwent proximal RCA PCI. The RCA-AO group included more men and recorded significantly more comorbidities and more complex coronary anatomy. After propensity matching, the primary end point TLF occurred in 4.49% of the RCA-AO group compared with 3.00% of the proximal RCA group (P = .06). Target vessel revascularization (3.29% vs 1.90%; P = .03) and stent thrombosis (1.23% vs 0.42%, P = .01) were significantly higher among patients with RCA-AO lesions than those among patients with proximal RCA lesions. All-cause mortality was similar between the groups (2.97% vs 2.26%; P = .30).

Conclusions

The treatment of RCA-AO with DES is feasible, with similar rates of TLF but with an increased risk of target vessel revascularization and stent thrombosis.

Clinical Outcomes after Additional Dynamic Renal® Stent Implantation for Stent Recoil in Ostial Coronary Lesions

Background: Interventional treatment of aorto-ostial coronary stenoses is limited by stent recoil and suboptimal angiographic results, leading to restenosis and frequent re-interventions. As a potential bail-out strategy for stent recoil, implantation of an additional stent to increase radial force has been reported. Thus, we sought to investigate clinical outcomes after additional implantation of a Dynamic Renal^® stent (DRS), a non-coronary; bare-metal stent with very high radial force, in aorto-ostial coronary stenoses. Methods: Patients treated by implantation of DRSs for stent recoil in the ostial right coronary artery or the left main stem were identified from the hospital database. Baseline clinical and procedural characteristics were compared to patients who underwent re-intervention for in-stent-restenosis in similar segments by either implantation of conventional drug-eluting stents (DES) or paclitaxel-coated balloons (PCB). Clinical follow-ups were performed up to three years following re-intervention with the assessment of death, target lesion reintervention (TLR), and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) as a combination death, myocardial infarction and target vessel revascularization. Kaplan–Meier analyses were performed for event-free survival between the three groups. Results: Between 05/2013 and 07/2019, 28 patients underwent DRS implantation of aorto-ostial coronary lesions. In comparison with 49 patients with DES implantation and 29 patients undergoing PCB treatment, no relevant differences in baseline parameters were identified. Median follow-up was 714 days, with an available follow-up of >1 year after intervention in 82.1% of patients. In the entire study cohort at two years after re-intervention, the TLR rate was 16% (17 patients), the MACE rate 37% (39 patients), and all-cause mortality 9% (10 patients), with no significant differences between the three groups. Conclusions: DRS implantation for treating stent recoil of aorto-ostial coronary lesions resulted in a high rate of TLR, and was associated with similar risk for death and MACE compared to treatment of in-stent-restenosis with DES or PCB. Randomized, larger comparisons of contemporary DES in patients exclusively presenting with stent recoil are necessary to further define the efficacy and safety of this approach.

In-Hospital Outcomes After Recanalization of Ostial Chronic Total Occlusions

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of chronic total occlusion (CTO) still remains a major challenge in interventional cardiology. Recanalization of ostial lesions is challenging and complex. This present study aims to evaluate the outcome of patients with ostial and non-ostial CTO-PCI with regard to acute, in-hospital outcome.

METHODS

Between 2012 and 2018 we included 600 patients. Ostial lesions (OL) were defined as a coronary arterial stenosis within 3 mm of the vessel origin. Antegrade and retrograde CTO-PCI techniques were used and a composite safety endpoint comprising in-hospital death, vascular complications, cardiac tamponade, stroke and acute myocardial infarction.

RESULTS

The majority of the patients were male (82.3%) and the mean age was 62.1 years (±10.3 years). The right coronary artery (RCA) was the most frequent target vessel in 58.5%, followed by the left circumflex artery (LCX) (15.4%) and the left anterior descending artery (LAD) (26.2%). The success (p = .439) and complication rates (p = .169) were independent of the target vessel. We determined that examination and fluoroscopy time were longer in patients with OL (120.7 min vs. 99.0 min, p < .001 and 44.9 min vs. 34.5 min, p < .001) and that in this group of patients the retrograde approach was used more frequent (38.8% vs. 18.2%, p < .001). Overall success rates were lower in OL than compared to NOL (74.6% vs. 86.5%, p = .016).

CONCLUSIONS

Our retrospective study suggests that recanalization of ostial CTO lesions is associated with reduced PCI success rates as well as long examination and high fluoroscopy times.

