OR8. Appropriateness of percutaneous coronary intervention procedure in Indonesia

Background and Aims

There is a possibility of the high variability of the appropriateness of PCI performed in Indonesia. It is assumed that appropriate PCI tends to have clinical outcomes than other categories. This study aimed to evaluate the appropriateness of the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedure in Indonesia.

Method and Results

We assigned appropriateness ratings to 214 acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and 191 stable ischemic heart disease (SIHD) records that underwent PCI in four hospitals from 2017 - 2018. The included hospitals consist of one public and three private hospitals, two cardiovascular centers, and two general hospitals with the most performed PCI procedures on 2016 - 2018 and accessible to the researchers. The PCI appropriateness was adjudicated using 2016/2017 ACC/AHA guidelines of the Appropriate Use of Care (AUC) for coronary revascularization in ACS and SIHD. The results were categorized into “appropriate”, “maybe appropriate”, and “rarely appropriate”.  

The result from this study demonstrated that in ACS patients, 76.0% and 24.0% of PCI were appropriate” and “maybe appropriate”. While, in SHID patients, 68.7%, 28.7%, and 2.6% of PCI were “appropriate”, “maybe appropriate”, and “rarely appropriate”. In ACS patients, “appropriate” PCI is more commonly found in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) cases (62.6%). In SIHD patients, 54.0% and 46.0% of left-main diseases patients underwent “maybe appropriate” and “rarely appropriate” PCI. 

Conclusion

The majority of PCI performed in ACS and SIHD patients from the studied hospitals are “appropriate”. 

Doppler ultrasound in aortic dissections: a study of cephalic and peripheral arteries

We investigated the role of continuous-wave Doppler ultrasound in predicting the presence of an aortic dissection prospectively in 28 patients whose diagnosis was confirmed either by arteriography or surgery (26 cases) or at autopsy (two cases). We hypothesized that dissections, by creating two channels for flow, would produce velocity disturbances detectable in accessible arteries such as the carotid, brachial, and femoral arteries. Of the 28 patients, 20 had Type I, two Type II, and six Type III dissections. Two abnormalities of the Doppler signals were found: in 18 of Type I dissections, notching was found in the systolic upslope of the velocity tracing from those arteries that were either involved in or distal to the dissection sites. Notching was much less frequent for Type II and III dissections: only one patient with Type II and two patients with Type III dissections showed notching. In addition diastolic backflow with marked aortic valvular insufficiency was present. Notching in brachiocephalic artery continuous-wave Doppler signals appears to have a high positive predictive value for Type I dissections.

Iatrogenic cardiac tamponade after central venous catheter

Myocardial perforations with a central venous catheter are rare in adults (67 cases published since 1968). These accidents are fatal in more than two-thirds of the cases owing to confusion caused by misleading symptoms which suggest pulmonary embolism. The perforation is generally localized in the right atrium (29 cases), less frequently in the right ventricle (18 cases). The superior vena cava is rarely affected (3 cases). The site of the perforation was not found in the other published cases. Clinical symptoms are signs of tamponade with disorders of cardiac rhythm. An enlargement of the cardiac shadow and an abnormal position of the catheter, buckled or openly intrapericardial, make the diagnosis radiologically. Echocardiography provides some information, but this is often too late for practical application. The diagnosis is made with right catheterization when it shows an equalization of the diastolic pressures. This allows the patient to be watched closely following the pericardial tap, after which a surgical approach may be indicated and performed. Prevention of these iatrogenic accidents must be systematic and strictly controlled for.

[Malignant lymphoma of the heart. Contribution of modern technics of medical imaging]

Although rarely encountered, tumours of the heart are now more easily and frequently diagnosed owing to the availability of non-invasive imaging methods, notably echocardiography. With echocardiography the cardiac extension of the tumour is perfectly visualized, but its connections with the mediastinum are less readily accessible. The case presented here of a female patients with a malignant lymphoma involving the heart (right ventricle and atrium, pericardium) and the mediastinum illustrates the complementary nature of echocardiography, computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

[Value of continuous Doppler velocimetry for the diagnosis of patent ductus arteriosus]

A study of the curve of wave Doppler ultrasonography of 3 arterial axes (carotid, subclavian and femoral) was performed in 32 children in whom the diagnosis of patent ductus arteriosus was suspected. A continuous 8 MHz wave directional ultrasonic Doppler apparatus was used. At the level of subclavian and femoral arteries, patent ductus arteriosus is associated with a negative holodiastolic wave on the curve. At the carotid level, disappearance of the physiologic diastolic elevation may be the only change observed. Three groups were studied (1) 15 premature neonates with isolated murmur, (2) 15 premature neonates with respiratory distress and (3) 2 older children. In group 2, diagnosis of patent ductus arteriosus relies on clinical signs. A good correlation between Doppler and clinical data and/or TM ultrasonography was observed in 93% of cases.

