Exclusion of Giant Coronary Artery Aneurysm with Covered Stent Combined with Coil Embolization of Vessel Outflow

Background: Coronary artery aneurysms (CAA) are rare abnormal dilatation of the coronary arteries. They are termed giant if their diameter exceeds the reference vessel diameter by more than 4 times or if they are more than 8 mm in diameter. If not treated, they have a tendency to rupture, thrombose or embolize. There is however no definite therapy for CAA. Various therapies suggested in the management of aneurysms include surgical resection, covered stent implantation or coil embolization. Methods: We describe a case of coiling of a potential collateral vessel feeding the giant coronary aneurysm retrogradely and covered stenting of main branch to exclude the aneurysm. Results: Transcatheter embolization was successfully done. No late complications were seen during 1 year CT angiography. Conclusion: Dual stent and coil embolization is safe and effective for vessel outflow during the treatment of giant coronary artery aneurysm. Further long term outcomes will have to be determined through serial CT angiographies

In Vitro Study of a Superhydrophilic Thin Film Nitinol Endograft that is Electrostatically Endothelialized in the Catheter Prior to the Endovascular Procedure

Electrostatic endothelial cell seeding has evolved as an exceptional technique to improve the efficiency of cell seeding in terms of frequency of attached cells and the amount of cell adhesion for the treatment of vascular diseases. In the recent times, both untreated and superhydrophilic thin film nitinol (TFN) have exhibited strong prospects as substrates for creation of small-diameter endovascular grafts due to their hallmark properties of superelasticity, ultra low-profile character, and grown hemocompatible oxide layer with the presence of a uniform endothelial layer on the surface. The purpose of the current study is to understand the effects of endothelial cell seeding parameters (i.e., applied voltage, incubation time, substrate chemistry, and cell suspension solution) to investigate the cell seeding phenomenon and to improve the cell adhesion and growth on the TFN surface under electrostatic transplantation. Both parallel plate and cylindrical capacitor models were used along with the Taguchi Design of Experiment (DOE) methods to design in vitro test parameters. A novel in vitro system for a cylindrical capacitor model was created using a micro flow pump, micro incubation system, and silicone tubings. The augmented endothelialization on thin film nitinol was developed to determine the effect of cell seeding and deployed in a 6 Fr intravascular catheter setup. Cell viability along with morphology and proliferation of adhered cells were evaluated using fluorescent and scanning electron microscopy. Our results demonstrated that the maximum number of cells attached on STFN in the catheter was observed in 5 V with the 2 h exposure of in the cell culture medium (CCM) solution. The condition showed 5 V voltage with 0.68 × 10−6 µC electrostatic charge and 5.11 V·mm−1 electric field. Our findings have first demonstrated that the electrostatic endothelialization on the superhydrophilic thin film nitinol endograft within the catheter prior to the endovascular procedure could enhance the biocompatibility for low-profile endovascular applications

Mechanical Thrombectomy in Post-Transplant Heart

Coronary allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is an accelerated form of coronary artery disease that is responsible for significant mortality after cardiac transplantation. We report a case of CAV with significant thrombus burden which was managed with mechanical thrombectomy. Both aspiration and mechanical thrombectomy can be safely done in cardiac transplant recipients and may be considered in order to minimize exposure to coronary artery bypass procedure. This is especially valuable in emergency circumstances

Acute Stent Thrombosis Following Concomitant Balloon Aortic Valvuloplasty and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Balloon aortic valvuloplasty is often used as a palliative measure or as a bridge to transcatheter aortic valve replacement in the management of aortic stenosis in high risk or inoperable patients. Severe aortic stenosis coexisting with coronary artery disease is not uncommon. In these circumstances, adjuvant percutaneous coronary intervention may be warranted. The safety and efficacy of combined valve and coronary intervention strategies has been recently studied. An increased incidence of complications when both procedures are performed in the same setting may throw new challenges. We report a case of fatal acute stent thrombosis following balloon aortic valvuloplasty and percutaneous coronary intervention

