Abstract The Princeton Consensus (Expert Panel) Conference is a multispecialty collaborative tradition dedicated to optimizing sexual function and preserving cardiovascular health. The third ...Princeton Consensus met November 8 to 10, 2010, and had 2 primary objectives. The first objective focused on the evaluation and management of cardiovascular risk in men with erectile dysfunction (ED) and no known cardiovascular disease (CVD), with particular emphasis on identification of men with ED who may require additional cardiologic work-up. The second objective focused on reevaluation and modification of previous recommendations for evaluation of cardiac risk associated with sexual activity in men with known CVD. The Panel's recommendations build on those developed during the first and second Princeton Consensus Conferences, first emphasizing the use of exercise ability and stress testing to ensure that each man's cardiovascular health is consistent with the physical demands of sexual activity before prescribing treatment for ED, and second highlighting the link between ED and CVD, which may be asymptomatic and may benefit from cardiovascular risk reduction.
Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the long-term prognostic role of multidetector computed tomography coronary angiography (CTA) in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). ...Background Use of CTA is increasing in patients with suspected CAD. Although there is a large body of data supporting the prognostic role of CTA for major adverse cardiac events in the intermediate term, its long-term prognostic role in patients with suspected CAD is not well studied. Methods Between February 2005 and March 2008, 1,304 consecutive patients were prospectively studied with CTA for detecting the presence and assessing extent of CAD (disease extension and coronary plaque scores). Patients were classified according to the presence of normal coronaries and nonobstructive (<50%) and obstructive (>50%) coronary lesions. The composite rates of hard cardiac events (cardiac deaths and nonfatal myocardial infarctions) and all cardiac events (including late revascularization) were the endpoints of the study. Results Seventy patients were excluded because their CTA data were uninterpretable. Of the remaining 1,234 patients, clinical follow-up (mean 52 ± 22 months) was obtained for 1,196 (97%). A total of 475 events were recorded, with 136 hard events (18 cardiac deaths and 118 nonfatal myocardial infarctions) and 123 late revascularizations. A total of 216 patients with early elective revascularizations were excluded from the survival analysis. Significant independent predictors of events in multivariate analysis were multivessel disease and left main CAD. Cumulative event-free survival was 100% for hard and all events in patients with normal coronary arteries, 88% for hard events and 72% for all events in patients with nonobstructive CAD, and 54% for hard events and 31% for all events in patients with obstructive CAD. Multivessel CAD was associated with a higher rate of hard cardiac events. Conclusions CTA provides prognostic information in patients with suspected CAD and unknown cardiac disease, showing excellent long-term prognosis when there is no evidence of atherosclerosis and allowing risk stratification when CAD is present.
Abstract An association between erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular disease has long been recognized, and studies suggest that erectile dysfunction is an independent marker of cardiovascular ...disease risk. Therefore, assessment and management of erectile dysfunction may help identify and reduce the risk of future cardiovascular events, particularly in younger men. The initial erectile dysfunction evaluation should distinguish between predominantly vasculogenic erectile dysfunction and erectile dysfunction of other etiologies. For men believed to have predominantly vasculogenic erectile dysfunction, we recommend that initial cardiovascular risk stratification be based on the Framingham Risk Score. Management of men with erectile dysfunction who are at low risk for cardiovascular disease should focus on risk-factor control; men at high risk, including those with cardiovascular symptoms, should be referred to a cardiologist. Intermediate-risk men should undergo noninvasive evaluation for subclinical atherosclerosis. A growing body of evidence supports the use of emerging prognostic markers to further understand cardiovascular risk in men with erectile dysfunction, but few markers have been prospectively evaluated in this population. In conclusion, we support cardiovascular risk stratification and risk-factor management in all men with vasculogenic erectile dysfunction.
Multiple published studies have established erectile dysfunction (ED) as an independent risk marker for cardiovascular disease (CVD). In fact, incident ED has a similar or greater predictive value ...for cardiovascular events than traditional risk factors including smoking, hyperlipidemia, and family history of myocardial infarction. Here, we review evidence that supports ED as a particularly significant harbinger of CVD in 2 populations: men <60 years of age and those with diabetes. Although addition of ED to the Framingham Risk Score only modestly improved the 10-year predictive capacity of the Framingham Risk Score for myocardial infarction or coronary death data in men enrolled in the Massachusetts Male Aging Study, other epidemiologic studies suggest that the predictive value of ED is quite strong in younger men. Indeed, in the Olmstead County Study, men 40 to 49 years of age with ED had a 50-fold higher incidence of new-incident coronary artery disease than those without ED. However, ED had less predictive value (5-fold increased risk) for coronary artery disease in men 70 years and older. Several studies, including a large analysis of more than 6300 men enrolled in the ADVANCE study, suggest that ED is a particularly powerful predictor of CVD in diabetic men as well. Based on the literature reviewed here, we encourage physicians to inquire about ED symptoms in all men more than 30 years of age with cardiovascular risk factors. Identification of ED, particularly in men <60 years old and those with diabetes, represents an important first step toward CVD risk detection and reduction.
