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BACKGROUND: Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is an important contributor to angina syndromes. Recently, two distinct endotypes were identified using combined assessment of coronary flow reserve (CFR) and minimal microvascular resistance (MR), termed structural and functional CMD.AIMS: We aimed to assess the relevance of the combined assessment of CFR and MR in patients with angina and no obstructive coronary arteries.METHODS: Patients with chronic coronary syndromes (CCS) and non-obstructive coronary artery disease (fractional flow reserve [FFR] ≥0.80) were selected (N=1,102). Functional CMD was defined as abnormal CFR in combination with normal MR and structural CMD as abnormal CFR with abnormal MR. Clinical endpoints were the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and target vessel failure (TVF) at 5-year follow-up.RESULTS: Abnormal CFR was associated with an increased risk of MACE and TVF at 5-year follow-up. Microvascular resistance parameters were not associated with MACE or TVF at 5-year follow-up. The risk of MACE and TVF at 5-year follow-up was similarly increased for patients with structural or functional CMD compared with patients with normal microvascular function. There were no differences between both endotypes (p=0.88 for MACE, and p=0.55 for TVF).CONCLUSIONS: Coronary microvascular dysfunction, identified by an impaired CFR, was unequivocally associated with increased MACE and TVF rates over a 5-year follow-up period. In contrast, impaired MR was not associated with 5-year adverse clinical events. Moreover, there was no significant difference in the risk of MACE and TVF between a low CFR accompanied by pathologically increased MR (structural CMD) or not (functional CMD).CLINICALTRIALS: gov: NCT04485234.

Background: The Myval balloon-expandable (BE) valve has shown encouraging early clinical data in terms of safety and efficacy. Comparative data with other well-established contemporary valves are nonetheless still scarce. This study aims to compare the performance of the Myval BE valve with the Evolut self-expanding (SE) valve. Methods: In this retrospective single-center study, 223 patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS) were included and treated with the Myval BE valve (n = 120) or with the Evolut SE valve (n = 103). Then, 91 pairs were compared after matching. Clinical outcomes were evaluated at 30 days and 1 year. Echocardiographic follow-up was performed at 30 days. Results: Procedural complications were rare in both groups. At the 30-day follow-up, no significant difference in cardiac death (Myval: 1% vs. Evolut: 2%, p = 0.56), stroke (2% vs. 4%, p = 0.41) and myocardial infarction (1% vs. 3%, p = 0.31) was observed. A permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) was significantly less needed in the Myval group (4% vs. 15%, p = 0.01). At 1 year, cardiac death (2% vs. 4%, p = 0.41) and the stroke rate (7% vs. 5%, p = 0.76) were similar. Moderate–severe paravalvular leakage (PVL) was also comparable in both groups (1% vs. 4%, p = 0.17). Conclusion: Safety and efficacy outcomes were comparable between the two valves, except for a higher PPI rate for the Evolut SE valve. Up to 1-year follow-up, clinical outcomes showed acceptable rates of stroke and cardiac death with both valves. Valve hemodynamics were excellent with a low rate of moderate–severe PVL in both groups.

BACKGROUND: For patients with oral anticoagulants (OAC) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), European guidelines have recently changed their recommendations to dual antithrombotic therapy (DAT; P2Y12 inhibitor and OAC) without aspirin.AIMS: The prospective WOEST 2 registry was designed to obtain contemporary real-world data on antithrombotic regimens and related outcomes after PCI in patients with an indication for OAC.METHODS: In this analysis, we compare DAT (P2Y12 inhibitor and OAC) to triple antithrombotic therapy (TAT; aspirin, P2Y12 inhibitor, and OAC) on thrombotic and bleeding outcomes after one year. Clinically relevant bleeding was defined as Bleeding Academic Research Consortium classification (BARC) grade 2, 3, or 5; major bleeding as BARC grade 3 or 5. Major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) was defined as a composite of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, ischaemic stroke, and transient ischaemic attack.RESULTS: A total of 1,075 patients were included between 2014 and 2021. Patients used OAC for atrial fibrillation (93.6%) or mechanical heart valve prosthesis (4.7%). Non-vitamin K oral anticoagulant (NOAC) was prescribed in 53.1% and vitamin K antagonists in 46.9% of patients. At discharge, 60.9% received DAT, and 39.1% TAT. DAT was associated with less clinically relevant and similar major bleeding (16.8% vs 23.4%; pCONCLUSIONS: Dual antithrombotic therapy is associated with a substantially lower risk of clinically relevant bleeding without a statistically significant penalty in ischaemic events.

