Improvement of Fractional Flow Reserve after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Does Not Necessarily Indicate Increased Coronary Flow

Coronary flow is expected to increase by epicardial lesion modification after successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in stable angina. According to the concept of fractional flow reserve (FFR), the improvement in FFR after PCI reflects the extent of coronary flow increase. However, this theory assumes that hyperaemic microvascular resistance does not change after PCI, which is being refuted in recent studies. The authors quantitated regional absolute coronary blood flow (ABF) before and after PCI using a thermodilution method and compared it with FFR in 28 patients with stable coronary artery disease who had undergone successful PCI. Although FFR indicated changes in ABF, with a mean difference of −5.5 ml/min, there was no significant relationship between individual changes in FFR and in ABF (R=0.27, p=0.16). The discrepancy was partly explained by changes in microvascular resistance following PCI. These results suggest that changes in FFR do not necessarily indicate an increase in absolute coronary blood flow following PCI in individual patients, although they could be correlated in a cohort level

Polytetrafluoroethylene fume-induced pulmonary edema: a case report and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION: Polytetrafluoroethylene is ubiquitous in materials commonly used in cooking and industrial applications. Overheated polytetrafluoroethylene can generate toxic fumes, inducing acute pulmonary edema in some cases. However, neither the etiology nor the radiological features of this condition have been determined. For clarification, we report an illustrative case, together with the first comprehensive literature review. CASE PRESENTATION: A previously healthy 35-year-old Japanese man who developed severe dyspnea presented to our hospital. He had left a polytetrafluoroethylene-coated pan on a gas-burning stove for 10 hours while unconscious. Upon admission, he was in severe respiratory distress. A chest computed tomographic scan showed massive bilateral patchy consolidations with ground-glass opacities and peripheral area sparing. A diagnosis of polytetrafluoroethylene fume-induced pulmonary edema was made. He was treated with non-invasive positive pressure ventilation and a neutrophil elastase inhibitor, which dramatically alleviated his symptoms and improved his oxygenation. He was discharged without sequelae on hospital day 11. A literature review was performed to survey all reported cases of polytetrafluoroethylene fume-induced pulmonary edema. We searched the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and OvidSP databases for reports posted between the inception of the databases and 30 September 2014, as well as several Japanese databases (Ichushi Web, J-STAGE, Medical Online, and CiNii). Two radiologists independently interpreted all chest computed tomographic images. Eighteen relevant cases (including the presently reported case) were found. Our search revealed that (1) systemic inflammatory response syndrome was frequently accompanied by pulmonary edema, and (2) common computed tomography findings were bilateral ground-glass opacities, patchy consolidation and peripheral area sparing. Pathophysiological and radiological features were consistent with the exudative phase of acute respiratory distress syndrome. However, the contrast between the lesion and the spared peripheral area was striking and was distinguishable from the common radiological features of acute respiratory distress syndrome. CONCLUSION: The essential etiology of polytetrafluoroethylene fume-induced pulmonary edema seems to be increased pulmonary vascular permeability caused by an inflammatory response to the toxic fumes. The radiological findings that distinguish polytetrafluoroethylene fume-induced pulmonary edema can be bilateral ground-glass opacity or a patchy consolidation with clear sparing of the peripheral area

Association of Smartphone‐Recorded Steps Over Years and Change in Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among Working‐Age Adults

Background Few data exist on long‐term steps and their relation to changes in cardiovascular disease risk factors. We aimed to examine the associations using long‐term smartphone‐recorded steps. Methods and Results The present analysis made use of data from 2 national databases and a commercial app database. We evaluated the associations between smartphone‐recorded daily steps over 2 years and 2‐year changes in the cardiovascular disease risk factors. A total of 15 708 participants with mean (SD) age of 44.1 (9.5) and 23.5% women were included. After adjustment for potential confounders, differences in weight were almost linearly associated with 2‐year steps in men (estimate [SE] per 1000 steps/d: −0.33 [0.029] kg), and inversely related only above 5000 steps/d in women (−0.18 [0.054] kg). An inverse linear association with systolic blood pressure was observed in men (−0.34 [0.097] mm Hg) but not in women. Greater steps were associated with change in high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides (0.61 [0.068] and −3.4 [0.61] mg/dL in men; 0.64 [0.17] and −2.3 [0.67] mg/dL in women), while changes in low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol were evident in men only (−0.59 [0.17] mg/dL). A significant negative association with hemoglobin A1c was observed only in women (−0.012 [0.0043] %). Conclusions In a large cohort of Japanese adults, smartphone‐recorded steps over years were associated with beneficial changes in cardiovascular disease risk factors, with some differences between men and women in the associational patterns. The findings support the benefit of long‐term physical activity for cardiovascular disease health and suggest a useful role of smartphone‐recorded steps for monitoring cardiovascular disease risk over the long term

