Practice differences and knowledge gaps in complex and high-risk interventions between Japan and the USA: A case-based discussion

Advances in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) devices and techniques have expanded the pool of eligible patients for revascularization, including those with comorbidities, reduced left ventricular function, or anatomical complexity (defined as CHIP: complex and high-risk interventions in indicated patients). CHIP interventions are typically performed by selected operators who specialize in complex PCI. This review presents two cases performed in the USA, to discuss the similarities and differences in practice patterns between CHIP operators in Japan and the USA. The first case involves a 58-year-old male presenting with myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock, and the second case involves a 51-year-old female with a history of coronary artery bypass grafting presenting with a chronic total occlusion and PCI complicated by vessel perforation. The discussion focuses on appropriate patient selection, the role of the heart team approach for decision-making, the use of hemodynamic support devices, and other relevant factors. By comparing practices in Japan and the USA, this review highlights opportunities for knowledge exchange and potential areas for improving patient outcomes.

Racial disparities in chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary interventions: insights from the PROGRESS-CTO registry

OBJECTIVES

There is limited data on race and outcomes of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The authors sought to evaluate CTO PCI techniques and outcomes in different racial groups.

METHODS

We examined the baseline characteristics and procedural outcomes of 11 806 CTO PCIs performed at 44 US and non-US centers between 2012 and March 2023. In-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE) included death, myocardial infarction, repeat target-vessel revascularization, pericardiocentesis, cardiac surgery, and stroke prior to discharge.

RESULTS

The most common racial group was White (84.5%), followed by Black (5.7%), "Other" (3.9%), Hispanic (2.9%), Asian (2.4%), and Native American (0.7%). There were significant differences in the baseline characteristics between different racial groups. When compared with non-White patients, the retrograde approach and antegrade dissection re-entry were more likely to be the successful crossing strategies in White patients without any significant differences in technical success (86.4% vs 86.4%; P = .93), procedural success (84.8% vs 85.0%; P = .79), and in-hospital MACE (2.0% vs 1.5%; P = .15) between the 2 groups. The technical success rate was significantly higher in the "Other" racial group (91.0% vs 86.4% in White, 86.9% in Asian, 84.5% in Black, 84.5% in Hispanic, and 83.3% in Native American; P = .03) without any significant differences in procedural success or in-hospital MACE rates between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite differences in baseline characteristics and procedural techniques, the procedural success and in-hospital MACE of CTO PCI were not significantly different between most racial groups.

Clinically significant myocardial bridging

Myocardial bridging is a common anatomical variant in which a major epicardial coronary artery takes an intramyocardial course, leading to dynamic systolic compression. Because coronary perfusion occurs primarily during diastole, most patients with this anatomical variant have no associated perfusion abnormalities or symptoms. Despite this, there is a subset of patients with myocardial bridging who experience ischaemic symptoms. Determining which anatomical variants are benign and which are clinically relevant remains a challenge. Further complicating the picture, functional factors such as diastolic dysfunction and coronary vasospasm may exacerbate myocardial bridging-related ischaemia. In patients with ischaemic symptoms in the absence of alternative explanations, a detailed assessment of myocardial bridging with invasive physiology should be performed to define the significance of the lesion and guide tailored medical therapy. Patients with refractory symptoms despite maximally tolerated medical therapy should be considered for surgical coronary unroofing.

The Retrograde Approach to Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Interventions: Technical Analysis and Procedural Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Retrograde chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with lower success and higher complication rates when compared with the antegrade approach.

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to assess contemporary techniques and outcomes of retrograde CTO PCI.

METHODS

We examined the baseline characteristics, procedural techniques and outcomes of 4,058 retrograde CTO PCIs performed at 44 centers between 2012 and 2023. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) included any of the following in-hospital events: death, myocardial infarction, repeat target vessel revascularization, pericardiocentesis, cardiac surgery, and stroke.

RESULTS

The average J-CTO (Multicenter CTO Registry in Japan) score was 3.1 ± 1.1. Retrograde crossing was successful in 60.5% and lesion crossing in 81.6% of cases. The collaterals pathways successfully used were septals in 62.0%, saphenous vein grafts in 17.4%, and epicardials in 19.1%. The technical and procedural success rates were 78.7% and 76.6%, respectively. When retrograde crossing failed, technical success was achieved in 50.3% of cases using the antegrade approach. In-hospital MACE was 3.5%. The clinical coronary perforation rate was 5.8%. The incidence of in-hospital MACE with retrograde true lumen crossing, just marker antegrade crossing, conventional reverse controlled antegrade and retrograde tracking (CART), contemporary reverse CART, extended reverse CART, guide-extension reverse CART, and CART was 2.1%, 0.8%, 5.5%, 3.0%, 2.1%, 3.2%, and 4.1%, respectively; P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Retrograde CTO PCI is utilized in highly complex cases and yields moderate success rates with 5.8% perforation and 3.5% periprocedural MACE rates. Among retrograde crossing strategies, retrograde true lumen puncture was the safest. There is need for improvement of the efficacy and safety of retrograde CTO PCI.

