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Sr. Editor: El implante percutáneo de válvula aórtica (TAVI, transcatheter aortic valve implantation) es una opción terapéutica habitual en pacientes con estenosis aórtica grave degenerativa. En nuestro medio, tras una TAVI es necesario implantar un marcapasos definitivo en el 14% de los casos1, lo que constituye una causa añadida de morbilidad y aumento del tiempo de estancia hospitalaria, y en los pacientes añosos estos dos aspectos pueden cobrar especial importancia. El marcapasos sin cables Micra (Medtronic, Estados Unidos) es una alternativa reciente a los clásicos marcapasos endocavitarios. La ausencia de electrodo y de bolsa subcutánea para alojar el generador y el implante mediante acceso venoso femoral podrían reducir algunas complicaciones de los marcapasos convencionales (en especial el neumotórax, el hematoma y la infección de la bolsa, y todas las derivadas del propio electrodo). Inicialmente solo estuvo disponible para estimulación en modo VVI, pero en fechas recientes se ha introducido el nuevo dispositivo Micra AV (Medtronic, Estados Unidos) que permite mantener la sincronía auriculoventricular en los pacientes en ritmo sinusal mediante la detección de la contracción mecánica auricular y la estimulación ventricular subsiguiente. Tras más de 120 implantes de Micra, y con una experiencia inicial favorable después de la realización de TAVI2, pudiendo...

To the Editor, Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a common therapeutic option in patients with degenerative severe aortic stenosis. In our setting, the need for definitive pacemaker implantation after TAVI is around 14%,1 which is an additional cause for morbidity and longer length of stay. In elderly patients both aspects can be especially relevant. Micra leadless pacemaker (Medtronic, United States) is a recent alternative to traditional endocavitary pacemakers. The lack of electrodes or need for subcutaneous bag to carry the generator added to femoral venous access implantation reduce some of the complications associated with conventional pacemakers (especially pneumothorax, hematoma, bag and electrode-related infections). Although initially available for VVI pacing mode only, the new Micra AV (Medtronic, United States) has appeared recently. It maintains atrioventricular synchrony in patients in sinus rhythm by detecting atrial mechanical contraction and the corresponding ventricular pacing. After over 120 Micra implantations including an early favorable experience after TAVI,2 and widening the indication to patients in sinus rhythm too, we thought of the possibility of implanting both devices at the same procedure. In this work we present the very first series of patients who, after TAVI, were implanted with the Micra leadless pacemaker as permanent pacing therapy at...

BackgroundCoronary revascularization in patients with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is challenging. Indications and results of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in SCAD patients are not well established.AimTo assess indications and results of PCI in SCAD.MethodsThe minimum basic data set of the Spanish National Health System (years 2016−2019) was used to identify 804 episodes of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and SCAD, with a crude in-hospital mortality rate of 3%. Of these, 368 (46.8%) patients were revascularized with PCI during admission whereas 436 (54.2%) were managed conservatively.ResultsRevascularization and in-hospital mortality rates both declined over the study period (p for trend both < 0.05). SCAD patients treated with PCI were older, more frequently male, and had higher frequency of diabetes, ST-segment elevation AMI and cardiogenic shock, compared to patients managed conservatively. The crude in-hospital mortality rate was higher in patients treated with PCI (4.9% vs. 1.4%; p = 0.004). However, after adjusting by propensity score (223 pairs) the in-hospital mortality rate was similar in the two groups (Adj OR: 1.21; 95%CI: 0.30−1.57; p = 0.76). Readmissions at 30-days were higher in patients managed conservatively (7.1 vs. 1.6%, p < 0.001) and this difference was maintained after propensity score adjustment (Adj average treatment effect: 2% vs. 12.2%; OR: 0.15; 95%CI: 0.04−0.45; p < 0.001).ConclusionRevascularization is frequently used in unselected patients with AMI and SCAD but its use is declining. Patients with SCAD treated with PCI have a higher in-hospital mortality but this appears to be explained by their adverse baseline clinical characteristics.

