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The number of interventions for left main coronary bifurcation lesions in the Russian Federation increase annually. Such lesions are among the most challenging cases for endovascular treatment due to a high risk of cardiovascular complications. They are difficult to assess by angiography, and surgeons frequently encounter difficulties during interventions. To avoid complications and improve long-term outcomes, it is crucial to accurately determine the appropriateness of an intervention, assess characteristics of the lesion, and choose the most effective treatment strategy, and intravascular imaging methods, such as fractional flow reserve measurement, intravascular ultrasonography, and optical coherence tomography, can assist in doing so. Recent research demonstrates the effectiveness of these imaging methods at each stage of surgery; however, several contentious and debatable issues that warrant attention and further investigation remain. This article reviews the latest research regarding the use of intravascular imaging to optimize percutaneous coronary interventions in patients with left main coronary bifurcation lesions, as well as to highlight unresolved issues that require further exploration.

Background: There is controversy regarding the effectiveness the of jailed wire technique (JWT) and jailed balloon technique (JBT) in preserving the side branch (SB) during treatment. This study compares the protective effect of JBT versus JWT on the SB ostium area in coronary bifurcation lesions using three-dimensional optical coherence tomography (3D-OCT). Methods: We obtained data from coronary heart disease patients who received OCT-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for bifurcation lesions. The SB protection strategies were divided into JWT and JBT, with the latter further subdivided into active JBT (A-JBT) and conventional JBT (C-JBT). The primary endpoint was the SB ostium area difference measured by 3D-OCT before and after PCI. Partial correlation analysis and propensity score matching (PSM) was used to mitigate confounding biases. Results: A total of 207 bifurcation lesions from 191 patients were analyzed, including 136 lesions treated with JWT and 71 lesions treated with JBT. The SB ostium area was significantly greater in the JBT group compared to the JWT group (0.41 ± 1.22 mm² vs. –0.25 ± 1.40 mm², p = 0.001). Following 1:1 PSM to adjust for 60 pairs, the difference between groups was not statistically significant (0.28 ± 1.06 mm² vs. –0.02 ± 1.29 mm², p = 0.165). Subgroup analysis revealed that A-JBT provided superior protection in both true (0.47 ± 1.22 mm² vs. –0.10 ± 1.10 mm², p = 0.011) and non-true bifurcation lesions (0.56 ± 1.43 mm² vs. –0.38 ± 1.62 mm², p = 0.030) over JWT, while C-JBT provided protection similar to JWT. A positive partial correlation was observed between the diameter of the jailed balloon and the increase in SB ostium area (r = 0.296, p = 0.013). Conclusions: Overall, A-JBT, but not C-JBT, provided better protection in bifurcation lesions compared to JWT. The larger diameter of the jailed balloon, rather than the application of higher pressure, enhanced the SB protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bifurcation lesions, especially around the left main coronary (LMC), are occasionally encountered. More frequent LMC lesion are present in Complex and High risk Patients (CHIP) and this case represent a real challenge for interventional cardiologists. Bifurcation lesions PCI reported to have high overall major adverse cardiovascular events, and require the use of various complex interventional techniques. Here, we report a case of successful percutaneous coronary intervention supported by Impella on an LMC bifurcation treatment with culotte stenting in patient with cardiogenic shock.

Cardiac interventions in the setting of a ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) often require complex decision-making, especially when confronted with coronary bifurcation lesions. Although provisional stenting is the first choice regarding revascularization, bailout or upfront two stents may be required.

Background Acute fracture of a left main (LM) stent during angioplasty is a rare complication. Cardiologists should be aware of the risk of stent fracture (SF) following kissing balloon inflation (KBI) even if the effective diameter of the balloons does not exceed the recommended expansion limits of stents. Case summary A 64-year-old female with hypertension and dyslipidaemia presented with crescendo angina since three months in spite of optimal medical therapy. Coronary angiogram showed a distal LM bifurcation lesion. The patient was admitted for LM bifurcation stenting by upfront two-stent technique (inverted double-kissing Culotte technique). Following first KBI of the stent placed from left circumflex artery (LCX) to LM, there was stent deformation in the LM shaft. As we had planned the Culotte technique, we decided to exclude the fractured segment by stenting from left anterior descending artery (LAD) to LM. The stent from LAD–LM successfully excluded the fractured part of the first stent from the lumen of LM. Optical coherence tomography done after final KBI from LCX–LM revealed successful exclusion of the deformed segment of the LCX stent with mild malapposition at the site of the deformed stent. A follow-up angiogram after six months showed normal in-stent flow with no evidence of restenosis or pseudoaneurysm. Discussion Acute LM SF during coronary intervention can occur even if the effective cumulative diameter of the inflated balloons does not exceed the mentioned expansion limit of stents. Intravascular imaging is a helpful modality to define type of SF and its management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Murray law-based quantitative flow ratio (µQFR) assesses fractional flow reserve (FFR) in bifurcation lesions using a single angiographic view, enhancing the feasibility of analysis; however, accuracy may be compromised in suboptimal angiographic projections. FFRCT is a well-validated non-invasive method measuring FFR from coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA). We evaluated the feasibility of µQFR in left main (LM) bifurcations, the impact of the optimal/suboptimal fluoroscopic view with respect to CCTA, and its diagnostic concordance with FFRCT. In 300 patients with three-vessel disease, the values of FFRCT and µQFR were compared at distal LM, proximal left anterior descending artery (pLAD) and circumflex artery (pLCX). The optimal viewing angle of LM bifurcation was defined on CCTA by 3-dimensional coordinates and converted into a 2-dimensional fluoroscopic view. The best fluoroscopic projection was considered the closest angulation to the optimal viewing angle on CCTA. µQFR was successfully computed in 805 projections. In the best projections, µQFR sensitivity was 88.2% (95% CI 76.1–95.6) and 84.8% (71.1–93.7), and specificity was 96.8% (93.8–98.6) and 97.2% (94.4–98.9), in pLAD and pLCX, respectively, with regard to FFRCT. The AUC of µQFR for predicting FFRCT ≤ 0.80 tended to be improved using the best versus suboptimal projections (0.94 vs. 0.89 [p = 0.048] in pLAD; 0.94 vs. 0.88 [p = 0.075] in pLCX). Computation of µQFR in LM bifurcations using a single angiographic view showed high feasibility from post-hoc analysis of coronary angiograms obtained for clinical purposes. The fluoroscopic viewing angle influences the diagnostic performance of physiological assessment using a single angiographic view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Modifiable atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk factors are hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, cigarette smoking, and obesity; the term coronary artery bifurcation is used when a coronary artery divides into two hemodynamically important branches or when the main branch has a hemodynamic significant side branch, bifurcation lesion represent 20% or more of coronary artery stenoses undergoing angiography. Objectives: To evaluate the relationship of hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, cigarette smoking, and obesity to coronary bifurcation disease. Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study conducted in the Iraqi Center for Heart Diseases from May 2020 to May 2021, a total of 140 adult patients (70 cases with coronary bifurcation lesions and 70 control cases with non-bifurcation lesions) with angiography-documented stenotic coronary artery disease (CAD) were defined. Case demographics and modifiable CAD risk factors were addressed. Results: In the bifurcation group, the non-bifurcation lesion was mostly an associated angiographic finding (82%). The most significantly correlated atherosclerotic risk factor with bifurcation lesion compared to non-bifurcation lesion was diabetes, followed by systemic hypertension. Dyslipidemia was the most common prevalent risk factor, equally distributed in both groups. Smoking and obesity were distributed nearly equally in both groups. Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between diabetes and hypertension with coronary bifurcation lesions compared to non-bifurcation lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Modifiable atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk factors are hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, cigarette smoking, and obesity; the term coronary artery bifurcation is used when a coronary artery divides into two hemodynamically important branches or when the main branch has a hemodynamic significant side branch, bifurcation lesion represent 20% or more of coronary artery stenoses undergoing angiography. Objectives: To evaluate the relationship of hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, cigarette smoking, and obesity to coronary bifurcation disease. Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study conducted in the Iraqi Center for Heart Diseases from May 2020 to May 2021, a total of 140 adult patients (70 cases with coronary bifurcation lesions and 70 control cases with non-bifurcation lesions) with angiography-documented stenotic coronary artery disease (CAD) were defined. Case demographics and modifiable CAD risk factors were addressed. Results: In the bifurcation group, the non-bifurcation lesion was mostly an associated angiographic finding (82%). The most significantly correlated atherosclerotic risk factor with bifurcation lesion compared to non-bifurcation lesion was diabetes, followed by systemic hypertension. Dyslipidemia was the most common prevalent risk factor, equally distributed in both groups. Smoking and obesity were distributed nearly equally in both groups. Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between diabetes and hypertension with coronary bifurcation lesions compared to non-bifurcation lesions.

Knowledge in the field of bifurcation lesions and chronic total occlusions (CTOs) has progressively improved over the past 20 years. Therefore, the European Bifurcation Club and the EuroCTO Club have decided to write a joint consensus statement to share general knowledge and practical approaches in this complex field. When percutaneously treating CTOs, bifurcation lesions with relevant side branches (SBs) are found in approximately one-third of cases (35% at the proximal cap, 38% at the distal cap, and 27% within the CTO body). Occlusion of a relevant SB is not rare and has been shown to be associated with procedural complications and adverse outcomes. Simple bifurcation rules are very useful to prevent SB occlusion, and provisional SB stenting is the recommended approach in the majority of cases: protect the SB as soon as possible by wiring it, respect the fractal anatomy of the bifurcation by using the 3-diameter rule, and avoid using dissection and re-entry techniques. A systematic 2-stent approach can be used if needed or sometimes to connect both branches of the bifurcation. The retrograde approach can be very useful to save a relevant SB, especially in the case of a bifurcation at the distal cap or within the CTO body. Intravascular ultrasound is also a very important tool to address the difficulties with bifurcations at the proximal or distal cap and sometimes also within the CTO segment. Double-lumen microcatheters and angulated microcatheters are crucial tools to resolve access difficulties to the SB or the main branch. [Display omitted] • Bifurcations with a relevant side branch are frequent in CTOs (one-third of cases) and add complexity to the procedure. • Provisional SB stenting is the recommended approach in the majority of bifurcation CTOs. • When treating bifurcation CTOs, IVUS may increase procedural safety and success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Introduction and objectives: To describe the efficacy of the BIOSS LIM C dedicated sirolimus-eluting stent to treat coronary bifurcation lesions, and impact on the bifurcation angle and carina through quantitative coronary angiography. Methods: Observational prospective study including 124 patients with bifurcation lesions treated with a BIOSS LIM C dedicated sirolimus-eluting stent excluding restenotic lesions and those without main vessel involvement. Results: The stent was successfully deployed in 121 patients (97.6%) while in 18 (14.5%) double stenting was used. The quantitative coronary analysis has shown proper stent expansion with a mean residual stenosis of 18% in the proximal segment, nearly 0% in the distal segment, and 21% in the side branch. The angiographic results of double stenting showed higher mean diameters (2.12 ± 0.30 vs 1.60 ± 0.42; P < .001), and lower residual stenosis (18.36 ± 9.94 vs 28.49 ± 14.19%, P < .01). Distortion imposed on the bifurcation angulation was minimal with an absolute reduction of 5 degrees (52.8 ± 18.4 vs 47.5 ± 17.2; P = .001). Conclusions: The dedicated BIOSS LIM C stent has had a very high success rate to treat coronary bifurcation lesions. Angiographic results are good with a remarkably low impact on the native bifurcation angulation, and excellent results from double stenting. We think this can be a very useful device to treat coronary bifurcation lesions with the advantage of easing out the bailout deployment of a second stent into the side branch.

