Search

Aims Whether patients with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) should undergo an initial conservative management or immediate revascularization through percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains debated. To investigate the frequency and predictors of choosing a strategy of immediate PCI for SCAD, and to compare the clinical outcomes of immediate PCI patients with those undergoing an initial strategy of medical management. Methods and results 369 patients enrolled in the multicentre international DIssezioni Spontanee COronariche (DISCO) registry between January 2009 and December 2020 were included. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), a composite of cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI) and any PCI. 240 (65%) patients underwent initial medical management, whereas 129 (35%) had immediate PCI. PCI patients presented more frequently with ST segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (68.2% vs. 35%, P Conclusions The choice between an immediate medical or PCI management of SCAD is mostly driven by clinical presentation and procedural aspects. In the DISCO cohort, the primary treatment approach was not associated with the risk of short-to-midterm adverse events.

Aims The role of antiplatelet therapy in patients with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) undergoing initial conservative management is still a matter of debate, with theoretical arguments in favour and against its use. The aims of this article are to assess the use of antiplatelet drugs in medically treated SCAD patients and to investigate the relationship between single (SAPT) and dual (DAPT) antiplatelet regimens and 1-year patient outcomes. Methods and results We investigated the 1-year outcome of patients with SCAD managed with initial conservative treatment included in the DIssezioni Spontanee COronariche (DISCO) multicentre international registry. Patients were divided into two groups according to SAPT or DAPT prescription. Primary endpoint was 12-month incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) defined as the composite of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), and any unplanned percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Out of 314 patients included in the DISCO registry, we investigated 199 patients in whom SCAD was managed conservatively. Most patients were female (89%), presented with acute coronary syndrome (92%) and mean age was 52.3 ± 9.3 years. Sixty-seven (33.7%) were given SAPT whereas 132 (66.3%) with DAPT. Aspirin plus either clopidogrel or ticagrelor were prescribed in 62.9% and 36.4% of DAPT patients, respectively. Overall, a 14.6% MACE rate was observed at 12 months of follow-up. Patients treated with DAPT had a significantly higher MACE rate than those with SAPT [18.9% vs. 6.0% hazard ratios (HR) 2.62; 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.22–5.61; P = 0.013], driven by an early excess of non-fatal MI or unplanned PCI. At multiple regression analysis, type 2a SCAD (OR: 3.69; 95% CI 1.41–9.61; P = 0.007) and DAPT regimen (OR: 4.54; 95% CI 1.31–14.28; P = 0.016) resulted independently associated with a higher risk of 12-month MACE. Conclusions In this European registry, most patients with SCAD undergoing initial conservative management received DAPT. Yet, at 1-year follow-up, DAPT, as compared with SAPT, was independently associated with a higher rate of adverse cardiovascular events (ClinicalTrial.gov id: NCT04415762).

Acute Coronary Syndrome during Covid-19 Outbreak During the Covid-19 outbreak in northern Italy, the daily rate of admissions for acute coronary syndrome at 15 hospitals was significantly lower tha...

We aim to assess clinical feasibility and efficacy of unprotected left main (ULM) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients older than 75 years over a 6-year period and with 2-year follow-up demonstrating that PCI is a feasible revascularization strategy even in absence of on-site cardiothoracic support. Nevertheless, the outcome of these high-risk patients is still hampered by a sensible in-hospital mortality rate. Older patients have a higher mortality at follow-up (10.0 versus 0.8%, P = 0.014), while younger patients have a low mortality after the acute phase (15.7 versus 8.4%, P = 0.15).

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a challenging clinical scenario and represents a non-negligible cause of acute coronary syndrome in young women. In-hospital management (conservative versus interventional) and medical therapy at discharge are debated, especially dual antiplatelet

Background The feasibility and efficacy of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) via transradial access (TRA) is still a matter of concern, mainly in an unselected population. Methods We collected data about all PCI performed in patients with ULMCA stenosis by a TRA-dedicated operator and analyzed clinical and procedural characteristics as well as in-hospital and long-term outcomes. Results From January 2008 to December 2011, 49 PCIs were performed; 27 (55%) via TRA and 22 (45%) via transfemoral access (TFA). Most patients in both groups underwent PCI for acute coronary syndrome (66.7% in the TRA group vs 77.3% in the TFA group, p = 0.73). Patients in the TRA group were more hypertensive (81.5% vs 40.9%, p = 0.008) and had a higher left ventricular ejection fraction (54.6 ± 10.3 vs 46.1 ± 12.8, p = 0.01). There were no significant differences in procedural success (100% in the TRA group vs 90.9% in the TFA group, p = 0.38), as well as in procedural time, in fluoroscopic time and in contrast volume. Bleeding complications occurred in 1 patient in the TFA group (4.5%) vs none in the TRA group (p = 0.91). In-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE) occurred in 1 patient (3.7%) in the TRA group vs 3 (13.6%) in the TFA group (p = 0.48). At a follow-up of 32 ± 13 months, MACE occurred in 4 cases (14.8%) in the TRA group vs 7 cases (31.8%) in the TFA group (p = 0.28). Conclusions The PCI of ULMCA via TRA is feasible with good results, provided that a rigorous learning curve was followed and a TRA volume caseload was maintained.