Clinical impact of the gap-angle ratio in patients with ostial lesions of the right coronary artery undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of binary restenosis and its predictors in patients with ostial lesions of the right coronary artery (RCAos) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). RCAos are associated with a high incidence of restenosis, and the implantations of drug-eluting stents for RCAos have not been fully elucidated. The study participants included 75 patients (72.3 ± 9.5 years, 72% men) who underwent PCI for RCAos at our institution between November 2001 and May 2017. The angle between the greater curvature of the aortic wall and the right coronary artery take-off in the diastolic and systolic phases in the left anterior oblique position view was investigated. Clinical outcome was defined as binary restenosis at follow-up coronary angiography. We also evaluated target lesion failure (TLF) defined as a composite of cardiac mortality, target vessel myocardial infarction, and target lesion revascularization (TLR). The incidence of binary restenosis was 48.0% (n = 36) of the entire cohort. The incidence of TLF was 49.3% (n = 37) of the entire cohort, which was mainly driven by TLR (36.0%, n = 27). The area under the curve of the gap-angle ratio [(difference between the maximum and minimum angles)/(minimum angle); GAR] for binary restenosis was 0.73, and the cutoff value was 0.306 (sensitivity 67%, specificity 82%). The patients were divided into two groups: a low-GAR (< 0.306; n = 30) and high-GAR group (> 0.306; n = 45). Binary restenosis was more frequent in the high-GAR group than in the low-GAR group (76.7% vs. 28.9%, p = 0.007). The cumulative rate of TLF was significantly higher in the high-GAR group when compared with the low-GAR group (53.3% vs. 40.0%, p = 0.01), which was mainly driven by TLR (56.7% vs. 22.2%, p = 0.01). High-GAR (> 0.306) [OR 2.66 (1.34-5.31), p = 0.005] and stent under expansion [OR 2.37 (1.10-5.11), p = 0.03] were found to be independent predictors of binary restenosis after adjustment for multiple confounders. Multivariable analysis also revealed that high-GAR (> 0.306) [OR 2.06 (1.02-4.14), p = 0.03] and stent under expansion [OR 2.82 (1.28-6.19), p = 0.01] were independent predictors of TLF. We suggest that GAR (> 0.306) predicts binary restenosis and TLF in patients undergoing PCI for RCAos.

Efficacy of biolimus A9-eluting stent for treatment of right coronary ostial lesion with intravascular ultrasound guidance: a multi-center registry

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a biolimus A9-eluting stent in patients with a right coronary artery (RCA) ostial lesion. Ostial lesions of the RCA have been a limitation of percutaneous coronary intervention even in the drug-eluting stent (DES) era. However, clinical outcomes after the deployment of a second generation DES to an RCA ostial lesion with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance have not been fully elucidated. From September 2011 to March 2013, 74 patients were enrolled in 17 centers from Japan. RCA ostial lesion was defined as de novo significant stenotic lesion located within 15 mm from ostium. IVUS was used for all cases to confirm the location of ostium and evaluate stent coverage of ostium. Patients with hemodialysis were excluded. The primary endpoint is a major adverse cardiac event (MACE) at 1 year. Forty two percent of patients had multi-vessel disease. Angiographically severe calcification was observed in 26% of the lesions. The mean stent diameter was 3.3 ± 0.3 mm (3.5 mm, 72%, 3.0 mm, 25%, and 2.75 and 2.5 mm, 3%), stent length was 17.5 ± 5.8 mm, and dilatation pressure of stenting was 15.6 ± 4.1 atm. RCA ostium was covered by stent in all lesions in IVUS findings. Post dilatation was performed for 64% of lesions (balloon size 3.7 ± 0.6 mm). MACE rate at 1 year was 5.4% (target lesion revascularization 5.4%, myocardial infarction 1.2%, and no cardiac death). The biolimus A9-eluting stent for RCA ostial lesions with IVUS guidance showed favorable results at 1-year follow-up.

Outcomes of First- Versus Second-Generation Drug-Eluting Stent Implanted for Right Coronary Artery Ostial Narrowing

Clinical outcome is generally poor when stents are implanted at right coronary artery ostial lesion (RCAos). We compared the clinical outcome between the first-generation drug-eluting stent (first DES) and second-generation drug-eluting stent (second DES) used for RCAos. Consecutive 88 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary interventions of de novo RCAos using the first DES (33 patients) or second DES (55 patients) were analyzed. The incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) defined as the composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction attributed to right coronary artery, and target lesion revascularization within 2.5 years was compared. The incidence of MACE was significantly lower in second DES (11% vs 36%, p = 0.010) than that in the first DES. Multivariate analysis revealed use of second DES (odds ratio 0.24, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.93, p = 0.008) alone was significantly associated with MACE. In conclusion, second DES revealed better clinical outcome than the first DES when used in de novo RCAos.

Incidence, predictive factors, and clinical impact of stent recoil in stent fracture lesion after drug-eluting stent implantation

BACKGROUND

Stent fracture (SF) after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation was reported to be associated with target lesion revascularization (TLR). We have noted abnormal late acquired stent axial deformation in lesions after DES implantation, especially in SF lesions, and defined it as stent recoil (SR). We evaluated the incidence, predictive factors, and clinical impact of SR in SF lesions.

METHODS

Between 2003 and 2012, 5456 patients (11,712 lesions) underwent DES implantations and follow-up angiography within one year after the index procedure. SR was defined as an axial recoil deformation less than 80% of the stent diameter and SF was defined as the separation of stent segments or stent struts. SF and SR were confirmed by follow-up angiography. The primary endpoint was defined as clinically driven TLR.