Background: Bifurcation angle (BA) is the critical angle that has impact on side branch (SB) occlusion during coronary intervention due to plaque shift. There have been few research studies especially in Pakistan on the role of BA in plaque shift. Objective: To know the impact of bifurcation angle on the side branch occlusion during provisional stenting. Methodology: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Lahore on consecutively enrolled patients between July 2017 and June 2019. The subjects were split into two groups: high angle and low angle using the median BA. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify BA as an independent predictor of occlusion of SB. Results: Occurrence of side branch occlusion was found in 7.7% of the total of 600 bifurcation lesions. SB occlusion rate was found to be significantly higher in higher angle (HA) group compared to lower angle (LA) group i.e. (37/292, 12.7 %) and (9/308, 2.9 %) respectively, (P < 0.001). Binary logistic regression analysis demonstrated high angle to be an independent predictor for the occlusion of side branches (odds ratio [OR]: 1.026 per degree increment, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.016 - 1.045, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Higher branching angle was noted as the independent predictor of the occlusion of side branches following provisional stenting of main vessel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronary bifurcation is defined by the European Bifurcation Consensus as a coronary artery stenosis adjacent to the origin of a significant side branch. Its anatomy is composed of 3 different segments: proximal main vessel, distal main vessel and side branch. Coronary artery bifurcation lesions are encountered in approximately 15-20% of all percutaneous coronary interventions and constitute a complex subgroup of lesions characterized by lower procedural success rates and higher rates of adverse outcomes. In recent years, a growing focus in the European and Japanese bifurcation club meetings has been the emerging role of intravascular imaging, in guiding successful bifurcation percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). In this review we will present the main ways optical coherence tomography (OCT) can be used to improve outcomes during bifurcation PCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The outcomes and characteristics of patients with side branch occlusion (SBO) after bifurcation percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have received limited study., Methods: We compared the procedural characteristics and outcomes of patients with and without SBO among 933 provisional bifurcation PCIs performed in 803 patients at six centers between 2014 and 2024., Results: The prevalence of SBO was 13% (n = 121). SBO patients had lower rates of hypertension, prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), and prior PCI but higher angiographic complexity, with higher prevalence of left anterior descending artery stenoses, smaller side branch diameter and more severe side branch diameter stenoses. SBO patients were more likely to convert from provisional to two-stent strategies (24.8% vs 6.0%, p < 0.001), and to require plaque modification (39.7% vs 17.5%, p < 0.001) and side branch percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) (25.6% vs 12.9%, p < 0.001). SBO patients had lower technical (78.5% vs 96.2%, p < 0.001) and procedural (73.5% vs 92.2%, p < 0.001) success and similar in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), but higher dissection rates (7.1% vs 2.0%, p = 0.007). Patients with untreated SBO had similar in-hospital MACE with untreated SBO patients. During a median follow-up of 1,095 days patients with treated SBO (83.9%, n = 94) had lower follow-up MACE (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.29, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.10, 0.84, p = 0.023) and mortality (HR: 0.22, CI: 0.065, 0.755, p = 0.016) compared with patients with untreated SBO., Conclusions: SBO occurs in 13% of provisional PCIs. SBO patients had more complex coronary lesions and worse follow-up clinical outcomes if the SBO was left untreated., (© 2025 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to the calcified bifurcation lesion is still a challenging issue even for experienced interventional cardiologists. In such bifurcation lesions, side branch compromise caused by carina-shift or plaque shift just following stent implantation or balloon dilatation is one of the most important complications. It remains unclear whether rotational atherectomy (RA) to the main vessel reduces the incidence of side branch compromise in the calcified bifurcation lesions. The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the incidence of side branch compromise/occlusion between PCI with versus without RA. This was a retrospective, single-center study. Side branch compromise/occlusion was defined as final Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction flow grade of side branch ≤2/≤1. We included 302 calcified bifurcation