Aims ST-depression and T-wave inversion are frequently present on the post-resuscitation electrocardiogram (ECG). However, the prognostic value of ischaemic ECG patterns is unknown. Methods and results In this post-hoc subgroup analysis of the Coronary Angiography after Cardiac arrest (COACT) trial, the first in-hospital post-resuscitation ECG in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients with a shockable rhythm was analysed for ischaemic ECG patterns. Ischaemia was defined as ST-depression of ≥0.1 mV, T-wave inversion in ≥2 contiguous leads, or both. The primary endpoint was 90-day survival. Secondary endpoints were rate of acute unstable lesions, levels of serum troponin-T, and left ventricular function. Of the 510 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients, 340 (66.7%) patients had ischaemic ECG patterns. Patients with ischaemic ECG patterns had a worse 90-day survival compared with those without [hazard ratio 1.51; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08–2.12; P = 0.02]. A higher sum of ST-depression was associated with lower survival (log-rank = 0.01). The rate of acute unstable lesions (14.5 vs. 15.8%; odds ratio 0.90; 95% CI 0.51–1.59) did not differ between the groups. In patients with ischaemic ECG patterns, maximum levels of serum troponin-T (μg/L) were higher [0.595 (interquartile range 0.243–1.430) vs. 0.359 (0.159–0.845); ratio of geometric means 1.58; 1.13–2.20] and left ventricular function (%) was worse (44.7 ± 12.5 vs. 49.9 ± 13.3; mean difference −5.13; 95% CI −8.84 to −1.42). Adjusted for age and time to return of spontaneous circulation, ischaemic ECG patterns were no longer associated with survival. Conclusion Post-arrest ischaemic ECG patterns were associated with worse 90-day survival. A higher sum of ST-depression was associated with lower survival. Adjusted for age and time to return of spontaneous circulation, ischaemic ECG patterns were no longer associated with survival.

OBJECTIVES: The authors sought to evaluate comparative prognosis between deferred versus performed percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) according to coronary flow reserve (CFR) values of patients with intermediate fractional flow reserve (FFR).BACKGROUND: For coronary stenosis with intermediate FFR, the prognostic value of PCI remains controversial. The prognostic impact of PCI may be different according to CFR in patients with intermediate FFR.METHODS: From the ILIAS Registry (Inclusive Invasive Physiological Assessment in Angina Syndromes Registry, N = 2,322), 400 patients (412 vessels) with intermediate FFR (0.75-0.80) were selected. Patients were stratified into preserved CFR (>2.0, n = 253) and depressed CFR (≤2.0, n = 147) cohorts. Per-vessel clinical outcomes during 5 years of follow-up were compared between deferred versus performed PCI groups in both cohorts. The primary outcome was target vessel failure (TVF), a composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, or target vessel revascularization.RESULTS: Among the study population, PCI was deferred for 210 patients (219 vessels, 53.2%) (deferred group) and performed for 190 patients (193 vessels, 46.8%) (performed group). The risk of TVF was comparable between the deferred and performed groups (12.8% vs 14.2%; adjusted HR: 1.403; 95% CI: 0.584-3.369; P = 0.448). When stratified by CFR, PCI was performed in 39.1% (100/261 vessels) of the preserved CFR cohort and 61.9% (93/151 vessels) of the depressed CFR cohort. Within the preserved CFR cohort, the risk of TVF did not differ significantly between the deferred and performed groups (11.0% vs 13.9%; adjusted HR: 0.770; 95% CI: 0.262-2.266; P = 0.635). However, in the depressed CFR cohort, the deferred group had a significantly higher risk of TVF than the performed group (17.2% vs 14.2%; adjusted HR: 4.932; 95% CI: 1.312-18.53; P = 0.018). A significant interaction was observed between CFR and the treatment decision (interaction P = 0.049). Results were consistent after inverse probability weighting adjustment.CONCLUSIONS: In patients with intermediate FFR of 0.75 to 0.80, the prognostic value of PCI differed according to CFR, with a significant interaction. PCI was associated with a lower risk of TVF compared with the deferral strategy when CFR was depressed (≤2.0), but there was no difference when CFR was preserved (>2.0). CFR could be used as an additional risk stratification tool to determine treatment strategies in patients with intermediate FFR. (Inclusive Invasive Physiological Assessment in Angina Syndromes Registry [ILIAS Registry]; NCT04485234).

Item does not contain fulltext BACKGROUND: Coronary blood flow in humans is known to be predominantly diastolic. Small studies in animals and humans suggest that this is less pronounced or even reversed in the right coronary artery (RCA). AIMS: This study aimed to characterise the phasic patterns of coronary flow in the left versus right coronary arteries of patients undergoing invasive physiological assessment. METHODS: We analysed data from the Iberian-Dutch-English Collaborators (IDEAL) study. A total of 482 simultaneous pressure and flow measurements from 301 patients were included in our analysis. RESULTS: On average, coronary flow was higher in diastole both at rest and during hyperaemia in both the RCA and LCA (mean diastolic-to-systolic velocity ratio [DSVR] was, respectively, 1.85±0.70, 1.76±0.58, 1.53±0.34 and 1.58±0.43 for LCA(rest), LCA(hyp), RCA(rest) and RCA(hyp), p