Transient Mid-Ventricular Ballooning Due to Bad Dream in a Postmenopausal Woman

Mid ventricular ballooning syndrome (MBS) was diagnosed in a 55-year-old woman who was admitted to emergency room due to acute chest pain. The trigger for the chest pain was reported as “bad dream” about her husband. MBS, a variant of Tako-tsubo Cardiomyopathy is more common in postmenopausal women and the triggers have been linked to stress involving the husband. Sudden catecholamine surge during nightmare augmented by estrogen deficiency in postmenopausal women may be the underlying mechanism. There are many unanswered questions related to the etiology of MBS. With supportive treatment, prognosis is excellent

Role of MDM2 in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a disease associated with abnormal thickening of the heart muscle and is a common genetic cause of cardiomyopathy in humans. Abnormalities of the small caliber blood vessels of the heart or other organs is defined as microvascular dysfunction (MVD) and is a common pathological finding in humans with HCM. However, it remains unclear when microvascular dysfunction develops in HCM and the molecular mechanisms regulating this process. We have previously identified that activation of cardiomyocyte DNA damage response pathways occur during the earliest periods of heart remodeling in multiple murine models of HCM. Therefore, we hypothesized that microvascular dysfunction developed during the same time interval and could be regulated by DNA damage response pathways. We utilized multiple complementary methods to track myocardial capillary growth and function in murine models of HCM. We found that microvascular dysfunction occurred during the early postnatal period and was secondary to reduced myocardial capillary formation and not capillary regression. During this same interval, we discovered dynamic changes in the cardiomyocyte protein levels of hypoxia-inducible factors, HIF1α and HIF2α, which directly contributed to alterations in myocardial capillary growth. We identified that this HIF imbalance was secondary to changes in protein ubiquitination that were regulated by the DNA damage response protein, murine double minute 2 (MDM2). Targeting MDM2 using genetic or pharmacological approaches normalized HIF levels, and prevented the development of microvascular dysfunction in multiple HCM models. In conclusion, MDM2 plays a crucial role in the development of microvascular dysfunction in HCM

Use of Micropatterned Thin Film Nitinol in Carotid Stents to Augment Embolic Protection

Stenting is an alternative to endarterectomy for the treatment of carotid artery stenosis. However, stenting is associated with a higher risk of procedural stroke secondary to distal thromboembolism. Hybrid stents with a micromesh layer have been proposed to address this complication. We developed a micropatterned thin film nitinol (M-TFN) covered stent designed to prevent thromboembolism during carotid intervention. This innovation may obviate the need or work synergistically with embolic protection devices. The proposed double layered stent is low-profile, thromboresistant, and covered with a M-TFN that can be fabricated with fenestrations of varying geometries and sizes. The M-TFN was created in multiple geometries, dimensions, and porosities by sputter deposition. The efficiency of various M-TFN to capture embolic particles was evaluated in different atherosclerotic carotid stenotic conditions through in vitro tests. The covered stent prevented emboli dislodgement in the range of 70%–96% during 30 min duration tests. In vitro vascular cell growth study results showed that endothelial cell elongation, alignment and growth behaviour silhouettes significantly enhance, specifically on the diamond-shape M-TFN, with the dimensions of 145 µm × 20 µm and a porosity of 32%. Future studies will require in vivo testing. Our results demonstrate that M-TFN has a promising potential for carotid artery stenting

A Unique Case of Successful Mechanical Thrombectomy and Stenting of Cabrol Graft: A Case Report

Abstract Cabrol technique and its modification are used as second line or bailout procedure in reimplantation of coronary arteries after aortic root replacement. Percutaneous interventions of Cabrol graft with aspiration thrombectomy and stenting have been previously described. We report a patient who successfully underwent percutaneous intervention on the graft by rheolytic thrombectomy followed by stenting in the setting of ST elevation myocardial infarction

A Review of PMMA Bone Cement and Intra-Cardiac Embolism

Percutaneous vertebroplasty procedure is of major importance, given the significantly increasing aging population and the higher number of orthopedic procedures related to vertebral compression fractures. Vertebroplasty is a complex technique involving the injection of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) into the compressed vertebral body for mechanical stabilization of the fracture. Our understanding and ability to modify these mechanisms through alterations in cement material is rapidly evolving. However, the rate of cardiac complications secondary to PMMA injection and subsequent cement leakage has increased with time. The following review considers the main effects of PMMA bone cement on the heart, and the extent of influence of the materials on cardiac embolism. Clinically, cement leakage results in life‐threatening cardiac injury. The convolution of this outcome through an appropriate balance of complex material properties is highlighted via clinical case reports