lesions, and divided those into the RA group (n = 140) and the non-RA group (n = 162) according to use of RA to the main vessel. The incidence of side branch compromise/occlusion was significantly less in the RA group than in the non-RA group (compromise: 6.4 % versus 14.2 %, p = 0.038; occlusion: 3.6 % versus 10.5 %, p = 0.017). RA was inversely associated with the incidence of side branch compromise [odds ratio (OR) 0.272, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.096–0.772, p = 0.014] and occlusion (OR 0.175, 95 % CI 0.049–0.628, p = 0.008). RA to the main vessel was associated with a lower incidence of side branch compromise/occlusion. RA to the main vessel only may be a reasonable approach to reduce the risk of side branch compromise/occlusion in calcified bifurcation lesions. [Display omitted] • Side branch compromise is an important complication in percutaneous coronary intervention to bifurcation lesions. • Side branch compromise was compared between with and without rotational atherectomy (RA) to main vessel. • RA to main vessel may be a reasonable option in calcified bifurcation lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to customize the size and shape of angioplasty balloons may be useful in many clinical and research applications of coronary and endovascular intervention. Fully customizable balloons are outside the reach of most researchers due to their prohibitive cost. A small-scale balloon-forming machine was developed to produce fully customizable balloons. This study describes the creation of this customizable balloon-forming machine and identifies the key components of manufacturing a patient-specific balloon. Using a standard balloon-shaped mold created with a novel application of 3D stereolithography-printed resin, 104 PET balloon formation tests were conducted. A statistical study was conducted in which molding temperature and inflation air pressure were independent variables ranging from 100 to 130 °C and from 3.7 to 6.8 atm, respectively. The criteria for balloon-forming success were defined; pressure and temperature combined were found to have a significant impact on the success (p = 0.011), with 120 °C and 4.76 atm resulting in the highest chance for success based on a regression model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare the effects of paclitaxal-coated balloon (PCB) versus conventional balloon (CB) on side branch (SB) lesion and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with de novo true bifurcation lesions. Methods: In total, 219 patients with de novo true bifurcation lesions were enrolled and divided into PCB group (102 cases) and CB group (117 cases) according to angioplasty strategy in SB. Drug-eluting stent (DES) was implanted in main vessel (MV) for each subject. All subjects underwent a 12-month follow-up for late lumen loss (LLL), restenosis, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). MACEs included cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and unstable angina requiring admission. Results: There were no differences in diameter, minimum lumen diameter (MLD), and stenosis for bifurcation lesions between the two groups before and immediately after PCI (P > 0.05). After 12-month follow-up, no differences occurred in MV-MLD and MV-LLL between the two groups (P > 0.05); SB-MLD in PCB group was higher than that in CB group (1.97 ± 0.36 mm vs. 1.80 ± 0.43 mm, P = 0.007); SB-LLL in PCB group was lower than that in CB group (0.11 ± 0.18 mm vs. 0.19 ± 0.25 mm, P = 0.024). Multivariate COX analyses indicated that PCB group had lower MACE risk than CB group (HR = 0.480, 95%CI 0.244–0.941, P = 0.033). Conclusion: PCB could decrease SB-LLL and MACE risk in patients with de novo true coronary bifurcation lesion 12 months after single-DES intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ostial lesions present unique challenges for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). These lesions are often more calcified, fibrotic, rigid, and more prone to elastic recoil. Intervention on these lesions is associated with higher procedural complications and higher rates of restenosis. Ostial lesions require precise stent placement in the ostium with the absence of side branch compromise. Accurate stent placement in the ostium without side branch compromise is difficult to accomplish with angiography alone. The Szabo technique uses two coronary guidewires for the correct placement in the aorto-ostial or bifurcation lesion. One guidewire is passed through the final cell of the stent strut and acts as the anchor wire. It helps to prevent migration of the stent beyond the ostium and facilitates the precise stenting at the ostium. This technique has several advantages including less reliance on angiography, lower rates of stent malposition and lower rates of incomplete stent coverage. Potential disadvantages include stent distortion and dislodgement from stent manipulation. We describe two cases of successful PCI to bifurcation lesions using the Szabo technique and confirmation of correct placement in the ostium with optical coherence tomography.