Aims: We evaluated the occurrence and physiology of respiration-related beat-to-beat variations in resting Pd/Pa and FFR during intravenous adenosine administration, and its impact on clinical decision-making. Methods and Results: Coronary pressure tracings in rest and at plateau hyperemia were analyzed in a total of 39 stenosis from 37 patients, and respiratory rate was calculated with ECG-derived respiration (EDR) in 26 stenoses from 26 patients. Beat-to-beat variations in FFR occurred in a cyclical fashion and were strongly correlated with respiratory rate (R2 = 0.757, p < 0.001). There was no correlation between respiratory rate and variations in resting Pd/Pa. When single-beat averages were used to calculate FFR, mean ΔFFR was 0.04 ± 0.02. With averaging of FFR over three or five cardiac cycles, mean ΔFFR decreased to 0.02 ± 0.02, and 0.01 ± 0.01, respectively. Using a FFR ≤ 0.80 threshold, stenosis classification changed in 20.5% (8/39), 12.8% (5/39) and 5.1% (2/39) for single-beat, three-beat and five-beat averaged FFR. The impact of respiration was more pronounced in patients with pulmonary disease (ΔFFR 0.05 ± 0.02 vs 0.03 ± 0.02, p = 0.021). Conclusion: Beat-to-beat variations in FFR during plateau hyperemia related to respiration are common, of clinically relevant magnitude, and frequently lead FFR to cross treatment thresholds. A five-beat averaged FFR, overcomes clinically relevant impact of FFR variation.

Angiography alone is the most commonly used imaging modality for guidance of percutaneous coronary interventions. Angiography is limited, however, by several factors, including that it only portrays a low resolution, two-dimensional outline of the lumen and does not inform on plaque composition and functional stenosis severity. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an intracoronary imaging technique that has superior spatial resolution compared to all other imaging modalities. High-resolution imaging of the vascular wall enables precise measurement of vessel wall and luminal dimensions, more accurately informing about the anatomic severity of epicardial stenoses, and also provides input for computational models to assess functional severity. The very high-resolution images also permit plaque characterization that may be informative for prognostication. Moreover, periprocedural imaging provides valuable information to guide lesion preparation, stent implantation and to evaluate acute stent complications for which iterative treatment might reduce the occurrence of major adverse stent events. As such, OCT represent a potential future all-in-one tool that provides the data necessary to establish the indications, procedural planning and optimization, and final evaluation of percutaneous coronary revascularization. ispartof: TRENDS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE vol:33 issue:2 pages:92-106 ispartof: location:United States status: published

Randomized controlled trials for in-stent restenosis (ISR) and de novo lesions in small-diameter vessels have shown promising results, but data on DCB use in real-world practice are still scarce. The aim of the PEARL (Paclitaxel-Eluting Angioplasty Balloon in the Real-World) registry was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a paclitaxel DCB in real-world percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) practice.Between 2014 and 2019, a total of 513 patients treated with the Protégé paclitaxel DCB (Wellinq) were prospectively included at 4 hospitals in the Netherlands. The primary endpoint was 2-year major adverse cardiac event (MACE), defined as cardiac death, target-vessel myocardial infarction, or target-lesion revascularization (TLR).DCB was used for ISR in 382 patients and for de novo lesions in 131 patients. Acute coronary syndrome was the reason for presentation in 58.9% of patients. At lesion level, 34.1% of lesions were classified as type B2 and 36.1% as type C. Predilation was performed in 62.2% and noncompliant DCB was used in 40.7% of lesions. DCB-related procedural complications were infrequent (3.3%, mostly coronary dissection [2.3%]). Bailout stenting was required in 3.1%. MACE during 2-year follow-up occurred in 17.1% of patients treated for ISR and 9.7% of patients treated for de novo lesions. The incidence of TLR was 11.7% of ISR patients and 2.9% of de novo patients. History of coronary artery bypass grafting and lesion length were predictors of MACE in patients treated for ISR.The use of Protégé paclitaxel DCB for PCI of ISR and de novo lesions is safe and effective during 2-year follow-up.

Background: Coronary pressure indices such as fractional flow reserve are the standard for guiding elective revascularization. However, considering additional coronary flow parameters could further individualize and optimize the decision on revascularization. We aimed to investigate the potentially differential prognostic associations of elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) according to coronary flow properties represented by coronary flow reserve (CFR), coronary flow capacity (CFC), and baseline CFC (bCFC). Methods: From the ILIAS Registry (Inclusive Invasive Physiological Assessment in Angina Syndromes) composed of 16 hospitals globally from 7 countries, patients with obstructive coronary artery disease who underwent invasive coronary physiological assessment were included (N=2370 vessels). We assessed effect measure modifications of the association of PCI and 5-year target vessel failure according to CFR, CFC, and bCFC either assessed by Doppler-technique or thermodilution-method. Results: The mean age of the population was 63.3 years, and there were 1322 (73.6%) males. Median fractional flow reserve was 0.85, and PCI was performed in 600 (25.3%) vessels. Reduced CFR, CFC, and abnormal bCFC were defined in 988 (41.7%), 542 (22.9%), and 600 (25.3%) vessels, respectively. Significant effect measure modifications were observed by CFC either in odds ratio ( P =0.0018), additive ( P =0.029), and hazard ratio scale ( P =0.0002). The absolute risk of 5-year target-vessel failure was higher if treated by PCI in vessels with normal CFC by 1.8 (−1.7 to 5.3) percent, while that was lower by −5.9 (−12 to −0.1) percent in those with reduced CFC. CFR and bCFC were not significant effect modifiers in any scales. Similar associations were observed in per-patient analyses, whereas the findings were less robust. Conclusions: We observed qualitative effect measure modification of PCI and 5-year clinical outcomes according to CFC status in additive scale. CFR and bCFC were not robust effect modifiers. Therefore, CFC could be potentially used to optimize the patient selection for elective PCI treatment combined with fractional flow reserve.