The carotid pulse in dissecting aneurysm of the aorta

In five patients with acute aortic type I dissection a deep early systolic notch was recorded on the carotid pulse tracing. This peculiar feature of the carotid pulse was quite comparable to the aspect of the continuous wave Doppler ultrasound recorded along the carotid arteries. It can be explained by the temporary interruption of blood flow caused by false lumen in the artery. Therefore the carotid pulse can provide to the clinician a good help to the diagnosis of aortic dissection especially in case of nontypical presentation.

[Iatrogenic internal mammary arteriovenous fistula. Apropos of 2 cases]

Two fairly similar cases of internal mammary arterio-venous fistula were observed in two patients involved in serious road accidents, following which a catheter was inserted into the subclavian vein for the purposes of resuscitation. The clinical diagnosis was made in both cases on routine examination, which revealed a continuous right subclavian bruit with extensive radiation three years after the accident. There were no functional implications. Further investigations revealed a fistula located between the internal mammary artery and the right brachiocephalic venous trunk and demonstrated the haemodynamic consequences: normal intra-cardiac pressures, but a pulmonary blood flow which was twice that of the systemic blood flow. Both cases were treated by means of surgical cure via thoracotomy, which confirmed the nature of the arterio-venous fistula and which defined the relations with the phrenic nerve, which is the most exposed element. The results of this operation were excellent in both cases.

[Septicemia on endocavitary sounds for cardiac stimulation]

Two cases of septicaemia on endocavitary cardiac pacemaker probes lead the authors to discuss the aetiological and therapeutic aspects of this type of infection. In both cases, the pacemaker had been in situ for a long time and had been replaced on several occasions, there was infection in the site of implantation and an attempt at removal of all of the pacemaker material failed, leaving a probe incarcerated in the right ventricle by one of its extremities with the other extremity floating free. The endocarditis associated with this septicaemia can, theoretically, be due to two mechanisms: metastatic implantation of infection form a distant site which must be detected or infection developing in contact with the pacemaker and propagated along the probe. The treatment of this type of septicaemia consists of appropriate antibiotics, which are only rarely sufficient to sterilize the infection. In most cases, all of the pacemaker material must be removed, which is easily achieved in the majority of cases. After cleansing of the site, the pacemaker has been successfully replaced. Sometimes, the probe is buried in the myocardium: surgical removal by cardiotomy, with or without extracorporeal circulation, seems to be preferable to the techniques of continuous traction which carry certain risks (tricuspid and myocardial lesions). Persistent floating probes must be removed surgically.

[Must acute carotid thrombosis be surgically treated? 1962-1973: long-term results]

A study of long-term results (mean follow-up: 10.6 years) in 22 patients operated on for acute carotid thrombosis between 1962 and 1973 is reported. In most instances, surgery was performed at the acute phase of a massive cerebrovascular occlusion, usually more than 8 hours after onset (10 cases). Five of these patients (22%) died in the postoperative period. Eight (35%) recovered without residual disease. In six, the condition improved, while it remained unchanged or worsened in three (14%). There were ten delayed deaths, including two from a recurrent cerebrovascular episode and four from cardiac disease. The actuarial survival curve does not differ from that of patients treated conservatively, with rates being 60% at five years, 36% at ten years and 28% at thirteen years. The quality of certain postoperative results suggests that surgical indications at the acute stage of carotid occlusion be reviewed. The study of thirty series from the literature (1 046 cases) shows a 17% mortality rate, while 50% of patients recover or improve. This mortality is significantly lower in recent statistics, under 10%: this improvement may be ascribable to more rigid surgical indications (delay under 6 hours, operation in variable neurologic deficiencies, early diagnosis by the Doppler procedure, better postoperative management). The authors conclude that surgical management of acute carotid thrombosis should no longer be systematically dismissed.

[Continuous Döppler and aortic dissection. Apropos of 2 cases of protosystolic Döppler velocity wave anomalies in type I aortic dissections]

The diagnosis of dissection of the aorta is based on clinical examination, echocardiography and angiography of the aortic arch. Continuous Döppler ultrasonography may also be useful as a very suggestive abnormality of the wave form can be recorded from the dissected vessels, comprising a deep early mid systolic notch which gives the wave a double hump appearance. This phenomenon, observed in two type I dissections, was recorded from the right subclavian and vertebral arteries in the first case in which the initial components of the systolic wave of the right carotid artery were also amputated. In the second case, the phenomenon was recorded from all vessels arising from the aortic arch. The underlying mechanism could be herniation of the false into the true arterial lumen leading to temporary obstruction of systolic ejection. Another possibility is the successive recording of blood flow first in the true and then in the false lumen. Midsystolic Döppler abnormalities have also been described in aortic regurgitation, hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, atheromatous plaques causing a valve effect; however, the timing, morphology and extension of these abnormalities are quite different. In practice, the finding of this abnormality is an additional argument in favour of the diagnosis of dissection of the aorta. Continuous Döppler ultrasonography is also a good method of assessing the peripheral consequences of the dissection.