Background: Drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty for side branches with main branch stenting is effective for bifurcation lesions and reduces late lumen loss (LLL) in side branches. However, the predictors and clinical implications of LLL after DCB angioplasty are largely unexplored.Methods: Among 181 patients undergoing DCB angioplasty for side branches with drug-eluting stent implantation for main branches between 2016 and 2018, we enrolled 138 patients (138 lesions) undergoing follow-up coronary angiography within 1 year. The 1-year cumulative rates of target lesion revascularization (TLR) and major adverse cardiac events (MACE: defined as a composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, and TLR) were compared between patients with late lumen gain (LLG) (LLG group) and those with LLL (LLL group).Results: The binary restenosis rate of the side branch was 8.0% (11 lesions), mean LLL was -0.14 ± 0.43 mm, and LLG was observed in 99 lesions (71.7%). The DCB size/reference vessel diameter ratio showed mild discrimination (area under the curve, 0.60; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-65.0; p = 0.03) for predicting the side branch progression. The 1-year cumulative rates of MACE and TLR were not significantly different but numerically lower in the LLG group than in the LLL group (2.0% vs. 7.8%, p = 0.11 and 2.0% vs. 7.7%, p = 0.11, respectively). Lumen regression after DCB angioplasty for side branches are associated with improved clinical outcomes.Conclusions: The DCB size relative to the reference vessel diameter is a predictor of late lumen enlargement in side branches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of bifurcation lesions is associated with higher rates of adverse events, and currently it is unclear whether PCI or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the safer treatment for these patients at very long-term follow-up. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of bifurcation lesions on individual predicted and observed all-cause 10-year mortality in the SYNTAX (Synergy Between PCI With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery) trial. In the SYNTAXES (SYNTAX Extended Survival) study, 10-year observed and individual predicted mortality derived from the SYNTAX score 2020 (SS-2020) was compared between patients with ≥1 bifurcation (n = 1,300) and those with no bifurcations (n = 487). Among patients treated with PCI, patients with >1 bifurcation lesion compared with those without bifurcation lesions had a significantly higher risk for all-cause death (19.8% vs 30.1%; HR: 1.55; 95% CI: 1.12-2.14; P = 0.007), whereas following CABG, mortality was similar in patients with and those without bifurcation lesions (23.3% vs 23.0%; HR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.59-1.12; P = 0.207; P interaction = 0.006). In PCI patients, a 2-stent vs a 1-stent technique was associated with higher mortality (33.3% vs 25.9%; HR: 1.51; 95% CI: 1.06-2.14; P = 0.021). According to the SS-2020, among those with ≥1 bifurcation, there was equipoise for all-cause mortality between PCI and CABG in 2 quartiles of the population, whereas CABG was superior to PCI in the 2 remaining quartiles. Bifurcation lesions require special attention from the heart team, considering the higher 10-year all-cause mortality associated with PCI. Careful evaluation of bifurcation lesion complexity and calculation of individualized 10-year prognosis using the SS-2020 may therefore be helpful in decision making. (Synergy Between PCI With TAXUS and Cardiac Surgery: SYNTAX Extended Survival [SYNTAXES], NCT03417050 ; Taxus Drug-Eluting Stent Versus Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery for the Treatment of Narrowed Arteries [SYNTAX], NCT00114972) [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the simple single stenting rather than complex double stenting is recommended on percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for bifurcation lesions, double stenting cannot always be avoided. We investigated the impact of directional coronary atherectomy (DCA), followed by drug-coated balloon (DCB) treatment to reduce the number of stents and avoid complex stenting in PCI for bifurcation lesions and short-term patency. DCA treatment without stents was attempted for 27 bifurcation lesions in 25 patients, of those, 26 bifurcation lesions in 24 patients were successfully treated and 3-month follow-up angiography and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed. Sixteen lesions (59.3%) were related to left main trunk distal bifurcations, and 7 (25.9%) were true bifurcation lesions. Among the true bifurcation lesions, 4 lesions (57.1%) needed 1 stent, and the other 3 lesions (42.9%) needed no stents. Among the non-true bifurcation lesions, 1 lesion (5.0%) needed bailout stent and other lesions (95.0%) needed no stents. According to DCA followed by DCB treatment, the angiographic mean diameter stenosis improved from 65.5 ± 15.0% to 7.8 ± 9.8%, and the mean plaque area in intravascular ultrasound improved from 80.4 ± 10.5% to 39.0 ± 11.5%, respectively. Angiographic and OCT late lumen loss values were 0.2 ± 0.6 mm and 1.4 ± 1.9 mm, respectively. No patient had in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and 3-month MACE. In conclusion, compared with standard provisional side branch stenting strategy, DCA followed by DCB treatment might reduce the number of stents, avoid complex stenting for major bifurcation lesions and provide good short-term outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Introduction and objectives: Coronary bifurcation lesions are a common scenario in our interventional practice and can be challenging for our routine clinical practice. Yet despite the existence of well-defined techniques, side-branch compromise is still the most important problem. Currently, the standard strategy recommended is a 1-stent technique: balloon angioplasty and provisional stenting. Published non-randomized data reveal that in up to 26% of the cases the indication for rotational atherectomy was to preserve the side-branch. A randomized comparison between rotational atherectomy and provisional stenting (RAPS) and standard strategy (SS) for the management of bifurcation lesions is needed at this point. Methods: We conducted a single center, prospective, randomized pilot study of consecutive patients from our center with bifurcation lesions. We compared the RAPS strategy to the SS. Lesions had to be located in the main vessel only. The bifurcation lesion angle was recorded. The primary endpoint was the need for side-branch therapy. Results: 148 patients were included: 74 patients (95 rotational atherectomy) were enrolled in the RAPS group and 74 patients in the SS group. The bifurcation lesion most frequently treated was that of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery. The primary endpoint was lower in the RAPS group compared to the SS group (1.1 vs 31.2%; P < .001). Target vessel failure (TVF) was 13.1% and 24.8% (P = .04) in RAPS and SS, respectively. Both the primary endpoint and TVF were higher with bifurcation lesion angles < 70º compared to bifurcation lesion angles ≥ 70º (P = .03 and P = .02) in both groups. Conclusions: The need for side-branch therapy and TVF was lower when the RAPS strategy was used compared to the SS. Bifurcation lesion angles < 70º are associated with higher side-branch compromise and TVF rates. The SS was associated with a 4.92-fold higher risk of side-branch compromise compared to the RAPS strategy with bifurcation lesion angles < 70º. These data reinforce the idea of the overall clinical relevance of the RAPS strategy regarding the patency of the side-branch.