Aims: Coronary flow reserve (CFR) is a physiological index for the assessment of myocardial flow impairment due to focal or microcirculatory coronary artery disease (CAD). Coronary flow capacity (CFC) is another flow-based concept in diagnosing ischaemic heart disease, based on hyperaemic average peak velocity (hAPV) and CFR. We evaluated clinical and haemodynamic factors which potentially influence CFR and CFC in non-obstructed coronary arteries. Methods and results: Intracoronary Doppler flow velocity measurements to obtain CFR and CFC were performed after inducing hyperaemia in 390 non-obstructed vessels of patients who were scheduled for elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of another vessel. Akaike & rsquo;s information criterion (AIC) revealed age, female gender, history of myocardial infarction, hypercholesterolaemia, diastolic blood pressure, oral nitrates and rate pressure product as independent predictors of CFR and CFC. After regression analysis, age and female gender were associated with lower CFR and age was associated with worse CFC in angiographically non-obstructed vessels. Conclusions: Age and female gender are associated with lower CFR, and age with worse CFC in an angiographically non-obstructed coronary artery. CFC seems to be less sensitive to variations in clinical and haemodynamic parameters than CFR and is therefore a promising tool in contemporary clinical decision making in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory.

Percutaneous coronary interventions in saphenous vein grafts can pose a variety of challenges, such as severely calcified lesions. If these lesions are nondilatable, lithotripsy can arguably be a proper tool for lesion preparation. We present a case in which a nondilatable, calcified saphenous vein graft was successfully treated using Shockwave lithotripsy. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.), Graphical abstract

Aortic valve stenosis is one of the most common valvular abnormalities, which can manifest as angina, syncope, dyspnoea and sudden cardiac death. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been introduced as an alternative to surgical valve replacement in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis, resulting in less morbidity, shorter time to recovery and similar mortality rates. Progress in this field has reduced complication rates. However, the incidence of peri-procedural stroke remains relatively high (around 4%). To fully utilise the potential of TAVI, cerebral embolic protection devices (CEPD) have been developed and introduced. In this position paper, we aim to summarise the available data on several CEPD.

Background Microvascular dysfunction in the setting of ST-segment myocardial infarction (STEMI) is thought to be related to stress-related metabolic changes, including acute glucose intolerance. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between admission glucose levels and microvascular function in non-diabetic STEMI patients. Methods 92 consecutive patients with a first anterior-wall STEMI treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) were enrolled. Blood glucose levels were determined immediately prior to PPCI. After successful PPCI, at 1‑week and 6‑month follow-up, Doppler flow was measured in culprit and reference coronary arteries to calculate coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR), baseline (BMR) and hyperaemic (HMR) microvascular resistance. Results The median admission glucose was 8.3 (7.2–9.6) mmol/l respectively 149.4 mg/dl [129.6–172.8] and was significantly associated with peak troponin T (standardised beta coefficient [std beta] = 0.281; p = 0.043). Multivariate analysis revealed that increasing glucose levels were significantly associated with a decrease in reference vessel CFVR (std beta = −0.313; p = 0.002), dictated by an increase in rest average peak velocity (APV) (std beta = 0.216; p = 0.033), due to a decreasing BMR (std beta = −0.225; p = 0.038) in the acute setting after PPCI. These associations disappeared at follow-up. These associations were not found for the infarct-related artery. Conclusion Elevated admission glucose levels are associated with impaired microvascular function assessed directly after PPCI in first anterior-wall STEMI. This influence of glucose levels is an acute phenomenon and contributes to microvascular dysfunction through alterations in resting flow and baseline microvascular resistance.

Objectives This study sought to investigate the contribution of age-related microcirculatory dysfunction to abnormal coronary hemodynamics in patients with coronary atherosclerosis. Background Impairment in myocardial blood supply in patients with coronary atherosclerosis can be accentuated due to age-related changes in microcirculatory function. Methods Intracoronary pressure and flow were measured with the Doppler technique in 299 vessels (228 patients), and the thermodilution technique in 120 vessels (99 patients). In 172 patients, Doppler measurements were also performed in unobstructed vessels. Associations of coronary hemodynamics with aging were studied in both the stenosed and unobstructed arteries. Results Aging was associated with a progressive increase in minimal microvascular resistance and a progressive decrease in hyperemic flow in both obstructed and nonobstructed coronary arteries. As such, coronary flow reserve decreased with advancing age. Epicardial stenosis severity assessed by resting Pd/Pa, basal stenosis resistance index, and hyperemic stenosis resistance index was equivalent across age groups. By contrast, fractional flow reserve increased with advancing age. Consequently, the adjusted risk of a fractional flow reserve/coronary flow reserve pattern reflective of concomitant focal epicardial and diffuse or microvascular disease (relative risk: 1.6; 95% confidence interval: 1.1 to 2.3; p = 0.017) increased with advancing age, whilst the adjusted risk of a fractional flow reserve/coronary flow reserve pattern reflective of non–flow-limiting stenosis with a healthy microcirculation decreased (relative risk: 0.7; 95% CI: 0.5 to 1.0; p = 0.022). Conclusions Aging is associated with progressive pan-myocardial impairment of coronary vasodilatory capacity due to an increase in minimal microvascular resistance. Concomitant aging-related impairment in microvascular function impacts the pathophysiology of ischemic heart disease in the individual patient and is not adequately identified by hyperemic coronary pressure measurements alone.