To the Editor, The use of circulatory support has grown exponentially over the last decade, particularly for the management of cardiogenic shock in the setting of acute myocardial infarction.1,2 The devices more often used like the Impella CP (Abiomed, United States) show good results in observational studies. These studies describe an improved survival rate when these devices are used as part of a well-defined program to treat cardiogenic shock.3-5 However, this is not a risk-free therapy, and device displacement is a complication that can occur while the patient is being moved or transferred. Although rare, this complication can be deadly if not solved immediately because there is a loss of hemodynamic support. In these cases, the device needs to be retrieved due to the impossibility of crossing the aortic valve to proceed with a new implant.

Sr. Editor: El uso del soporte circulatorio se ha incrementado exponencialmente en la última década, en especial en el contexto del infarto agudo de miocardio en shock cardiogénico1,2. Entre los dispositivos habituales destaca el Impella CP (Abiomed, EE.UU.), con buenos resultados en los estudios observacionales, en los que se describe una mejoría en la supervivencia cuando se utiliza dentro de un programa bien definido de atención al shock cardiogénico3-5. Sin embargo, esta terapia no está exenta de riesgos, y el desplazamiento del dispositivo es una complicación que puede ocurrir durante las movilizaciones del paciente. Aunque infrecuente, dicha complicación puede llevar a la muerte si no se actúa con rapidez, pues supone la pérdida del soporte hemodinámico. En estos casos, habitualmente es necesario retirar el dispositivo por imposibilidad de cruzar la válvula aórtica y luego realizar un nuevo implante.

RESUMEN Introducción y objetivos: La disección coronaria espontánea (DCE) constituye una causa infrecuente, pero cada vez más reconocida, de síndrome coronario agudo. La actitud diagnóstico-terapéutica idónea sigue sin esclarecerse. Métodos: Análisis del seguimiento prospectivo y centralizado de una serie de pacientes consecutivos diagnosticados de DCE desde enero de 2010 hasta diciembre de 2018. Se definió evento cardiovascular adverso mayor como la aparición de muerte de cualquier causa, reinfarto no mortal, revascularización no planificada, arritmia ventricular, insuficiencia cardiaca o ictus. Resultados: Se incluyó a 33 pacientes con DCE (41 lesiones). En el 42% se realizó un estudio con imagen intracoronaria para confirmar el diagnóstico, sin identificar trombo en la luz verdadera en ninguno de ellos. En la mayoría de los casos (82%) se eligió un tratamiento médico conservador. Ningún paciente falleció durante el ingreso, pero el 15% presentó algún evento mayor. En el momento agudo se realizó tomografía computarizada coronaria al 58% de los pacientes y se identificó la DCE en el 79% de los casos. La mayoría de los pacientes con tratamiento conservador recibieron antiagregación simple un tiempo limitado (17 meses [9-35]). Con una mediana de seguimiento de 33 meses [13-49], el 82% no sufrió ningún evento adverso. Al 48% se les realizó control angiográfico a los 6 meses, que mostró resolución en el 86% de los casos. El cribado de anomalías vasculares extracoronarias se realizó en el 97% de los pacientes y se hallaron alteraciones en el 59%, incluyendo 3 pacientes con aneurisma intracraneal. Conclusiones: En esta serie, con una amplia utilización de imagen intracoronaria, no se ha identificado trombo en la luz verdadera en ningún caso de DCE. En los pacientes tratados de forma conservadora, la monoterapia antiagregante es segura y se asocia a buenos resultados clínicos. La tomografía computarizada coronaria durante el ingreso es útil en el seguimiento. El cribado sistemático de anomalías vasculares extracoronarias revela una alta prevalencia de alteraciones.