RESULTS

SF was observed in 494 lesions (4.2%) and SR in 138 of SF lesions (27.9%). According to multinomial logistic regression analyses, severe calcification and ostial lesion in the right coronary artery were stronger predictive factors of SF with SR lesions. The cumulative incidences of any and clinically driven TLR at 5years were both significantly higher in the SF with SR group than in the SF without SR group (51.7% versus 35.0%, P<0.001; 22.2% versus 12.8%, P=0.019; respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

SR in SF lesions after DES implantation could be related to the lesion characteristics. SF with SR was highly associated with subsequent TLR compared with SF without SR.

Impact of intravascular ultrasound on the long-term clinical outcomes in the treatment of coronary ostial lesions

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the long-term outcomes of patients with ostial lesions who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with and without the use of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).

BACKGROUND

A higher rate of adverse cardiac events is associated with PCI of ostial lesions as compared with nonostial disease.

METHODS

From 7/2002 to 8/2010, 225 patients with 233 coronary ostial lesions underwent PCI with (n = 82) and without (n = 143) IVUS guidance. Ostial lesions included both native aorto-ostial or major coronary vessel (left anterior descending, left circumflex, and ramus intermedius) lesions. Clinical outcomes [cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction (MI), and target lesion revascularization (TLR)] at a mean follow-up of 4.2 ± 2.5 years were compared between patients undergoing PCI of an ostial lesion with and without use of IVUS using univariate and propensity score adjusted analyses.

RESULTS

Aorto-ostial lesions (n = 109) comprised 47% of lesions, whereas the remaining lesions (53%) involved major coronary vessels. After propensity score adjustment, IVUS use was associated with lower rates of the composite of cardiovascular death, MI, or TLR (HR 0.54, 95% CI 0.29-0.99; P = 0.04), composite MI or TLR (HR 0.39, 95% CI 0.18-0.83; P = 0.01), and MI (HR 0.31, 95% CI 0.11-0.85; P = 0.02) as compared with no IVUS. The use of IVUS was also associated with a trend towards a lower rate of TLR (HR 0.42, 95% CI 0.17-1.02; P = 0.06).

CONCLUSIONS

PCI of coronary ostial lesions with the use of IVUS was associated with significantly lower rates of adverse cardiac events.

Comparison of floating wire and single wire techniques in right coronary ostial lesions in terms of procedural features and one-year clinical follow-up results

Objective:

The floating wire technique is a special technique for solving interventional problems in aortaostial lesions. There are no long-term data in the literature for the floating wire technique in right aorto-ostial lesions.

Methods:

One hundred twenty six patients were retrospectively analyzed in this study. All of these patients had a critical right coronary aortoostial lesion. The floating wire technique was performed on 64 patients, and the single wire technique was performed on 62 patients. The two groups were compared with each other in terms of lesional and procedural properties. Additionally, 1-year clinical follow-up results were compared between the two groups.

Results:

There was no significant difference in terms of lesion properties between the groups. In the floating wire group, mean stent length, number of stents, mean procedure time, mean contrast volume, and mean fluoroscopy time were significantly lower than in the single wire group. At 1 year, 1 patient from each group had myocardial infarction, and no mortality was observed. In the floating wire group, the number of patients who experienced angina and the target lesion revascularization rate were both significantly lower than in the single wire group.

Conclusion:

The floating wire technique in right coronary ostial lesions provides a significant advantage over the single wire technique according to procedural and clinical follow-up results.

Sirolimus-eluting stent implantation for ostial right coronary artery lesions: five-year outcomes from the j-Cypher registry

Ostial right coronary artery (RCA) lesions are associated with a high restenosis rate after bare-metal stent implantation. However, long-term outcomes after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation for ostial RCA lesions have not been adequately evaluated. Among 12824 patients enrolled in the j-Cypher registry, 5-year outcomes were compared between 397 patients with ostial RCA lesions, and 3716 patients with non-ostial RCA lesions treated with sirolimus-eluting stents (SES). Through 5-year follow-up, patients with ostial RCA lesions had a significantly higher cumulative incidence of target lesion revascularization (TLR) (28.2 versus 13.7 %, P < 0.0001) than those with non-ostial RCA lesions. After adjusting for confounders, excess TLR risk of the ostial group relative to the non-ostial group was significant for both early TLR within 1-year and late TLR beyond 1-year (HR 2.14 [95 % CI 1.59-2.84], P < 0.0001, and HR 1.58 [95 % CI 1.06-2.26], P = 0.02, respectively). Although the cumulative incidence of death was also significantly higher in the ostial group than in the non-ostial group (25.7 versus 14.4 %, P < 0.0001), the excess risk of the ostial group relative to the non-ostial group was no longer significant after adjusting for confounders (HR 1.25 [95 % CI 0.99-1.57], P = 0.07). SES implantation for ostial RCA lesions was associated with higher risk for TLR as compared with that for non-ostial RCA lesions. Restenosis, both early and late, remains an issue in coronary DES implantation for ostial RCA lesions.