OBJECTIVES: The optimal targeted temperature in patients with shockable rhythm is unclear, and current guidelines recommend targeted temperature management with a correspondingly wide range between 32°C and 36°C. Our aim was to study survival and neurologic outcome associated with targeted temperature management strategy in postarrest patients with initial shockable rhythm.DESIGN: Observational substudy of the Coronary Angiography after Cardiac Arrest without ST-segment Elevation trial.SETTING: Nineteen hospitals in The Netherlands.PATIENTS: The Coronary Angiography after Cardiac Arrest trial randomized successfully resuscitated patients with shockable rhythm and absence of ST-segment elevation to a strategy of immediate or delayed coronary angiography. In this substudy, 459 patients treated with mild therapeutic hypothermia (32.0-34.0°C) or targeted normothermia (36.0-37.0°C) were included. Allocation to targeted temperature management strategy was at the discretion of the physician.INTERVENTIONS: None.MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: After 90 days, 171 patients (63.6%) in the mild therapeutic hypothermia group and 129 (67.9%) in the targeted normothermia group were alive (hazard ratio, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.62-1.18]; log-rank p = 0.35; adjusted odds ratio, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.45-1.72). Patients in the mild therapeutic hypothermia group had longer ICU stay (4 d [3-7 d] vs 3 d [2-5 d]; ratio of geometric means, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.15-1.51), lower blood pressures, higher lactate levels, and increased need for inotropic support. Cerebral Performance Category scores at ICU discharge and 90-day follow-up and patient-reported Mental and Physical Health Scores at 1 year were similar in the two groups.CONCLUSIONS: In the context of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with shockable rhythm and no ST-elevation, treatment with mild therapeutic hypothermia was not associated with improved 90-day survival compared with targeted normothermia. Neurologic outcomes at 90 days as well as patient-reported Mental and Physical Health Scores at 1 year did not differ between the groups.

Background We present a case concerning a 64-year-old female with complaints of palpitations, chest pain, and an anomalous right coronary artery (RCA) from the opposite sinus (R-ACAOS) with a suspected malignant trajectory on computed tomography. She was referred to our clinic for a second opinion to re-assess the suggested treatment of coronary surgery. Case summary A coronary angiogram was performed demonstrating a RCA with a tapered ostium typical for an inter-arterial course. Dobutamine and adenosine stress test during simultaneous intracoronary flow, pressure, and ultrasound assessment, was performed to determine the functional significance. After 120 mcg adenosine, intracoronary baseline flow velocity increased from 14 cm/s to a peak flow velocity of 37 cm/s, demonstrating a sufficient coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) of 2.6. No intracoronary pressure drop during maximal hyperaemia was found. After maximum dobutamine stress, CFVR was measured 2.5. Fractional flow reserve measured 0.99. Cross-sectional area measurement through intravascular ultrasound demonstrated a diameter reduction from 14.6 mm2 to 8.5 mm2. Therefore, we concluded this aberrant trajectory was not of any functional relevance and should be considered non-malignant. Discussion There are several anatomic coronary anomalies which may contribute to coronary compression during exercise and are therefore correlated with sudden cardiac death. Right coronary artery from the opposite sinus is correlated with a low mortality rate of 0.2% in comparison to left-ACAOS at 6.3% over 20 years in participants of competitive sport. Therefore, strong evidence of ischaemia must be present before opting for surgery. Our pragmatic approach provided in our opinion enough evidence for a conservative treatment strategy.

IntroductionIn patients with myocardial infarction, the decision to treat a nonculprit lesion is generally based on its physiological significance. However, deferral of revascularisation based on nonischaemic fractional flow reserve (FFR) values in these patients results in less favourable outcomes compared with patients with stable coronary artery disease, potentially caused by vulnerable nonculprit lesions. Intravascular optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging allows for in vivo morphological assessment of plaque ‘vulnerability’ and might aid in the detection of FFR-negative lesions at high risk for recurrent events.Methods and analysisThe PECTUS-obs study is an international multicentre prospective observational study that aims to relate OCT-derived vulnerable plaque characteristics of nonflow limiting, nonculprit lesions to clinical outcome in patients with myocardial infarction. A total of 438 patients presenting with myocardial infarction (ST-elevation myocardial infarction and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction) will undergo OCT-imaging of any FFR-negative nonculprit lesion for detection of plaque vulnerability. The primary study endpoint is a composite of major adverse cardiovascular events (all-cause mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction or unplanned revascularisation) at 2-year follow-up. Secondary endpoints will be the same composite at 1-year and 5-year follow-up, target vessel failure, target vessel revascularisation, target lesion failure and target lesion revascularisation.Ethics and disseminationThis study has been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the region Arnhem-Nijmegen. The results of this study will be disseminated in a main paper and additional papers with subgroup analyses.Trial registration numberNCT03857971.