Background: Transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS) is an uncommon complication following renal transplantation. Its usual clinical presentation includes worsening hypertension and/or renal function, without any evidence of graft rejection. Bifurcation renal artery stenosis of the transplanted renal artery is rarely encountered. Methods: Percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) with or without stenting is the procedure of choice to treat TRAS. We hereby describe a patient, who presented with impaired renal functions, four months following the renal transplantation. He underwent intravascular ultrasound-guided PTRA of the bifurcation lesion of TRAS. Results and conclusion: Superior renal artery had coronary drug-eluting stent implantation, while inferior renal artery and side branch of the superior renal artery had balloon angioplasty, alone. Post-intervention, the raised serum creatinine level decreased from 2.9 mg% to 1.7 mg%. The index case described the successful PTRA and stenting of the bifurcation lesion of TRAS, the technical results of which was optimized with the use of intravascular ultrasound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bifurcation lesion whether it is left main (LM) stem disease with left main to left anterior descending artery (LM-LAD) or left main to left circumflex (LM-LCX), LAD-Diagonal or LCX-Obtuse marginal or right coronary artery- posterior descending artery (RCA-PDA); are not uncommon lesion type that needs to be revascularized either by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) to establish the coronary flow and relieved patient anginal symptoms. Even though, many of the literature maintained non-inferiority of bifurcation lesion PCI over CABG and is Class IIb indication for PCI by coronary stent. In literature, bifurcation lesions commonly encountered in PCI and are regarded as most technically challenging lesions to treat, in up to 20% of PCI cases. With the advent of interventional procedures and the availability of cardiac catheterization laboratory facilities, skilled interventionist, many of the Bangladeshi patients are being treated for coronary artery diseases (CAD). With the advent of drug eluting stents, availability of IVUS (Intravascular Ultrasound), FFR (Fractional Flow Reserve) and individual expertise, treating bifurcation lesion may not be difficult task. Interventionist must be expert enough in doing PCI, before to proceed for bifurcation lesion PCI. We need to work together to develop common consensus in developing updated skill in treating bifurcation lesion which will prove bifurcation PCI in our population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronary bifurcation is defined by the European Bifurcation Consensus as a coronary artery stenosis adjacent to the origin of a significant side branch. Its anatomy is composed of 3 different segments: proximal main vessel, distal main vessel and side branch. Coronary artery bifurcation lesions are encountered in approximately 15–20% of all percutaneous coronary interventions and constitute a complex subgroup of lesions characterized by lower procedural success rates and higher rates of adverse outcomes. In recent years, a growing focus in the European and Japanese bifurcation club meetings has been the emerging role of intravascular imaging, in guiding successful bifurcation percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). In this review we will present the main ways optical coherence tomography (OCT) can be used to improve outcomes during bifurcation PCI.

Objectives: To assess feasibility, safety and efficacy of hybrid approach, consisting in a combination of modern drug-eluting stent (DES) and drug-eluting balloon (DCB), for treatment of de-novo diffuse coronary artery disease (CAD).Backgrounds: Contemporary DES are associated with a persistent risk of major cardiovascular events, due to in-stent thrombosis and restenosis. The hybrid approach, reducing the permanent metallic cage length, is supposed to mitigate the risk of device-related adverse events, especially in diffuse CAD.Methods: This is a prospective, non-randomized, observational, multicenter study intended to obtain data from 100 consecutive patients affected by de-novo diffuse CAD undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with a hybrid approach, consisting in the combined use of DES and DCB in contiguous coronary segments. The study is recorded in ClinicalTrials.gov with the identifier: NCT03939468.Results: The primary endpoint is a device oriented composite end-point (DOCE) of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction (TV-MI) and ischemia-driven target lesion revascularization (ID-TLR) in DES- and/or DCB-treated segment. DOCE will be assessed at 12-months follow-up.Conclusions: This will be the first study investigating the feasibility, safety and efficacy of hybrid DES/DCB approach for the treatment of de-novo diffuse CAD. Here we describe the rationale and the design of the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Coronary artery bifurcation lesion is an epicardial stenosis that, when compared to non-bifurcation lesions, poses a greater risk of adverse events and can compromise prognosis. This study aims to investigate the clinical efficacy of different stenting techniques, particularly in terms of their immediate, short-term, intermediate, and long-term outcomes in patients with true bifurcation lesions., Methodology: This retrospective observational cohort study was conducted in a tertiary cardiac hospital in Islamabad, from February 1, 2015, to February 28, 2021. A total of 172 patients who met the inclusion criteria and underwent percutaneous coronary intervention were selected using a consecutive sampling technique. Follow-up was maintained for three years to assess procedural outcomes., Results: Of the 172 participants, the majority were males (69%) and only 4% were above 75 years of age. A significant relation between major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and previous percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (p < 0.000) was observed. Procedural success was good in all patients using the drug-eluting stent. The MAC rate was 6.9% and the final kissing balloon inflation, stenting technique, and bifurcation involvement were significantly associated with MACE occurrence (p < 0.01), and mortality was reported in two patients (1.16%). MACEs were associated with mortality; previous PCI and hypertension increased the risk of mortality., Conclusion: The two-stent strategy can be used with good long-term outcomes and low complication rates., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Ethical Committee of Kulsum International Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan issued approval 6824-89/KIH. Since the last follow-up was in December 2022, patients could be contacted directly. Therefore, no written/verbal consent was availed as the data were collected from the hospital record and not directly from the patient. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Qadir et al.)