ABSTRACT Introduction and objectives: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare but increasingly recognized cause for acute coronary syndrome. The optimal management and treatment of SCAD is still unknown. Methods: Data analysis of a prospective protocol including centralized care management of a consecutive series of patients with SCAD diagnosed between January 2010 and December 2018. Major adverse cardiovascular events included all-cause mortality, new myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, ventricular arrhythmia, heart failure or stroke. Results: A total of 33 consecutive patients were included (41 lesions). Intravascular imaging modalities were used to confirm the diagnosis in 42% patients. None of the patient showed images of thrombus formation in the true lumen. Conservative treatment was the initial approach in most of the cases (82%). No deaths were reported during the index admission, but 15% experienced major adverse cardiovascular events. The coronary computed tomography angiography performed in 58% of patients during the admission identified SCADs in 79% of the patients. Most of the patients managed with conservative treatment received only 1 antiplatelet agent for a limited period of time (17 months [9-35]). During a median clinical follow-up of 33 months [13-49], 82% of patients did not have any adverse events. The angiographic surveillance obtained in 48% of patients at the 6-month follow-up confirmed the complete healing of the SCAD image in 86% of the patients. The screening for extracoronary vascular findings (97% of patients) resulted in a high prevalence of abnormalities (59%). Conclusions: The unrestricted use of intravascular imaging modalities showed no thrombus in the true lumen of patients with SCAD. In patients managed with conservative treatment, a limited course of antiplatelet monotherapy is safe and provides good clinical outcomes. Performing a coronary computed tomography angiography in the acute phase of SCAD is useful at the follow-up. The screening for extracoronary vascular findings confirmed a high prevalence of abnormalities.

Background: Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) is an important cause of acute coronary syndromes, particularly in young to middle-aged women. Differentiating acute SCAD from coronary atherothrombosis remains a major clinical challenge. Methods: A case-control study was used to explore the usefulness of circulating miRNAs to discriminate both clinical entities. The profile of miRNAs was evaluated using an unbiased human RT-PCR platform and confirmed using individual primers. miRNAs were evaluated in plasma samples from acute SCAD and atherothrombotic acute myocardial infarction (AT-AMI) from two independent cohorts; discovery cohort (SCAD n = 15, AT-AMI n = 15), and validation cohort (SCAD n = 11, AT-AMI n = 41) with 9 healthy control subjects. Plasma levels of IL-8, TGFB1, TGBR1, Endothelin-1 and MMP2 were analysed by ELISA assays. Findings: From 15 differentially expressed miRNAs detected in cohort 1, we confirmed in cohort 2 the differential expression of 4 miRNAs: miR-let-7f-5p, miR-146a-5p, miR-151a-3p and miR-223-5p, whose expression was higher in SCAD compared to AT-AMI. The combined expression of these 4 miRNAs showed the best predictive value to distinguish between both entities (AUC: 0.879, 95% CI 0.72–1.0) compared to individual miRNAs. Functional profiling of target genes identified an association with blood vessel biology, TGF-beta pathway and cytoskeletal traction force. ELISA assays showed high plasma levels of IL-8, TGFB1, TGFBR1, Endothelin-1 and MMP2 in SCAD patients compared to AT-AMI. Interpretation: We present a novel signature of plasma miRNAs in patients with SCAD. miR-let-7f-5p, miR-146a-5p, miR-151a-3p and miR-223-5p discriminate SCAD from AT-AMI patients and also shed light on the pathological mechanisms underlying this condition. Funding: Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO): Plan Nacional de Salud SAF2017-82886-R, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV). Fundación BBVA a equipos de Investigación Científica 2018 and from Caixa Banking Foundation under the project code HR17-00016 to F.S.M. Instituto de Salud Carlos III (AES 2019): PI19/00565 to F.R, PI19/00545 to P.M. CAM (S2017/BMD-3671-INFLAMUNE-CM) from Comunidad de Madrid to FSM and PM. The UK SCAD study was supported by BeatSCAD, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) PG/13/96/30608 the NIHR rare disease translational collaboration and the Leicester NIHR Biomedical Research Centre.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a relatively infrequent cause of acute coronary syndrome that usually affects young to middle-aged women. Mainly because of its low prevalence, until recently, most of the evidence on this condition was derived from case reports and small series. Over the last 5 years, more robust evidence has become available from larger retrospective and prospective cohorts of patients with SCAD. The increase in knowledge and recognition of this entity has led to the publication of expert consensus on both sides of the Atlantic. However, new data are continuously accumulating from larger cohorts of patients with SCAD, bringing new light to this little-understood condition. The aim of this article is to update the knowledge on SCAD, including new information from recent studies published since the consensus documents from the European Society of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.

