Percutaneous catheter-based repeat revascularization in patients with previous PCI or CABG: a comprehensive review of the evidence

Repeat revascularization after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is one of the most common long-term complications which warrants continuous clinical follow up. Re-interventions negatively impact long-term survival in patients with coronary artery disease. The repeat revascularization after PCI can be either a target lesion revascularization (stent thrombosis/in-stent restenosis) or a revascularization of native coronary artery after PCI (target vessel revascularization/non-target vessel revascularization). The EVENT registry reports that repeat revascularization rates in patients undergoing PCI is 12% in the first year of follow up. Repeat revascularization with additional stent deployment increases the rate of stent thrombosis and restenosis, thereby leading to recurrent ischemic events. Repeat revascularization after CABG can be either in the early postoperative period or later due to native disease progression or late graft stenosis. The need for re-intervention after surgical or percutaneous revascularization is inevitable and is dependent on modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors.

Colchicine for symptomatic coronary artery disease after percutaneous coronary intervention

BackgroundPercutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), the preferred coronary reperfusion strategy, induces endothelial trauma which may mount an inflammatory response. This has been shown to increase the likelihood of further major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Colchicine, a cheap and widely used anti-inflammatory has shown promise in improving cardiovascular outcomes. We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to study the effects of colchicine in patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease (CAD) who have undergone PCI.MethodWe systematically reviewed and meta-analysed 7 randomised controlled trials including a total of 6660 patients (colchicine group: 3347, control group: 3313; mean age=60.9±10). Six studies included participants who had a ≤13.5-day history of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). One study included patients with both ACS and chronic coronary syndrome. The follow-up of studies ranged from 3 days to 22.6 months.ResultsThe use of colchicine in patients who underwent PCI significantly reduced MACE outcomes (risk ratio 0.73 (95% CI 0.61 to 0.87); p=0.0003) with minimal heterogeneity across the analysis (I2=6%; P for Cochran Q=0.38). These results were driven mainly by the reduction in repeat vessel revascularisation, stroke and stent thrombosis. The number needed to treat to prevent one occurrence of MACE was 41.ConclusionColchicine significantly reduced the risk of MACE in patients with CAD who underwent PCI, mostly in the reduction of repeat vessel revascularisation, stroke and stent thrombosis. The efficacy of colchicine should be further studied by distinguishing its use alongside different stent types and dosing regimens.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42021245699.

Novel Use of Dual Guiding Catheters Technique to Prevent Distal Embolization and Slow Flow during PCI of Coronary Stent Thrombosis

Despite having an incidence of 0.5 to 2%, stent thrombosis has an in-hospital mortality of 15% and myocardial infarction (MI) incidence of 67%. Even with the usage of thrombus aspiration devices and microvasculature vasodilators such as nitroprusside, verapamil, adenosine, and Gp2b/3a inhibitors, the angiographic result of percutaneous coronary intervention of coronary stent thrombosis remains frequently suboptimal due to distal embolization and subsequent slow flow. We describe a novel use of dual guide catheter technique, where one guide acts as conduit for thrombus aspiration catheter and the other for distal placement of balloon trap to prevent distal embolization while managing a case of coronary stent thrombosis to improve the angiographic outcome in this scenario.

Simultaneous Multi-Vessel Very Late Stent Thrombosis in Acute ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Simultaneous multi-vessel very later stent thrombosis (VLST) is a very rare complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We present a case of simultaneous multi-vessel VLST as the cause of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). PCI of the culprit vessel was performed at acute presentation. Resolution of in-stent thrombosis in non-culprit vessels was noted on coronary angiography 2 days later. Our case suggests that PCI for culprit lesion in acute setting may be a reasonable option for simultaneous multi-vessel VLST.

Benefit and Risk of Prolonged Dual Antiplatelet Therapy After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Drug-Eluting Stents in Patients With Elevated Lipoprotein(a) Concentrations

Background: Lipoprotein(a) is positively related to cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Given that lipoprotein(a) has a prothrombotic effect, prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) might have a beneficial effect on reducing ischemic events in patients with elevated lipoprotein(a) levels after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We performed this study to assess the efficacy and safety of prolonged DAPT (>1 year) in this population.Methods: We evaluated a total of 3,025 CAD patients with elevated lipoprotein(a) levels who were event-free at 1 year after PCI from the prospective Fuwai PCI Registry, of which 913 received DAPT ≤ 1 year and 2,112 received DAPT>1 year. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular event (MACCE), defined as a composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction or stroke.Results: After a median follow-up of 2.4 years, patients who received DAPT>1 year were associated with lower risks of MACCE compared with DAPT ≤ 1 year (1.6 vs. 3.8%; hazard ratio [HR] 0.383, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.238–0.616), which was primarily driven by the lower all-cause mortality (0.2 vs. 2.3%; HR 0.078, 95% CI 0.027–0.227). In addition, DAPT>1 year was also associated with lower risks of cardiac death, and definite/probable stent thrombosis than those who received DAPT ≤ 1 year (P < 0.05). Conversely, no difference was found between the two groups in terms of clinically relevant bleeding. Similar results were observed in multivariate Cox regression analysis and inverse probability of treatment weighting analysis.Conclusions: In patients with elevated lipoprotein(a) concentrations after PCI, prolonged DAPT (>1 year) reduced ischemic cardiovascular events, including MACCE, all-cause mortality, cardiac mortality, and definite/probable stent thrombosis, without increase in clinically relevant bleeding risk compared with ≤ 1-year DAPT. Lipoprotein(a) levels might be a new important consideration when deciding the duration of DAPT after PCI.