Abstract Background Non-invasive stress tests are commonly used as gatekeepers to invasive coronary angiography (ICA) in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). New computed tomography ...angiography (CTA) techniques such as fractional flow reserve calculated by CTA (FFRCT ) and stress myocardial computed tomography perfusion (CTP) have emerged as potential strategies to combine anatomical and functional evaluation of CAD in one technique. The aim of this study is to compare per-vessel diagnostic accuracy of FFRCT versus stress myocardial CTP for the detection of functionally significant coronary artery disease (CAD), using invasive FFR as the reference standard. Methods Subjects with suspected CAD due to chest pain who have no contra-indications to FFRCT or stress myocardial CTP and who are referred for non-emergent, clinically indicated invasive coronary angiography (ICA), will be enrolled. A total of 300 subjects will be enrolled within 24 months. Results The primary study endpoint will be the comparison of per-vessel diagnostic accuracy of CTA versus FFRCT versus stress myocardial CTP for the diagnosis of hemodynamically significant stenosis as defined by invasive FFR ≤ 0.80. Conclusions In the PERFECTION study, the comparison between FFRCT and stress myocardial CTP will provide understanding about which technology is more accurate for the diagnosis of functionally significant CAD.
Noninvasive assessment of coronary in-stent restenosis (ISR) is clinically useful but 4- and 16-slice multidetector computed tomography is limited due to stent strut artifacts. We evaluated the ...feasibility and accuracy of 64-slice multidetector computed tomography in the diagnosis of ISR to validate its accuracy in ISR quantification and identify factors that may affect stent patency evaluability. One hundred patients with previously implanted coronary stents (n = 179) underwent 64-slice multidetector computed tomography followed by invasive coronary angiography. After multidetector computed tomography, each stent was classified as “evaluable” or “unevaluable.” Obstructive ISR was visually and quantitatively determined in evaluable stents. Correlations between quantitative multidetector computed tomography and quantitative coronary angiography were estimated. In a subgroup, multidetector computed tomographic and intravascular ultrasound measurements were correlated. Feasibility of stent visualization was 95%. Thirty-four of 39 ISRs (87%) were correctly detected and localized by multidetector computed tomography. ISR was correctly ruled out for 77% (128 of 131) of remaining stented lesions. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of multidetector computed tomography for ISR identification were 87%, 98%, 92%, and 96%, respectively. There was good correlation between percent stenosis evaluated by multidetector computed tomography versus quantitative coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasound (r = 0.794, p <0.001, and r = 0.943, p <0.0001, respectively) and good reproducibility of multidetector computed tomographic measurements (interobserver coefficient k 0.81 for diameter and 0.79 for area). Heart rate, complexity of stenting procedure, stent diameter, and strut thickness were factors limiting feasibility and accuracy. In conclusion, 64-slice multidetector computed tomography provides reliable and reproducible noninvasive evaluation of coronary stent patency and quantification of ISR.
Objectives The goal of this study was to compare the rate of cerebral microembolization during carotid artery stenting (CAS) with proximal versus distal cerebral protection in patients with ...high-risk, lipid-rich plaque. Background Cerebral protection with filters partially reduces the cerebral embolization rate during CAS. Proximal protection has been introduced to further decrease embolization risk. Methods Fifty-three consecutive patients with carotid artery stenosis and lipid-rich plaque were randomized to undergo CAS with proximal protection (MO.MA system, n = 26) or distal protection with a filter (FilterWire EZ, n = 27). Microembolic signals (MES) were assessed by using transcranial Doppler during: 1) lesion wiring; 2) pre-dilation; 3) stent crossing; 4) stent deployment; 5) stent dilation; and 6) device retrieval/deflation. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging was conducted before CAS, after 48 h, and after 30 days. Results Patients in the MO.MA group had higher percentage diameter stenosis (89 ± 6% vs. 86 ± 5%, p = 0.027) and rate of ulcerated plaque (35% vs. 7.4%; p = 0.019). Compared with use of the FilterWire EZ, MO.MA significantly reduced mean MES counts (p < 0.0001) during lesion crossing (mean 18 interquartile range (IQR): 11 to 30 vs. 2 IQR: 0 to 4), stent crossing (23 IQR: 11 to 34 vs. 0 IQR: 0 to 1), stent deployment (30 IQR: 9 to 35 vs. 0 IQR: 0 to 1), stent dilation (16 IQR: 8 to 30 vs. 0 IQR: 0 to 1), and total MES (93 IQR: 59 to 136 vs. 16 IQR: 7 to 36). The number of patients with MES was higher with the FilterWire EZ versus MO.MA in phases 3 to 5 (100% vs. 27%; p < 0.0001). By multivariate analysis, the type of brain protection was the only independent predictor of total MES number. No significant difference was found in the number of patients with new post-CAS embolic lesion in the MO.MA group (2 of 14, 14%) as compared with the FilterWire EZ group (9 of 21, 42.8%). Conclusions In patients with high-risk, lipid-rich plaque undergoing CAS, MO.MA led to significantly lower microembolization as assessed by using MES counts. (Carotid Stenting in Patients With High Risk Carotid Stenosis “Soft Plaque” MOMA; NCT01274676 )