Mujer de 41 años que se presenta con un infarto de miocardio con elevación del segmento ST inferolateral. La coronariografía confirmó la presencia de una lesión larga en una rama posterolateral de la coronaria derecha (figura 1A, flechas blancas). El operador optó por realizar una tomografía de coherencia óptica (OCT) para confirmar la sospecha de disección coronaria espontánea. Como era difícil avanzar el catéter de la OCT, debido a la falta de soporte, se optó por interrogar únicamente el aspecto más proximal de esta rama (figura 1B, flecha). La OCT reveló la presencia de un hematoma intramural sin rotura intimal como puerta de entrada (figura 1C; los asteriscos señalan el artefacto de la guía). En ese momento, la paciente se quejó nuevamente de dolor torácico que se mantuvo hasta la retirada del catéter de la OTC. Se confirmó la presencia de oclusión funcional de la rama estudiada (figura 1D, asterisco) con flujo grado TIMI 1 (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction). Se reestableció el flujo coronario mediante dilatación cuidadosa (balón de 1,5 mm de diámetro a 4 atmósferas). Finalmente se alcanzó un flujo TIMI 2 (figura 1E, asteriscos) con desaparición de los síntomas. La evolución clínica posterior cursó sin eventos. La angiografía coronaria que se realizó 3 meses después confirmó la reparación total del vaso con curación de todo el segmento que inicialmente mostraba la disección (figura 1F, flechas).

A 41-year-old woman presented with an inferolateral ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography confirmed the presence of a long narrowing involving the right coronary artery posterolateral branch (figure 1A, white arrows). Spontaneous coronary artery dissection was suspected and optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging was considered by the operator for confirmation purposes. Advancing the OCT catheter was difficult due to lack of support and it was decided to only interrogate the proximal aspect of the branch (figure 1B, arrow). OCT revealed the presence of an intramural hematoma without entry tear (figure 1C; asterisks denote wire artefact). At that moment the patient complained of chest pain that remained after removing the OCT catheter. The presence of functional branch occlusion (figure 1D, asterisk), with Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) grade 1 flow, was confirmed. Coronary flow was re-established through gentle dilation (4 atm) using a 1.5 mm balloon. Final TIMI grade 2 flow was achieved (figure 1E, asterisks) and the patient became asymptomatic. Her subsequent clinical course was uneventful. Coronary angiography performed 3 months later confirmed the complete healing of the dissected segment (figure 1F, arrows).

Abstract We describe the treatment of a patient presenting with very-late stent thrombosis with the use of a drug-coated balloon. In this patient, optical coherence tomography disclosed that ruptured and complicated neoatherosclerosis was the underlying substrate responsible for the episode of very-late stent thrombosis. The potential use of drug-coated balloons in this unique scenario is discussed.

BackgroundFindings from recent studies show that microvascular injury consists of microvascular destruction and intramyocardial hemorrhage (IMH). Patients with ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with IMH show poorer prognoses than patients without IMH. Knowledge on predictors for the occurrence of IMH after STEMI is lacking. The current study aimed to investigate the prevalence and extent of IMH in patients with STEMI and its relation with periprocedural and clinical variables. Methods and ResultsA multicenter observational cohort study was performed in patients with successfully reperfused STEMI with cardiovascular magnetic resonance examination 5.5±1.8 days after percutaneous coronary intervention. Microvascular injury was visualized using late gadolinium enhancement and T2‐weighted cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging for microvascular obstruction and IMH, respectively. The median was used as the cutoff value to divide the study population with presence of IMH into mild or extensive IMH. Clinical and periprocedural parameters were studied in relation to occurrence of IMH and extensive IMH, respectively. Of the 410 patients, 54% had IMH. The presence of IMH was independently associated with anterior infarction (odds ratio, 2.96; 95% CI, 1.73–5.06 [P

Coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) formation is a rare complication of coronary intervention that may develop after implantation of bare-metal or drug-eluting stents. The etiology of this entity appears to be multifactorial and its prognosis is poorly understood, but it has been associated with an increased risk of stent thrombosis. To date few cases of CAAs related to bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) implantation have been reported, and the development of CAA after BVS implantation for the treatment of in-stent restenosis (ISR) has not been previously described. Here we present two cases of CAA formation after BVS, which represent the first demonstration of CAA formation after the use of BVS for ISR. Resumo: A formação de um aneurisma coronário (CAN) é uma complicação rara após intervenções coronárias. O CAN pode se desenvolver após stent convencional (BMS) e implante de stent farmacológico (DES). A etiologia desta patologia parece ser multifatorial e o prognóstico permanece mal elucidado, mas tem sido associado com um aumento do risco de trombose de stent. Até à data, apenas alguns casos de CAN relacionadas com scaffold bioabsorvível (BVS) foram relatados. O desenvolvimento de CAN após o implante de um BVS para o tratamento da reestenose intra-stent (ISR) não foi anteriormente descrito. Aqui apresentamos dois casos de formação CAN após a BVS, que representam a primeira demonstração de formação CAN após o uso da BVS para ISR. Keywords: Optical coherence tomography, Bioresorbable vascular scaffolds, In-stent restenosis, Coronary artery aneurysm, Palavras-chave: Tomografia de coerência ótica, Suportes vasculares biorreabsorbíveis, Reestenose intra-stent, Aneurisma coronário

Very late stent thrombosis is a rare but devastating complication after percutaneous coronary revascularization. Pathological studies have demonstrated that neoatherosclerosis plays a major role in certain patients with very late stent thrombosis. Optical coherence tomography is able to unravel the underlying pathophysiology and may be used to select the best treatment option. This case report describes the use of a bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) in a patient suffering from very late stent thrombosis due to a complicated plaque in the setting of intrastent neoatherosclerosis. To our knowledge, this therapeutic strategy has not been previously reported in patients suffering from very late stent thrombosis. In this scenario, BVS implantation might represent an attractive strategy in selected patients. Resumo: A trombose de stent muito tardia é uma complicação rara mas preocupante após a revascularização coronária percutânea. Estudos patológicos têm demonstrado que a neoaterosclerose desempenha um papel importante em doentes selecionados com trombose de stent muito tardia. A tomografia de coerência ótica contribui para a compreensão da fisiopatologia subjacente, permitindo selecionar a melhor opção de tratamento. No presente caso descrevemos a utilização de um stent vascular bioabsorvível num doente que apresentava trombose de stent muito tardia devido a placa complexa no contexto de neoaterosclerose intrastent. De acordo com a nossa experiência, esta estratégia terapêutica não tem sido apresentada em doentes com trombose de stent muito avançada. Neste cenário, a implantação de suportes vasculares bioabsorbíveis pode representar uma estratégia atrativa em doentes selecionados. Keywords: Optical coherence tomography, Bioresorbable vascular scaffolds, Stent thrombosis, Neoatherosclerosis, Palavras-chave: Tomografia de coerência ótica, Suportes vasculares biorreabsorbíveis, Trombose de stent, Neoateroasclerose

A 49-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department suffering from a large anterior myocardial infarction that was treated by rescue PCI. The patient also had a moderate but complex lesion in the proximal segment of the right coronary artery. Optical coherence tomography showed striking images of a ruptured and ulcerated plaque with significant thrombus content. Although the lumen was not compromised, these unique findings prompted us to treat this non-culprit lesion. We selected a bioresorbable vascular scaffold with the aim of sealing and passivating this complicated and high-risk plaque. Resumo: Homem de 49 anos, admitido no serviço de urgência, que padecia de enfarte do miocárdio anterior extenso e que tinha sido tratado com intervenção coronária percutânea (ICP) de recurso. O doente também apresentou lesão moderada mas complexa no segmento mais próximo da coronária direita. A tomografia de coerência óptica revelou imagens impressionantes de uma placa com rotura e ulcerada com trombos significativos. Embora o lúmen não tenha sido comprometido, estas constatações únicas levaram-nos a tratar rapidamente esta lesão não culpada. Selecionámos um suporte vascular bioabsorbível com o objetivo de selar e de solucionar o caso desta placa complicada e de alto risco. Keywords: Optical coherence tomography, Non-culprit lesion, Bioresorbable vascular scaffolds, Palavras-chave: Tomografia de coerência ótica, Lesão não culpada, Suportes vasculares bioabsorbíveis