Contains fulltext : 235070.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) BACKGROUND: The effect of immediate coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients who are successfully resuscitated after cardiac arrest in the absence of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) on left ventricular function is currently unknown. METHODS: This prespecified sub-study of a multicentre trial evaluated 552 patients, successfully resuscitated from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest without signs of STEMI. Patients were randomized to either undergo immediate coronary angiography or delayed coronary angiography, after neurologic recovery. All patients underwent PCI if indicated. The main outcomes of this analysis were left ventricular ejection fraction and end-diastolic and systolic volumes assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging or echocardiography. RESULTS: Data on left ventricular function was available for 397 patients. The mean (± standard deviation) left ventricular ejection fraction was 45.2% (±12.8) in the immediate angiography group and 48.4% (±13.2) in the delayed angiography group (mean difference: -3.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], -6.75 to 0.37). Median left ventricular end-diastolic volume was 177 ml in the immediate angiography group compared to 169 ml in the delayed angiography group (ratio of geometric means: 1.06; 95% CI, 0.95-1.19). In addition, mean left ventricular end-systolic volume was 90 ml in the immediate angiography group compared to 78 ml in the delayed angiography group (ratio of geometric means: 1.13; 95% CI 0.97-1.32). CONCLUSION: In patients successfully resuscitated after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and without signs of STEMI, immediate coronary angiography was not found to improve left ventricular dimensions or function compared with a delayed angiography strategy. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Netherlands Trial Register number, NTR4973.

Severely calcified coronary lesions remain a challenge in current percutaneous coronary interventions. Shockwave intravascular lithotripsy (Shockwave Medical, Inc., Santa Clara, California) is an alternative for rotational atherectomy in such lesions that supports stent deliverability and achieves optimal results. We describe a case of coronary artery perforation after use of this lithotripsy device. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.), Graphical abstract, Severely calcified coronary lesions remain a challenge in current percutaneous coronary interventions. Shockwave intravascular lithotripsy…

Item does not contain fulltext OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of a delayed versus an immediate invasive approach on final infarct size and clinical outcome up to 1 year. BACKGROUND: Up to 24% of patients with acute coronary syndromes present with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) but show complete resolution of ST-segment elevation and symptoms before revascularization. Current guidelines do not clearly state whether these patients with transient STEMI should be treated with a STEMI-like or non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome-like intervention strategy. METHODS: In this multicenter trial, 142 patients with transient STEMI were randomized 1:1 to either delayed or immediate coronary intervention. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was performed at 4 days and at 4-month follow-up to assess infarct size and myocardial function. Clinical follow-up was performed at 4 and 12 months. RESULTS: In the delayed (22.7 h) and the immediate (0.4 h) invasive groups, final infarct size as a percentage of the left ventricle was very small (0.4% [interquartile range: 0.0% to 2.5%] vs. 0.4% [interquartile range: 0.0% to 3.5%]; p = 0.79), and left ventricular function was good (mean ejection fraction 59.3 +/- 6.5% vs. 59.9 +/- 5.4%; p = 0.63). In addition, the overall occurrence of major adverse cardiac events, consisting of death, recurrent infarction, and target lesion revascularization, up to 1 year was low and not different between both groups (5.7% vs. 4.4%, respectively; p = 1.00). CONCLUSIONS: At follow-up, patients with transient STEMI have limited infarction and well-preserved myocardial function in general, and delayed or immediate revascularization has no effect on functional outcome and clinical events up to 1 year.

Objectives: This study developed a neural network to perform automated pressure waveform analysis and allow real-time accurate identification of damping. Background: Damping of aortic pressure during coronary angiography must be identified to avoid serious complications and make accurate coronary physiology measurements. There are currently no automated methods to do this, and so identification of damping requires constant monitoring, which is prone to human error. Methods: The neural network was trained and tested versus core laboratory expert opinions derived from 2 separate datasets. A total of 5,709 aortic pressure waveforms of individual heart beats were extracted and classified. The study developed a recurrent convolutional neural network to classify beats as either normal, showing damping, or artifactual. Accuracies were reported using the opinions of 2 independent core laboratories. Results: The neural network was 99.4% accurate (95% confidence interval: 98.8% to 99.6%) at classifying beats from the testing dataset when judged against the opinions of the internal core laboratory. It was 98.7% accurate (95% confidence interval: 98.0% to 99.2%) when judged against the opinions of an external core laboratory not involved in neural network training. The neural network was 100% sensitive, with no beats classified as damped misclassified, with a specificity of 99.8%. The positive predictive and negative predictive values were 98.1% and 99.5%. The 2 core laboratories agreed more closely with the neural network than with each other. Conclusions: Arterial waveform analysis using neural networks allows rapid and accurate identification of damping. This demonstrates how machine learning can assist with patient safety and the quality control of procedures.