Impact of calcium on the procedural techniques and outcomes of chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention

BACKGROUND

Coronary calcification is common and increases the difficulty of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODS

We examined the impact of calcium on procedural outcomes of 13,079 CTO PCIs performed in 12,799 patients at 46 US and non-US centers between 2012 and 2023.

RESULTS

Moderate or severe calcification was present in 46.6% of CTO lesions. Patients whose lesions were calcified were older and more likely to have had prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Calcified lesions were more complex with higher J-CTO score (3.0 ± 1.1 vs. 1.9 ± 1.2; p < 0.001) and lower technical (83.0% vs. 89.9%; p < 0.001) and procedural (81.0% vs. 89.1%; p < 0.001) success rates compared with mildly calcified or non-calcified CTO lesions. The retrograde approach was more commonly used among cases with moderate/severe calcification (40.3% vs. 23.5%; p < 0.001). Balloon angioplasty (76.6%) was the most common lesion preparation technique for calcified lesions, followed by rotational atherectomy (7.3%), laser atherectomy (3.4%) and, intravascular lithotripsy (3.4%). The incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) was higher in cases with moderate or severe calcification (3.0% vs. 1.2%; p < 0.001), as was the incidence of perforation (6.5% vs. 3.4%; p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, the presence of moderate/severe calcification was independently associated with lower technical success (odds ratio, OR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.63-0.84) and higher MACE (OR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.66-3.27).

CONCLUSIONS

Moderate/severe calcification was present in nearly half of CTO lesions, and was associated with higher utilization of the retrograde approach, lower technical and procedural success rates, and higher incidence of in-hospital MACE.

Chronic Total Occlusion Interventions in Patients with Reduced Ejection Fraction

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW

The goal of this paper is to review the current evidence surrounding CTO PCI in patients with low EF, the most high-risk population to treat. We also present pertinent case examples and offer practical tips to increase success and lower complications when performing CTO PCI in patients with low EF.

RECENT FINDINGS

In a prospective randomized control study, greater improvement in angina frequency and quality of life, assessed by the Seattle Angina Questionnaire, was achieved by CTO PCI compared to optimal medical therapy. Furthermore, after successful CTO PCI, improvements in health status were similar in patients with both low and normal EF. CTO PCI can not only ameliorate symptoms of angina in patients with low EF but may also potentially improve EF in carefully selected populations. However, information regarding treatment of this high-risk population is lacking and large-scale studies targeting patients with severely reduced EF remain necessary.

Impact of left heart disease risk factors on risk stratification and treatment response in pulmonary arterial hypertension

Background

Contemporary registries have documented a change in the epidemiology of PAH patients displaying increasing co-morbidities associated with left heart disease (LHD). These patients are often excluded from randomized clinical trials. It is unclear whether the presence of LHD comorbidities may adversely impact the accuracy of risk stratification and response to PAH therapy.

Method

Data was extracted from the Pulmonary Hypertension Society of Australia and New Zealand registry for incident patients with a diagnosis with idiopathic/heritable/toxin-induced (I/H/D)-PAH and connective tissue disease (CTD) associated PAH from 2011 - 2020. Patients without available medication and follow up data were excluded. We used the AMBITION trial exclusion criteria to define the subpopulation with LHD risk factors and haemodynamic phenotype (PAH-rLHD).