The European Society of Cardiology annual congress is the premier global platform for dissemination and unraveling major scientific advances in the field of cardiology. Each year a myriad number of scientific ideas are exchanged at this meeting and many major path-breaking clinical trials are presented that have the potential to alter our practice. Last year was not different and more than 30 clinical trials spanning various facets of cardiology were unveiled and discussed-heart failure, lipid lowering, coronary intervention, intracoronary imaging, cardiomyopathies, anticoagulation, atrial fibrillation, antiplatelet therapy, etc. We present a brief summary of 10 major trials which in the view of authors have the potential for impacting daily cardiology practice. In each study, we also attempt to provide a contemporary perspective and the way forward. We aim to provide a glimpse on the major advances in the field of cardiology in the past year., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest None declared., (International College of Angiology. This article is published by Thieme.)

The purpose of this study is to contribute to the design and development by analyzing the expected mechanical behavior of bioresorbable scaffolds. Bioresorbable scaffolds are a type of medical device 'stent' that treats heart disease by physically removing plaque inside the coronary arteries. Unlike conventional metal-based stents, bioresorbable scaffolds are manufactured using polymeric materials that achieve dissolution properties within 1-2 years in vivo through hydrolysis with blood. Thus, bioresorbable scaffolds have the advantage of reducing postoperative side effects. However, due to the mechanical properties of the polymeric materials used, bioresorbable scaffolds are currently only applied to simple lesions. In particular, for branched lesions that separate from one main vessel into two branched vessels, the stenting procedures are still being studied through various clinical trials, but there are not many reports of studies and results through interpretation. A provisional stent method of placing a single stent in the blood vessel is commonly used to treat branched lesions. Since the diameter of the blood vessel before and after the branching is different, the selection of the stent diameter is applied as the first step before the stent operation. Conventional metal-based stent operations do not require this consideration, but it is needed for bioresorbable scaffolds due to the low tensile strength of the polymeric material. In this study, temporary stents with two different diameter bioresorbable scaffolds corresponding to the diameter of the main vessel at both ends were evaluated using the calculation method. In this study, these two stents with different diameters were compared in terms of device failure and damage to the inner wall of the blood vessel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clinically significant bifurcation lesions account for up to 20% of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures, and present technical challenges due to the potential for occlusion of the side branch vessel. Percutaneous coronary intervention using final kissing ballooning (FKB) plays a major role in treating bifurcation lesions, but sequential dilatation (SD) is a less complicated PCI technique with a shallower learning curve. Previous studies have shown no benefit of FKB over SD, but wide-angle (>70°) bifurcation lesions may respond differently to narrow-angle bifurcation lesions.Methods: Retrospective analysis was carried out to compare outcomes of FKB and SD stenting specifically for wide-angle bifurcation lesions: 7,582 PCIs performed at a single medical centre between 1 January 2009 and 31 May 2016 were screened. This yielded 112 SD and 102 FKB cases for comparative analysis, which was conducted with respect to major adverse cardiac event (MACE)-free survival and target lesion revascularisation (TLR)-free survival rates.Results: The comparative analysis was achieved using the log-rank test and presented as Kaplan-Meier curves. All baseline characteristics were balanced among the groups. The mean procedure and fluoroscopy times were significantly longer for patients with FKB than SD. Patients with SD had slightly better MACE and TLR rates than those with FKB in both the drug-eluting stent (DES) and bare metal stent (BMS) groups. In addition, patients with DES had slightly lower MACE and TLR rates than those with BMS in both the FKD and SD groups. Major adverse cardiac event-free survival and TLR-free survival rates were also slightly higher in patients with DES than those with BMS in both the FKD and SD groups. However, these differences were not statistically significant.Conclusions: These results suggest that the most applicable procedure for PCI of wide-angulated bifurcation stenosis would be a combination of DES and SD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the aim of assisting interventional cardiologists during decision making for revascularization, reduced-order (0D) approaches have been developed to predict the true fractional flow reserve (FFRTrue) of individual stenoses in multiple-lesion arrangements. In this study, a general equation was derived to predict the FFRTrue of a left main (LM) coronary stenosis with downstream lesions, one in the left anterior descending (LAD) and the other in the left circumflex (LCx) artery, and distinct collateral circulations supplying each daughter artery. An in vitro model mimicking the fractal nature of LM bifurcation trees with collateral branches was developed to validate the FFR values obtained with the prediction model (FFRPredModel). Our results demonstrated that: (1) considering collaterals significantly improved the FFRPredModel estimation for a moderate LM stenosis with two downstream lesions as compared to computations with no collateral