The MGuard (MG) is a stainless-steel closed cell stent covered with an ultra-thin polymer mesh sleeve, which has the purpose of ensuring reduced distal embolization of thrombotic material, thus lowering the risk of no-reflow/slow-flow phenomena. Only few data are available that evaluated the usefulness of the MG stent in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with a high thrombotic burden.We prospectively collected data of patients presenting with STEMI and high thrombotic burden (thrombus burden grade 4 or 5 according to the TIMI score) who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with MG stent implantation in our center. Lesions involving a bifurcation or very calcified and tortuous vessels were not included. Final TIMI 3 flow, normal myocardial blush grade (MBG), and complete ST-segment resolution were defined as short-term endpoints, whereas major adverse cardiovascular events were evaluated during follow-up.From August 2008 to June 2013, the MG stent was implanted in 104 (9.3%) of 1108 patients who underwent primary PCI. Cardiogenic shock on admission was present in 4 patients (3.8%). Final TIMI 3 flow was achieved in 97.1% of patients, MBG 3 in 56.7%, and regression of ST-segment elevation ≥70% within 90 min was recorded in 64.4% of patients. In-hospital mortality was 2.9% (n=3), and at a mean follow-up of 455±430 days overall major adverse cardiovascular events were 11 (10.6%). Cardiac death occurred in 5 patients (4.9%) and stent thrombosis in 2 (1.9%).In selected patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI, the use of the mesh-covered MG stent in vessels with high thrombotic burden despite thrombus aspiration was effective and safe both immediately and at mid-term follow-up.

Percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) are widespread procedures in the Italian Healthcare System, but concerns are raised about their economic sustainability. In the last decade, public hospitals have outsourced the PCI services (building and maintaining the technological instruments and the personnel) "buying" them from private companies (Buy) rather than building and maintaining them through public expenditure (Make). The aim of this study was to compare the economic and clinical impact of these two management solutions (Buy and Make) in two community hospitals located in the Turin metropolitan area (Italy).We conducted: 1) a quantitative assessment in order to compare differences in the economic impact between Buy and Make for providing PCI; 2) a qualitative assessment comparing the clinical characteristics of two inpatient populations undergoing PCI and then analyzing the efficacy of the procedure in-hospital and at 6-month follow-up.Between January and June 2010, a total of 332 patients underwent PCI at the "degli Infermi" Hospital in Rivoli and 340 at the "Maria Vittoria" Hospital in Turin (Italy). There were no significant differences between the two populations neither about the clinical characteristics nor in procedural efficacy (either immediate or at follow-up). For 600 units of diagnostic-therapeutic pathway, the net present value at a discount rate of 3.5% of the Make project is higher than that of the Buy by €278.402,25, and is therefore the less convenient of the two solutions. The Buy solution is still the more convenient of the two at volumes700 units.Our findings show that the Buy solution, if tailored to the specific local needs, provides access to sophisticated technology without making worse quality of services and may save capital expenditure below 700 PCI/years.

To assess the impact on in-hospital and long-term survival of thrombus aspiration (TA) during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS).From September 2001 to May 2010 we collected data from 155 patients affected with STEMI complicated by CS undergoing PPCI (12.4% of all PPCI) including 70 patients (45.2%) in TA group and 85 patients (54.8%) in conventional PCI group. Patients in TA group were more likely to have right ventricular infarction (24.3% vs 5.9%, p=0.002), higher mean left ventricular ejection fraction (40% ± 9% vs 35% ± 7%, p0.0001) and lower left main coronary artery occlusion (2.8% vs 21.2%, p=0.002). TA was associated with a lower rate of in-hospital and long-term mortality (31.4% vs 48.2%, p=0.05 and 42.8% vs 64.7%, p=0.01 respectively) at a mean follow-up time of 6.1 ± 2.1 years. At multivariate analysis the only independent predictor of in-hospital and long-term survival was the procedural success (HR 0.18 95% CI 0.025-0.31, p=0.03 and HR 0.46 95% CI 0.09-0.74, p=0.034 respectively).In this retrospective study TA, performed during PPCI for STEMI complicated by CS, was not an independent predictor of in-hospital and long-term survival.

We report the case of a 55-year-old man who underwent coronary angiography in 2004 for early angina following anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Angiography disclosed a critical stenosis in the proximal left anterior descending artery and significant stenoses in the right coronary artery and first obtuse marginal branch, treated with two paclitaxel-eluting stents and a sirolimus-eluting stent, respectively. After completion of a six-month thienopyridine course and while still being on lifelong aspirin, in 2007 he was readmitted for lateral ST-elevation myocardial infarction: angiography revealed stent thrombosis beginning at the proximal edge of the sirolimus-eluting stent implanted in the first obtuse marginal branch. Intravascular ultrasound was performed after thrombectomy but before balloon dilation showing suboptimal stent expansion and a thrombus partially adhering to the sirolimus-eluting stent. The procedure was then successfully completed with the implantation of another sirolimus-eluting stent. This clinical vignette suggests that suboptimal drug-eluting stent deployment may be associated with stent thrombosis well after the traditional time frame of subacute thrombosis.

We have read with great interest the report of the Grupo de Analisis de la Cardiopatia Isquemica Aguda (GRACIA) 2 trial by Fernandez-Aviles et al. ,1 suggesting the potential clinical benefit of fibrinolysis with early routine percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in comparison to primary PCI. However, drawbacks in study design, reporting, and interpretation severely limit its impact on readers. First, a statistically significant difference in the extent of coronary artery disease is reported between the two study groups in …

Background: Patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who undergo endotracheal intubation (ETI) are at high risk for mortality, but the outcome of those patients submitted to primary angioplasty (PCI) has