Results

489 patients (I/H/D-PAH=251, CTD-PAH=238) were included in our analysis, with 103 (21.0%) fulfilling the definition of PAH-rLHD (34 had ≥3 risk factors for left heart disease (rLHD-hypertension, diabetes, obesity or ischaemic heart disease) and 76 had borderline haemodynamics (mean capillary wedge pressure 13–15 with pulmonary vascular resistance &lt;500 dynes sec/cm5) including 7 who met both criteria). Compared to classical PAH, patients with PAH-rLHD were older at diagnosis (66±13 vs 58±19, p&lt;0.001), had lower pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR: 393±266 vs 708±391, p=0.031) but worse exercise capacity (6MWD: 286±130m vs 327±136m, p=0.005). PAH-rLHD were more likely to be started on initial monotherapy, compared with “classical” PAH (73% vs 56%, p=0.002). In the monotherapy groups, endothelin receptor antagonists (ERA) were used in 73% PAH-rLHD, compared with 66% in classical PAH group. Both groups exhibited similar response to both mono- and combination therapy with commensurate improvements in WHO functional class (mean change 0.3±0.6 vs 0.3±0.8, p=0.443) and 6-minute walk distance (mean change 44±82 vs 48±101, p=0.723). There was no difference in survival between classical PAH and PAH-rLHD (log rank, p=0.29). The REVEAL 2.0 risk score effectively discriminated risk in both populations at baseline and first follow up (classical PAH: baseline C statistic 0.750, follow up 0.774 and PAH-rLHD: baseline C statistic 0.756, follow up 0.791).

Conclusion

Despite lower PVR at diagnosis, PAH-rLHD patients and “classical” PAH demonstrate similar response to first-line therapy with similar long term survival. The REVEAL 2.0 risk score can be effectively applied to the subpopulation of PAH-rLHD in real life clinical practice.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Safety and efficacy of dedicated guidewire, microcatheter, and guide catheter extension technologies for chronic total coronary occlusion revascularization: Primary results of the Teleflex Chronic Total Occlusion Study

BACKGROUND

Description of procedural outcomes using contemporary techniques that apply specialized coronary guidewires, microcatheters, and guide catheter extensions designed for chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous revascularization is limited.

METHODS

A prospective, multicenter, single-arm study was conducted to evaluate procedural and in-hospital outcomes among 150 patients undergoing attempted CTO revascularization utilizing specialized guidewires, microcatheters and guide extensions. The primary endpoint was defined as successful guidewire recanalization and absence of in-hospital cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), or repeat target lesion revascularization (major adverse cardiac events, MACE).

RESULTS

The prevalence of diabetes was 32.7%; prior MI, 48.0%; and previous bypass surgery, 32.7%. Average (mean ± standard deviation) CTO length was 46.9 ± 20.5 mm, and mean J-CTO score was 1.9 ± 0.9. Combined radial and femoral arterial access was performed in 50.0% of cases. Device utilization included: support microcatheter, 100%; guide catheter extension, 64.0%; and mean number of study guidewires/procedure was 4.8 ± 2.6. Overall, procedural success was achieved in 75.3% of patients. The rate of successful guidewire recanalization was 94.7%, and in-hospital MACE was 19.3%. Achievement of TIMI grade 2 or 3 flow was observed in 93.3% of patients. Crossing strategies included antegrade (54.0%), retrograde (1.3%) and combined antegrade/retrograde techniques (44.7%). Clinically significant perforation resulting in hemodynamic instability and/or requiring intervention occurred in 16 (10.7%) patients.

CONCLUSIONS

In a multicenter, prospective registration study, favorable procedural success was achieved despite high lesion complexity using antegrade and retrograde guidewire maneuvers and with acceptable safety, yet with comparably higher risk than conventional non-CTO PCI.

Impact of diabetes mellitus on outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention in chronic total occlusions: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have a high prevalence of coronary chronic total occlusions (CTOs). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to characterize outcomes after CTO percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients without or with DM.

METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Google Scholar were queried for studies comparing non-DM vs. DM patients undergoing attempted CTO PCI. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality at longest follow-up (at least 6 months). Secondary outcomes were major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) which is a composite endpoint including myocardial infarction, cardiac or all-cause mortality and any revascularization in patients after CTO PCI, target vessel revascularization (TVR), myocardial infarction (MI), Japanese chronic total occlusion (J-CTO) score and prevalence of multivessel (MV) CTO disease. We used a random effects model to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

Sixteen studies, including 2 randomized control trials and 14 observational studies, met inclusion criteria. At longest follow-up, all-cause mortality (OR 0.54 [95% CI 0.37-0.80], p < 0.0001) and MACE (OR 0.82 [95% CI 0.72-0.93], p < 0.00001) were significantly lower in non-DM CTO patients. MV CTO disease was less prevalent in patients without DM (OR 0.80 [95% CI 0.69-0.93], p = 0.004). However, there were no differences in MI, TVR and J-CTO score.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-diabetics undergoing CTO PCI have lower all-cause mortality and MACE than diabetics. Future research may determine if DM control improves diabetics' CTO PCI outcomes.