Objectives The authors sought to investigate the accuracy of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE)-derived parameters in the identification of bileaflet aortic prosthesis dysfunction, compared with ...fluoroscopy (FL). Background Identification of bileaflet aortic prosthesis dysfunction is challenging, because high mean pressure gradient (MPG >20 mm Hg) is not proof of prosthetic obstruction (AVPO), and may be due to prosthesis–patient mismatch (PPM). Conversely, high gradients may not be manifest in AVPO and low cardiac output. Methods TTE and FL were prospectively performed in 100 nonconsecutive patients with bileaflet aortic prosthesis. TTE included the estimation of MPG, indexed effective orifice area (EOAi), Doppler velocity index (DVI), intraprosthetic regurgitation, acceleration time (AT), ejection time (ET), AT/ET, and the difference (dA) between the expected prosthetic orifice area and EOA. FL allowed the calculation of opening and closing angles, and the discrimination of AVPO from normal (NL) and PPM. Results On the basis of FL examination and MPG and EOAi at TTE, patients were classified as NL (42%), PPM (32%), and AVPO (26%). High MPG (>20 mm Hg) was present in 65% of the patients, with higher values in PPM (36 ± 8 mm Hg) and AVPO (43 ± 16 mm Hg) than in NL (16 ± 6 mm Hg). DVI was reduced in PPM (0.30 ± 0.05) and AVPO (0.25 ± 0.04) compared with NL (0.42 ± 0.09). In AVPO, dA (0.59 ± 0.32 cm2 ), AT (108 ± 20 ms), and AT/ET (0.35 ± 0.05) significantly differed from NL (dA = −0.12 ± 0.43 cm2 , AT = 74 ± 15 ms, AT/ET = 0.25 ± 0.05) and PPM (dA = 0.15 ± 0.24 cm2 , AT = 78 ± 13 ms, AT/ET = 0.26 ± 0.04). Moderate or severe intraprosthetic regurgitation was observed only in AVPO. All considered TTE-derived parameters were found related to obstruction, and dA (accuracy = 87%), AT (94%), and AT/ET (89%) showed the highest accuracy in discriminating normofunctioning prostheses from AVPO. Conclusions In the presence of high MPG, TTE parameters play a key role in aortic prosthesis examination. Especially time indices and dA add to the functional assessment of prosthetic aortic valves. However, the TTE discrimination between AVPO and PPM may be suboptimal, and fluoroscopy is a complementary and essential diagnostic step.
Inadvertent perforation of the left internal mammary artery during a blind approach to the subclavian vein for pacemaker or central venous catheter insertion is an emergency that requires immediate ...treatment. Covered stent deployment is a quick and effective treatment, especially in patients with hemodynamic instability. The procedure may be safely performed by using the radial approach. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.)
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Inadvertent perforation of the left internal mammary artery during a blind approach to the subclavian vein for pacemaker or central venous catheter…
Objectives The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic performance of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) with prospective electrocardiogram (ECG) triggering versus retrospective ECG ...triggering. Background MDCT allows the noninvasive visualization of the coronary arteries. However, radiation exposure is a reason for concern. Methods One hundred eighty consecutive patients scheduled for invasive coronary angiography were enrolled in this study. Twenty patients were excluded due to contraindications to sustain MDCT. Of the 160 remaining patients, 80 were studied with MDCT with prospective ECG triggering (Group 1) and 80 with a retrospective ECG triggering (Group 2). The individual radiation dose exposure was estimated. Results In nonstented segments, the evaluability of Groups 1 and 2 was 96% versus 97%, respectively (p = 0.05), the accuracy in segment-based model was 93% versus 96%, respectively (p < 0.05) including diagnostic segments and 91% versus 94%, respectively (p < 0.01) including all segments, whereas the accuracy in a patient-based model was 98% in both groups. In stented segments the evaluability in Groups 1 and 2 was 92% versus 94%, respectively, and the accuracy was 93% versus 92%, respectively, including diagnostic stented segments and 90% versus 89%, respectively, including all stented segments. Group 1 presented lower radiation dose compared with Group 2 (5.7 ± 1.5 mSv vs. 20.5 ± 4.3 mSv, p < 0.01). Conclusions Prospective ECG-triggering computed tomography allows an accurate detection of coronary stenosis, despite a slight reduction of diagnostic performance, with a low radiation dose.
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