consideration (p < 0.001): mean absolute error |FFRPredModel − FFRTrue| ± SD was equal to 0.02 ± 0.01 vs. 0.04 ± 0.02 respectively, and (2) Deviations from FFRTrue for LM stenoses are correlated to both, downstream lesion severities and collateral developments. The present study supports the hypothesis that collateral circulations supplying the LAD and LCx must be considered when predicting the FFRTrue of an LM stenosis with downstream lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for bifurcation lesions (BL) using 2 stents technique is known to be associated with high rates of procedural failure especially on the side branch (SB) mainly due to stent incomplete apposition. Stent deployment at very high pressure (SDHP) may lead to better stent expansion and apposition. However, SDHP may also be at the origin of deeper wall injury resulting into major cardiac adverse events. No data are available on evaluation of SDHP in BL treated by a mini-crush stent technique. Methods: One hundred and thirteen consecutive patients underwent PCI for BL (Medina 1, 1, 1) using a mini-crush stent technique with SDHP defined as ≥20 atm. An angiographic follow-up was performed at 6 month and clinical follow-up was obtained at a median of 3 years. Results: Stent deployment mean pressures were 20 ± 1.4 atm (range 20–25) in the main vessel (MV) and 20 ± 1.5 atm (range 20–25) in SB. Simultaneous final kissing balloon was used in 92% of cases. PCI was successful in 100%. Angiographic follow-up was obtained in 83% of patients. Restenosis rate was 13% (12% restenosis in the SB) with only one case (0.8%) of SB probable thrombosis. Another case of late stent thrombosis occurred at a 3 years clinical follow-up. Conclusion: Compared with previously published studies in which stents were deployed at lower pressure, SDHP does not increase the restenosis rate in BL using mini-crush stent technique but seems to reduce the rate of stent thrombosis.

BackgroundThe majority of coronary bifurcation lesions are treated with a provisional single‐stent strategy rather than an up‐front 2‐stent strategy. This approach is supported by multiple randomized controlled clinical trials with short‐ to medium‐term follow‐up; however, long‐term follow‐up data is evolving from many data sets. Methods and ResultsMeta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials evaluating long‐term outcomes (≥1 year) according to treatment strategy for coronary bifurcation lesions. Nine randomized controlled trials with 3265 patients reported long‐term clinical outcomes at mean weighted follow‐up of 3.1±1.8 years. Provisional single stenting was associated with lower all‐cause mortality (2.94% versus 4.23%; risk ratio: 0.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.48–1.00; P=0.049; I2=0). There was no difference in major adverse cardiac events (15.8% versus 15.4%; P=0.79), myocardial infarction (4.8% versus 5.5%; P=0.51), target lesion revascularization (9.3% versus 7.6%; P=0.19), or stent thrombosis (1.8% versus 1.6%; P=0.28) between the groups. Prespecified sensitivity analysis of long‐term mortality at a mean of 4.7 years of follow‐up showed that the provisional single‐stent strategy was associated with reduced all‐cause mortality (3.9% versus 6.2%; risk ratio: 0.63; 95% confidence interval, 0.42–0.97; P=0.036; I2=0). ConclusionsCoronary bifurcation percutaneous coronary intervention using a provisional single‐stent strategy is associated with a reduction in all‐cause mortality at long‐term follow‐up.

Background Few data on the combined effects of bifurcation and calcification on coronary artery disease (CAD) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are available. This study evaluated the impact of main vessel (MV) calcification on the procedural and long-term outcomes in patients with CAD who underwent provisional single stent PCI. Methods This is a multicenter, prospective, observational study. Patients with bifurcation lesions were enrolled at 10 PCI centers in China from January 2015 to December 2017. Intravascular ultrasound or optical coherence tomography was performed in all patients to evaluate the MV calcification. Patients were treated with provisional single stent strategy using drug eluting stents and followed-up at 1 month, 6 months and 12 months after discharge by telephone contact or outpatient visit. Repeated coronary imaging was performed within one year. We compared the procedural success rates in MV and in side branch (SB), and target lesion failure (TLF), defined as a composite of cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, definite or possible stent thrombosis and target lesion revascularization between patients with and without MV calcification. Results A total of 185 subjects were enrolled according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria of this study. MV calcification was detected in 119 (64.3%, calcification group) and not found in 66 (35.7%, non-calcification group) patients. The angiographic success rate of MV was 95.8% in the calcification group and 97.0% in the non-calcification group (P = 0.91); the angiographic success rate of SB was 32.8% in the calcification group and 53.0% in the non-calcification group (P < 0.05). During the one-year follow-up period, TLF occurred in 14 (11.8%) patients in the calcification group and in 13 (19.7%) in the non-calcification group (P = 0.31). Multivariate regression analysis showed the same result (HR = 1.23, 95% CI: 0.76-1.52, P = 0.47). Calcification on group had higher recurrent angina than non-calcification group (13.51% vs. 17.65%, P < 0.05). Conclusions In patients with coronary bifurcation lesion treated with provisional one stent approach, calcification of MV is associated with lower SB procedural success rate, it could increase recurrence of angina; however, it was not associated with an increased risk of TLF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]