Ischemic Events Occur Early in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention and Are Reduced With Cangrelor: Findings From CHAMPION PHOENIX

Background: Thrombotic events are reduced with cangrelor, an intravenous P2Y 12 inhibitor. We sought to characterize the timing, number, and type of early events (within 2 hours of randomization) in CHAMPION PHOENIX (A Clinical Trial Comparing Cangrelor to Clopidogrel Standard of Care Therapy in Subjects Who Require Percutaneous Coronary Intervention). Methods: CHAMPION PHOENIX was a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that randomized patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention to cangrelor or clopidogrel. For this analysis, we evaluated the efficacy of cangrelor in the first 2 hours postrandomization with regards to the primary end point (death, myocardial infarction, ischemia-driven revascularization, or stent thrombosis). Sensitivity analyses were performed evaluating a secondary, post hoc end point (death, Society of Coronary Angiography and Intervention myocardial infarction, ischemia-driven revascularization, or Academic Research Consortium definite stent thrombosis). Results: The majority of events (63%) that occurred in the trial occurred within 2 hours of randomization. The most common early event was myocardial infarction; next were stent thrombosis, ischemia driven revascularization, and death. In the first 2 hours after randomization, cangrelor significantly decreased the primary composite end point compared with clopidogrel (4.1% versus 5.4%; hazard ratio, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.64–0.90], P =0.002). Similar findings were seen for the composite end point of death, Society of Coronary Angiography and Intervention myocardial infarction, ischemia-driven revascularization, or Academic Research Consortium stent thrombosis at 2 hours (0.9% versus 1.6%; hazard ratio, 0.57 [95% CI, 0.40–0.80], P =0.001). Between 2 and 48 hours, there was no difference in the primary composite end point (0.6% versus 0.5%; odds ratio, 1.17 [95% CI, 0.71–1.93]; P =0.53). Early (≤2 hours of randomization) GUSTO (Global Use of Strategies to Open Occluded Coronary Arteries) moderate or severe bleeding events were infrequent, and there was no significant difference with cangrelor compared with clopidogrel (0.2% [n=10] versus 0.1% [n=4]; adjusted odds ratio, 1.41 [95% CI, 0.37–5.40]; P =0.62). Conclusions: The reductions in ischemic events and overall efficacy seen with cangrelor in CHAMPION PHOENIX occurred early and during the period of time in which patients were being actively treated with cangrelor. These findings provide evidence that supports the importance of potent platelet inhibition during percutaneous coronary intervention. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT01156571.

Incidence of Restenosis Following Rapamycin or Paclitaxeleluting Stent in Coronary Stent Implantation

Background & Objectives: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is chiefly characterized by atherosclerosis and plaque formation in coronary arteries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation of coronary anatomy as a predictor of restenosis and stent thrombosis in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients 5 years after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: In this prospective study, 1070 patients with stent restenosis or stent thrombosis over past 5 years were enrolled. Coronary angiography was performed to evaluate coronary restenosis and stent thrombosis 5 years after PCI. Stent restenosis was defined as >50% angiographic in-stent lumen reduction. Stent thrombosis was defined as sudden complete occlusion of stent presenting with acute myocardial infarction in that territory. Demographic data, clinical features and anatomic factors were prospectively reviewed. Baseline, procedural, and post-procedural characteristics of patients were recorded for analysis. Results : Among demographic characteristics, cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension and diabetes mellitus) and anatomic factors were predictive risk factors for restenosis/thrombosis, p=0.001. The most common site for stent restenosis was proximal to the mid part of the LAD artery, followed by RCA and LCX. A greater diameter of LCX, a greater angle of LM-LAD than LM-LCX and left dominancy increase the incidence of LAD stent restenosis/thrombosis. In this study, the least common restenosis/thrombosis rate in relation to the total number of PCI was in the Ramus intermedius artery. Conclusion: The outcomes of the study indicated that anatomic factors can predict increased risk of restenosis among CAD patients who underwent PCI.