[Contribution of Doppler investigations of the deep venous axes to the prevention and diagnosis of thrombo-embolic disease (author's transl)]

The venous disease study by Doppler ultrasound technique provides a precious help to its diagnosis because the dubiousness and limits of clinical examination. The main indications of Doppler ultrasound deep veins examination are: --early diagnosis of thrombophlebitis, venous insufficiency and arterio-venous fistulae. --a non invasive monitoring of medical or surgical treatment of venous pathology and best appreciation of venous return in right heart cardiopathies, respiratory disease and abdominal surgery. --help in central venous catheterization. The sensibility of Doppler ultrasound in venous thrombosis is 86.5% and its specificity 91% in a study of 110 patients with comparison Doppler-venography. These results quite comparable with other studies, indicate a poor sensibility for the diagnosis of distal thrombi or partially occluding clots. In association with other non invasive examination Doppler ultrasound allows a better indication of phlebography in the detection of thrombophlebitis in high risk patients as well as a post operative survey with high sensitivity and good efficiency.

[Compared results of flail chests treatments : standard internal pneumatic stabilization, new technics of assisted ventilation, osteosynthesis (author's transl)]

The analysis of 170 cases of flail chests, divide into three groups according to the type of treatment, proves the efficiency of the new technics of assisted ventilation and of the osteosynthesis by Judet clasps. The most significant advantages of those two complementary methods are a lowered mortality rate and a reduced frequency of refractory hypoxy and infectious complications.

[Venous Doppler ultrasonography. Methods, indications and limits]

The analysis of velocities by the Doppler effect has limited applications in venous pathology. There are, however, many potential advantages: the introduction of deep venous catheters, early diagnosis of venous thrombosis, studies of venous incompetence, right sided cardiopathies, follow-up of medical and surgical treatment (thrombolytics, venous thrombectomy, bypass surgery, vena cava clips). The results in a series of venous thrombosis are reported: the correlation between Doppler and phlebography was 86,5% in 110 investigations. Doppler sensitivity was 86% and specificity 91%. These results are compared to other reports. A 90% correlation was found with isotope venography in 32 cases in which the permeability of vena cava clips was studied. The sensitivity of doppler in the diagnosis of thrombosis of the clip was 75% and its specificity 100%. The main limitations were the lack of sensitivity in the diagnosis of distal thrombosis and incomplete occlusion (floating thrombi). As a complement to occlusive plethysmography and other non-invasive investigations, Doppler ultrasonography helps determine the indications for phlebography. It is useful in detecting high risk patients and is a sensitive, effective non-invasive method of surveillance in the postoperative period.

[Cutaneous manifestation of pheochromocytoma. Report of a case (author's transl)]

A 33 years old woman was investigated for paroxystic hypertension worsened by bêta-adrenergic blocking drugs therapy. Clinical investigation revealed cutaneous abnormalities with erythemato-macular eruption on dorsalis faces of both hands. These lesions were histologically non specific with capillaritis and oedema. angiography revealed a left sided pheochromocytoma. Cutaneous abnormalities disappear after intervention. Pheochromocytoma is rarely associated with cutaneous disease: most papers describe intermittent "flush" phenomenon. Permanent lesions are non fréquent: erythrocyanosis, rash with nodosities or macular lesions, restricted places of necorsis, distal necorsis, hypochromic lesions. The variability of cutaneous disease of pheochromocytoma seems reliable to the biochemical structure of catecholamine secreted by tumor.

[Exploration of major veins by Doppler ultrasonography. Indications and limits (author's transl)]

Doppler ultrasonography is a first-choice, non-invasive, inexpensive and repeatable procedure for exploring major veins and for detecting venous thrombosis, venous insufficiency and arterio-venous fistulae. It also provides invaluable information on post-operative haemodynamics in cases of thrombectomy, venous shunt and vena cava clip, and helps in evaluating the effectiveness of thrombolytic agents. Its sensitivity is satisfactory: in 110 patients with suspected phlebitis, there was an 86,5% agreement between the results of doppler ultrasonography and those of phlebography. False negative results are encountered with distal thromboses and, unfortunately, floating clots (there were 3 cases of undetected iliac vein floating clots in this series). It seems rational to use Doppler ultrasonography in patients with high risk venous diseases. The method will not replace phlebography, but when applied on correct indications, it may substantially reduce the number of negative or unassessable results.

[Hypertensive cardiopathy: study of external tracings and noninvasive tests]

Hypertensive heart disease has been studied by means of the maximal exercise test, mechanographic techniques and echocardiography. The patients have been divided into three groups according to their electrocardiogram and the size of their heart as measured radiologically: I: normal ECG, normal size; II: ECG shows left atrial hypertrophy, heart of normal size; III: ECG shows left ventricular hypertrophy, heart is dilated. The total work on exercise decreases from group I to group III. The parameters of the pumping action (PEP/TEVG, VCF, FE) were identical in all three groups and were normal. The relationship A/H on the apexogram and the left ventricular mass/volume relationship on the echocardiogram increased from group I to group III. One possible interpretation of these findings suggests an alteration in diastolic compliance of the left ventricle in the early stages of hypertensive heart disease. The response to beta-blockers as measured on the echocardiogram also argue in favour of this theory.