Introduction Chronic total coronary occlusion (CTO) has been identified as a risk factor for ventricular arrhythmias, especially a CTO in an infarct-related artery (IRA). This study aimed to evaluate the effect of an IRA-CTO on the occurrence of ventricular tachyarrhythmic events (VTEs) in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors without ST-segment elevation. Methods We conducted a post hoc analysis of the COACT trial, a multicentre randomised controlled trial. Patients were included when they survived index hospitalisation after cardiac arrest and demonstrated coronary artery disease on coronary angiography. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of a VTE, defined as appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy, sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmia or sudden cardiac death. Results A total of 163 patients from ten centres were included. Unrevascularised IRA-CTO in a main vessel was present in 43 patients (26%). Overall, 61% of the study population received an ICD for secondary prevention. During a follow-up of 1 year, 12 patients (7.4%) experienced at least one VTE. The cumulative incidence rate of VTEs was higher in patients with an IRA-CTO compared to patients without an IRA-CTO (17.4% vs 5.6%, log-rank p = 0.03). However, multivariable analysis only identified left ventricular ejection fraction Conclusion In out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors with coronary artery disease without ST-segment elevation, an IRA-CTO was not an independent factor associated with VTEs in the 1st year after the index event.

Background Microvascular dysfunction in the setting of ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) plays an important role in long-term poor clinical outcome. Coronary flow reserve (CFR) is a well-established physiological parameter to interrogate the coronary microcirculation. Together with hyperaemic average peak flow velocity, CFR constitutes the coronary flow capacity (CFC), a validated risk stratification tool in ischaemic heart disease with significant prognostic value. This mechanistic study aims to elucidate the time course of the microcirculation as reflected by alterations in microcirculatory physiological parameters in the acute phase and during follow-up in STEMI patients. Methods We assessed CFR and CFC in the culprit and non-culprit vessel in consecutive STEMI patients at baseline (n = 98) and after one-week (n = 64) and six-month follow-up (n = 65). Results A significant trend for culprit CFC in infarct size as determined by peak troponin T (p = 0.004), time to reperfusion (p = 0.038), the incidence of final Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction 3 flow (p = 0.019) and systolic retrograde flow (p = 0.043) was observed. Non-culprit CFC linear contrast analysis revealed a significant trend in C-reactive protein (p = 0.027), peak troponin T (p Conclusion This study demonstrates the importance of microcirculatory disturbances in the setting of STEMI, which is relevant for the interpretation of intracoronary diagnostic techniques which are influenced by both culprit and non-culprit vascular territories. Assessment of non-culprit vessel CFC in the setting of STEMI might improve risk stratification of these patients following coronary reperfusion of the culprit vessel.

Contains fulltext : 235369.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) BACKGROUND: Up to 24% of patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) show resolution of ST-elevation and symptoms before revascularization. The mechanisms of spontaneous reperfusion are unclear. Given the more favorable outcome of transient STEMI, it is important to obtain further insights in differential aspects. METHODS: We compared 251 patients who presented with transient STEMI (n = 141) or persistent STEMI (n = 110). Clinical angiographic and laboratory data were collected at admission and in subset of patients additional index hemostatic data and at steady-state follow-up. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) was performed at 2-8 days to assess myocardial injury. RESULTS: Transient STEMI patients had more cardiovascular risk factors than STEMI patients, including more arterial disease and higher cholesterol values. Transient STEMI patients showed angiographically more often no intracoronary thrombus (41.1% vs. 2.7%, P < 0.001) and less often a high thrombus burden (9.2% vs. 40.0%, P < 0.001). CMR revealed microvascular obstruction less frequently (4.2% vs. 34.6%, P < 0.001) and smaller infarct size [1.4%; interquartile range (IQR), 0.0-3.7% vs. 8.8%; IQR, 3.9-17.1% of the left ventricle, P < 0.001] with a better preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (57.8 ± 6.7% vs. 52.5 ± 7.6%, P < 0.001). At steady state, fibrinolysis was higher in transient STEMI, as demonstrated with a reduced clot lysis time (89 ± 20% vs. 99 ± 25%, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Transient STEMI is a syndrome with less angiographic thrombus burden and spontaneous infarct artery reperfusion, resulting in less myocardial injury than STEMI. The presence of a more effective fibrinolysis in transient STEMI patients may explain these differences and might provide clues for future treatment of STEMI.

This ESC Council on Stroke/EAPCI/EBNI position paper summarizes recommendations for training of cardiologists in endovascular treatment of acute ischaemic stroke. Interventional cardiologists adequately trained to perform endovascular stroke interventions could complement stroke teams to provide the 24/7 on call duty and thus to increase timely access of stroke patients to endovascular treatment. The training requirements for interventional cardiologists to perform endovascular therapy are described in details and should be based on two main principles: (i) patient safety cannot be compromised, (ii) proper training of interventional cardiologists should be under supervision of and guaranteed by a qualified neurointerventionist and within the setting of a stroke team. Interdisciplinary cooperation based on common standards and professional consensus is the key to the quality improvement in stroke treatment.