Pre-operative pulmonary artery pulsatility index does not predict mortality post cardiac transplantation but PVR is a prognostic tool in LVAD-bridged patients

 

The Pulmonary artery pulsatility index (PAPi) is a novel haemodynamic marker that has been shown to be a strong predictor of right heart failure and mortality in patients with pulmonary hypertension and advanced heart failure. Its utility in predicting post transplant outcomes is currently unknown.

Aim

To determine the prognostic significance of pre-transplant haemodynamic assessment of PAPi, right atrial pressure (RA), and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) in predicting mortality post cardiac transplant.

Methods

All patients who underwent cardiac transplantation between January 2010 and June 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Pre-operative right heart catheter data was obtained. The PAPi was calculated as the systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP)- diastolic pulmonary artery pressure (dPAP) divided by RA. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS v25.

Results

A total of 158 patients, with a mean age of 48.6±13.5 were studied (115 non- LVAD, 43 LVAD pre-transplant), and 3 patients were excluded due to missing data. There was no significant difference in the non-LVAD group in RA, PVR or PAPi for mortality post transplant. In the LVAD group there was no significant difference in RA, or PAPi with regards to mortality, however there was a significant difference in mean PVR between those that died post transplant (222±100) and those still alive (138±59)

Conclusion

Despite having a role in prognostication for right heart failure in pulmonary hypertension and post LVAD implantation, PAPi did not discriminate mortality outcomes for patients post cardiac transplantation. PVR remains a marker of mortality in an LVAD cohort bridged to transplant.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

P4698Survival outcomes in patients with Eisenmenger syndrome after heart-lung or bilateral sequential lung transplantation

Background

Eisenmenger syndrome (ES) is defined as pulmonary hypertension secondary to a right to left intracardiac shunt, commonly an atrial septal defect (ASD) or ventricular septal defect (VSD). Heart-lung (HLTx) or bilateral sequential lung transplantation (BSLT) are both treatment options for some candidates. The choice between these two procedures has varied historically and according to transplant centre preference and donor availability. We completed a retrospective study to determine if BSLT with cardiac repair was associated with better outcomes compared to HLTx.

Aim

This study compared post-transplant survival in patients with ES undergoing HLTx or BSLT.

Method

Using the International Society Heart and Lung Transplantation Registry data, we identified all patients with ES between October 1, 1987 and March 31, 2018.

Results

A total of 177 patients underwent HLTx for ES ASD and 101 who underwent BSLT with cardiac repair. Median follow up was 890 days (range 0–9888 days) for the entire post-transplant cohort. 126 HLTx and 66 BSLT patients died in the follow up period.

A total of 173 ES VSD patients underwent HLTx in the database, and 52 underwent BSLT with cardiac repair. Median follow up was 460 days (range 0–8406 days) for the entire post-transplant cohort. 116 HLTx and 36 BSLT patients died during the follow up period.

Figure 1 demonstratres the comparative Kaplan-Meier survival curves following BSLT or HLTx for Eisenmenger's ASD and VSD patients. No statistically significant difference in Eisenmenger survival between combined heart-lung transplantation or bilateral sequential lung transplantation group (ASD log rank test p value = 0.99, VSD log rank test p value = 0.1 performed for the first 6 year).

Figure 1

Conclusions

Our analysis determined that patients with ES and either VSD or ASD had similar long-term survival comparing HLTx with BSLT and cardiac repair.

4974Waitlist outcomes for Eisenmengers patients listed for bilateral sequential lung transplant or heart-lung transplant

Background

Eisenmenger's syndrome (ES) is the end-stage of a longstanding intracardiac shunt, commonly an atrial septal defect (ASD) or ventricular septal defect (VSD). Transplantation is the final option to address the pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure that results. Both combined heart-lung (HLTx) and bilateral sequential lung transplantation (BSLT) have been performed for ES. Overall, BSLT are performed more commonly than HLTx because of donor organ availability. We postulated that ES patients would have higher waitlist mortality and longer time to transplant compared to patients listed for other indications, and BSLT patients would have reduced waitlist mortality and reduced time to transplant compared to HLTx based on availability.

Aim

This study compared waitlist outcomes between ES ASD, ES VSD and all patients listed for BSLT or HLTx.

Methods

We analysed the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network (OPTN) database for all patients listed for BSLT or HLTx between October 1, 1987 and March 31, 2018. Mood's median test was used for all tests of significance.

