This prospective multicenter study was conducted to compare the incidence of significant vascular complications delaying hospital discharge after coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary ...intervention (PCI) between the radial approach (n = 192) and the femoral approach (n = 185) in octogenarians, a rapidly growing population with numerous risk factors for complications. By intention-to-treat analysis, the incidence of vascular complications was found to be significantly less in the radial group (1.6% vs 6.5%, p = 0.03), without any decrease in the efficacy of PCI and only a slight increase in procedure duration for coronary angiography. All vascular complications, except for 1, occurred in patients treated with the transfemoral approach.
The occurrence of stenosis in or next to coronary bifurcations is relatively frequent and generally underestimated. In our experience, such lesions account for 15%-18% of all percutaneous coronary ...intervention > (PCI). The main reasons for this are (1) the coronary arteries are like the branches of a tree with many ramifications and (2) because of axial plaque redistribution, especially after stent implantation, PCI of lesions located next to a coronary bifurcation almost inevitably cause plaque shifting in the side branches. PCI treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions remains challenging. Balloon dilatation treatment used to be associated with less than satisfactory immediate results, a high complication rate, and an unacceptable restenosis rate. The kissing balloon technique resulted in improved, though suboptimal, outcomes. Several approaches were then suggested, like rotative or directional atherectomy, but these techniques did not translate into significantly enhanced results. With the advent of second generation stents, in 1996, the authors decided to set up an observational study on coronary bifurcation stenting combined with a bench test of the various stents available. Over the last 5 years, techniques, strategies, and stent design have improved. As a result, the authors have been able to define a rational approach to coronary bifurcation stenting. This bench study analyzed the behavior of stents and allowed stents to be discarded that are not compatible with the treatment of coronary bifurcations. Most importantly, this study revealed that stent deformation due to the opening of a strut is a constant phenomenon that must be corrected by kissing balloon inflation. Moreover, it was observed that the opening of a stent strut into a side branch could permit the stenting, at least partly, of the side branch ostium. This resulted in the provocative concept of "stenting both branches with a single stent." Therefore, a simple approach is currently implemented in the majority of cases: stenting of the main branch with provisional stenting of the side branch. The technique consists of inserting a guidewire in each coronary branch. A stent is then positioned in the main branch with a wire being "jailed" in the side branch. The wires are then exchanged, starting with the main branch wire that is passed through the stent struts into the side branch. After opening the stent struts in the side branch, kissing balloon inflation is performed. A second stent is deployed in the side branch in the presence of suboptimal results only. Over the last 2 years, this technique has been associated with a 98% angiographic success rate in both branches. Two stents are used in 30%-35% of cases and final kissing balloon inflation is performed in > 95% of cases. The in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE) rate is around 5% and 7-month target vessel revascularization (TVR) is 13%. Several stents specifically designed for coronary bifurcation lesions are currently being investigated. The objective is to simplify the approach for all users. In the near future, the use of drug-eluting stents should reduce the risk of restenosis.
We sought to determine whether direct stenting might prevent the adverse events associated with stent implantation during primary angioplasty and to compare it with conventional stent implantation in ...patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
No trial has demonstrated that stents favorably influence mortality rate. Recent studies have even suggested a negative impact of stents on coronary blood flow and clinical outcome.
Of 409 patients treated by primary angioplasty with stent implantation in our center, 206 (50%) were enrolled in this randomized, single-center trial and allocated to direct stent implantation (n = 102) or stent implantation after balloon pre-dilation (n = 104). The study end points included angiographic results (final corrected Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction TIMI frame count and a composite end point of slow and no-reflow or distal embolization), an electrocardiogram marker of myocardial reperfusion assessment (ST-segment resolution) and in-hospital clinical outcome (death and recurrent infarction).
Direct stent implantation failed in eight patients but succeeded after pre-dilation in all. A non-significant increase in TIMI flow grade 3 was achieved after direct stenting (95.1% vs. 93.3%, p = 0.74) without significant difference in the corrected TIMI frame count (31.5 ± 17 and 35.2 ± 20 frames after direct and conventional stent, respectively, p = 0.42). The composite angiographic end point was significantly reduced by direct stent implantation (11.7% vs. 26.9%, p = 0.01). ST-segment resolution was also significantly improved after direct stent (no ST-segment resolution in 20.2% vs. 38.1% after direct and conventional stent, respectively, p = 0.01). Death and/or recurrent infarction occurred in six patients after conventional stent implantation and in two patients after direct stenting (p = 0.28).
In selected patients with AMI, direct stenting can be applied safely and effectively. This strategy may result in a significant reduction of microvascular injury, as suggested by improved ST-segment resolution after reperfusion with major potential clinical consequences.
Summary Background Coronary stents have evolved over time, from bare-metal stents to drug-eluting stents, and now to bioactive stents. Aims We sought to explore the immediate outcome of the ...titanium-nitride-oxide-coated bioactive stent, Titan2® , in real-world practice, and the incidence of major cardiac events at follow-up. Methods Consecutive patients admitted for percutaneous intervention for at least one significant (≥ 50%) lesion in a native coronary artery were treated with Titan2® stent implantation. The primary endpoint was total major adverse cardiac events at 12-month follow-up. Secondary endpoints included target lesion revascularization at 12-month follow-up and the duration of dual antiplatelet therapy. Results Among 356 patients (mean age 67.4 ± 12.1 years), 77.2% were male and 39.3% were treated for myocardial infarction (MI). A total of 546 Titan2® stents were implanted in 420 lesions. Angiographic and clinical procedural success was achieved in all cases. No cases of in-hospital major adverse cardiac events or acute stent thrombosis were reported. Of 335 patients (94.1%) with 12-month clinical follow-up, four (1.2%) died, MI occurred in five (1.5%), target lesion revascularization was performed in 17 (5.1%) and major adverse cardiac events occurred in 24 (7.2%). One patient (0.3%) suffered late stent thrombosis during follow-up, but no cases of acute or subacute stent thrombosis occurred. Dual antiplatelet therapy continued beyond 6 months in 64.5% of patients. Conclusions In real-world practice, Titan2® stent implantation achieves an excellent immediate outcome, with a low incidence of major adverse cardiac events at 12-month follow-up.
Acute myocardial infarction during pregnancy, though rare, is nevertheless associated with a high mortality rate ranging from 37 50%. Primary angioplasty is the treatment of choice for acute ...myocardial infarction during pregnancy. There are reports of high vascular bleeding complications when using the transfemoral approach as well as increased morbidity, longer hospital stay and higher hospital cost. We present a case of successful primary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction during pregnancy via the transradial approach without complications. The patient had an uncomplicated recovery with normal left ventricular function.