Contains fulltext : 229274.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access) BACKGROUND: Whether sex is associated with outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is unclear. OBJECTIVES: This study examined sex differences in survival in patients with OHCA without ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: Using data from the randomized controlled Coronary Angiography after Cardiac Arrest (COACT) trial, the primary point of interest was sex differences in OHCA-related one-year survival. Secondary points of interest included the benefit of immediate coronary angiography compared to delayed angiography until after neurologic recovery, angiographic and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: In total, 522 patients (79.1% men) were included. Overall one-year survival was 59.6% in women and 63.4% in men (HR 1.18; 95% CI: 0.76-1.81;p = 0.47). No cardiovascular risk factors were found that modified survival. Women less often had significant coronary artery disease (CAD) (37.0% vs. 71.3%;p

IMPORTANCE: Ischemic heart disease is a common cause of cardiac arrest. However, randomized data on long-term clinical outcomes of immediate coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients successfully resuscitated from cardiac arrest in the absence of ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are lacking. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether immediate coronary angiography improves clinical outcomes at 1 year in patients after cardiac arrest without signs of STEMI, compared with a delayed coronary angiography strategy. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A prespecified analysis of a multicenter, open-label, randomized clinical trial evaluated 552 patients who were enrolled in 19 Dutch centers between January 8, 2015, and July 17, 2018. The study included patients who experienced out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with a shockable rhythm who were successfully resuscitated without signs of STEMI. Follow-up was performed at 1 year. Data were analyzed, using the intention-to-treat principle, between August 29 and October 10, 2019. INTERVENTIONS: Immediate coronary angiography and PCI if indicated or coronary angiography and PCI if indicated, delayed until after neurologic recovery. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Survival, myocardial infarction, revascularization, implantable cardiac defibrillator shock, quality of life, hospitalization for heart failure, and the composite of death or myocardial infarction or revascularization after 1 year. RESULTS: At 1 year, data on 522 of 552 patients (94.6%) were available for analysis. Of these patients, 413 were men (79.1%); mean (SD) age was 65.4 (12.3) years. A total of 162 of 264 patients (61.4%) in the immediate angiography group and 165 of 258 patients (64.0%) in the delayed angiography group were alive (odds ratio, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.63-1.28). The composite end point of death, myocardial infarction, or repeated revascularization since the index hospitalization was met in 112 patients (42.9%) in the immediate group and 104 patients (40.6%) in the delayed group (odds ratio, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.77-1.56). No significant differences between the groups were observed for the other outcomes at 1-year follow-up. For example, the rate of ICD shocks was 20.4% in the immediate group and 16.2% in the delayed group (odds ratio, 1.32; 95% CI, 0.66-2.64). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this trial of patients successfully resuscitated after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and without signs of STEMI, a strategy of immediate angiography was not found to be superior to a strategy of delayed angiography with respect to clinical outcomes at 1 year. Coronary angiography in this patient group can therefore be delayed until after neurologic recovery without affecting outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: trialregister.nl Identifier: NTR4973

Contains fulltext : 225464.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) Invasive coronary physiology has been applied since the early days of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, and has become a rapidly emerging field of research. Many physiology indices have been developed, tested in clinical studies, and are now applied in daily clinical practice. Recent clinical practice guidelines further support the use of advanced invasive physiology methods to optimise the diagnosis and treatment of patients with acute and chronic coronary syndromes. This article provides a succinct review of the history of invasive coronary physiology, the basic concepts of currently available physiological parameters, and will particularly highlight the Dutch contribution to this field of invasive coronary physiology.

Background Coronary flow capacity (CFC), which is a categorical assessment based on the combination of hyperemic coronary flow and coronary flow reserve (CFR), has been introduced as a comprehensive assessment of the coronary circulation to overcome the limitations of CFR alone. The aim of this study was to quantify coronary flow changes after percutaneous coronary intervention in relation to the classification of CFC and the current physiological cutoff values of fractional flow reserve, instantaneous wave‐free ratio, and CFR. Methods and Results Using the combined data set from DEFINE FLOW (Distal Evaluation of Functional Performance With Intravascular Sensors to Assess the Narrowing Effect ‐Combined Pressure and Doppler FLOW Velocity Measurements) and IDEAL (Iberian‐Dutch‐English), a total of 133 vessels that underwent intracoronary Doppler flow measurement before and after percutaneous coronary intervention were analyzed. CFC classified prerevascularization lesions as normal (14), mildly reduced (40), moderately reduced (31), and severely reduced (48). Lesions with larger impairment of CFC showed greater increase in coronary flow and vice versa (median percent increase in coronary flow by revascularization: 4.2%, 25.9%, 50.1%, and 145.5%, respectively; P 50% increase in coronary flow after percutaneous coronary intervention. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that only CFC has a superior predictive efficacy to CFR ( P P Conclusions CFC showed significant improvement of identification of lesions that benefit from revascularization compared with CFR with respect to coronary flow increase. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT02328820.