Results

Table 1 summarises the results of the analysis. A total of 56,698 patients were on the waitlist for BSLT for all aetiologies, which included 176 ES ASD patients and 156 ES VSD patients. A total of 3231 patients were on the waitlist for HLTx for all aetiologies, which included 89 ES ASD and 176 ES VSD patients. Median time to transplant was significantly longer for all ES patients on the waitlist for BSLT or HLTx compare to patients listed for other indications. Comparing time to transplant for BSLT to HLTx for either ES ASD or VSD did not reach statistical significance. Waitlist mortality was substantially higher for all ES patients regardless whether they were listed for BSLT or HLTx compared to patients listed for other indications.

Table 1 ES ASD ES VSD All patients BSLT HLTx BSLT HLTx BSLT HLTx Total number of patients listed 176 89 156 176 56698 3231 Transplanted 58 (33.0%) 38 (42.7%) 41 (25.8%) 78 (44.3%) 36441 (64.3%) 1229 (38.0%) Median time to transplant in days 330 (24 to 2723)* 431 (11 to 4527)$ 517 (10 to 2345)# 292 (16 to 2399)& 99 (0 to 6592) 174 (0 to 3606) p=0.54 p=0.08 *p≤0.001, #p=≤0.0001 $p=0.000, &p=0.003 Wait list mortality 27 (15.3%) 25 (28.1%) 23 (14.5%) 46 (26.1%) 2366 (4.2%) 371 (11.5%)

Conclusion

Our analysis identified longer waitlist time and higher mortality for all ES patients listed for BSLT or HLTx in the United States. These findings indicate current listing methods and prognostication place the ES population at disadvantage for thoracic transplantation.

Initial report of safety and procedure duration of robotic-assisted chronic total occlusion coronary intervention

BACKGROUND

No previous reports have examined the impact of robotic-assisted (RA) chronic total occlusion (CTO) PCI on procedural duration or safety compared to totally manual CTO PCI.

METHODS

Among 95 patients who underwent successful PCI of a single CTO lesion at two centers, 49 (52%) were performed RA and were performed 46 (48%) totally manually. Cockpit time was the time the primary operator entered to robotic cockpit until the procedure was complete. "Theoretical" cockpit time in the control group was time the primary operator would have entered the cockpit after lesion crossing until the procedure was complete. Major adverse events (MAEs) were the composite of death, myocardial infarction, clinical perforation, significant vessel dissection, arrhythmia, acute thrombosis, and stroke.

RESULTS

The lesion characteristics, procedural time, and contrast dose were similar. All procedures except for one (2%) selected for robotic completion after lesion crossing were completed successfully. The frequency of MAE was similar between groups and there were no in-hospital deaths. The cockpit time was 8 min longer in RA CTO PCI than the theoretical cockpit time in totally manual CTO PCI (40.6 ± 12.7 vs. 32.1 ± 17.8, p < .01).

CONCLUSION

RA CTO PCI was not associated with excess adverse events compared with totally manual CTO PCI and resulted in an average 41 min cockpit time equaling to 48% of procedure time without radiation exposure or requirement for the primary operator to wear a lead apron. Understanding the relationship between cockpit time and reductions in radiation exposure and lead apron-related orthopedic complications for operators requires future study.

Early Transcatheter Aortic Valve Function With and Without Therapeutic Anticoagulation

OBJECTIVES

Prosthetic leaflet thrombosis is a growing concern in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Given the uncertainty of best practices for antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapies in the post-TAVR period, additional evidence regarding the impact of anticoagulation on prosthetic valve function after TAVR is needed.

METHODS

Patients undergoing native-valve TAVR at a single academic institution between 2012 and 2015 were analyzed based on any anticoagulant use at hospital discharge post TAVR. Changes in prosthetic valve peak velocity and mean gradient were assessed based on transthoracic echocardiograms performed immediately following valve implant and at 4-week follow-up. Multivariate regression analyses were performed to explore the impact of anticoagulation status on early TAVR valve performance.

RESULTS

For 403 patients, there were no available data to analyze. Of those, 29.6% were discharged on anticoagulation. Following TAVR, the average mean prosthetic valve gradient was 11.8 ± 5.6 mm Hg and peak velocity was 2.33 ± 0.52 m/s. There were no significant differences between anticoagulated and non-anticoagulated groups in the mean or peak gradients or velocity immediately following implant or at 4 weeks, which remained true following multivariate adjustment (P=.80 for delta mean gradient; P=.91 for delta peak velocity).

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that the absence of anticoagulation is not associated with short-term degradation in TAVR performance and do not support the routine use of anticoagulation following native-valve TAVR.