The association between simple renal cyst and aortic diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this meta-analysis of observational studies was to evaluate the association between simple renal cysts (SRC) and presence of aortic pathology such as aortic aneurysms and dissection. METHODS We conducted searches in Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from January 1960 to August 2019 to identify observational studies that examined the association between SRCs and any aortic diseases, including aortic aneurysms and dissection. Two reviewers independently extracted the data and assessed the risk of bias. The meta-analysis was performed by STATA 14.1. RESULTS In total, 11 observational studies with 19 719 participants were included in this meta-analysis. Compared to individuals without SRCs, patients with SRCs had higher odds of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) (adjusted OR = 2.61, 95% CI 2.34-2.91, P < 0.001, I = 0%), ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) (adjusted OR = 1.98, 95% CI 1.09-3.63, P = 0.03, I = 90.1%), descending TAA (adjusted OR = 3.44, 95% CI, 2.67-4.43, P < 0.001, I = 0%), type A aortic dissection (AD) (adjusted OR = 1.98, 95% CI 1.32-2.96, P = 0.001, I = 12.9%), and type B AD (adjusted OR = 2.55, 95% CI, 1.31-4.96, P = 0.006, I = 76.2%). There was a higher average in the sum of diameter of SRCs among AAA compared to patients without AAA (WMD = 19.80 mm, 95% CI 13.92-25.67, P < 0.001, I = 63.8%). CONCLUSION SRC is associated with higher odds of aortic diseases including AAA, ascending and descending TAA, type A and type B dissection even after adjusting for confounders

Interventricular Septal Hematoma after Retrograde Intervention for a Chronic Total Occlusion of a Right Coronary Artery: Echocardiographic and Magnetic Resonance Imaging—Diagnosis and Follow-Up

The reverse CART technique provides the potential to modify the retrograde procedure by improving the controlled movement of the retrograde wire and improve the success rates of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of chronic total occlusion (CTO). Development of interventricular hematoma is a rare complication of CTO PCI. A 63-year-old man with effort angina with a right coronary artery CTO lesion underwent PCI by retrograde approach from the LAD to a septal branch. A contrast “stain” was demonstrated surrounding the septal collateral channel used for the retrograde approach at the end of the procedure without symptom. Echocardiography indicated an increased interventricular septum thickness with low echo signals region and decreased contractility. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging using gadolinium showed a diffusely thickened septum with a low signal fusiform neocavitation delimited by an enhanced-signal ring suggesting intraventricular septal dissecting hematoma. After conservative treatment, follow-up echocardiogram and CMR showed the resolution of the hematoma without clinical events. This case highlights the potentially lethal complication of septal perforator dissection and hematoma that may cause severe myocardial injury caused by retrograde approach for CTO PCI

Peeled Guidewire Coating with Debulked Plaque Obtained by Directional Coronary Atherectomy

Percutaneous directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) is a plaque debulking method performed in Japan, and recently a renewed DCA device has been launched. We present a case with a tight left anterior descending lesion undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with application of DCA. After several sessions of DCA, white plaques accompanied by green, stringed materials were obtained from the device; some materials were considerably long (approximately 15 mm in length). A drug-eluting stent was subsequently implanted, and the procedure was completed successfully without any complications. The extracted plaques and artificial materials were pathologically examined, and no inflammatory changes were detected on plaques adjacent to the material. Assessing pathological findings and structure of the DCA catheter, the obtained artificial materials were considered as peeled guidewire, possibly resulting from the friction between the guidewire and metallic bearing in the housing of DCA catheter. Of note, this phenomenon has been recognized even in other DCA cases in which guidewires of the other kind are used. We report this phenomenon for the first time, warning of theoretically possible distal embolization of artificial materials caused by any debulking devices

Prognostic Value of Coronary Sinus Flow Quantification by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of hyperemic coronary sinus flow (h‐CSF) and global coronary flow reserve (g‐CFR) obtained by phase‐contrast cine‐magnetic resonance imaging in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI). Methods and Results This retrospective study analyzed patients with acute MI (n=523) who underwent primary (ST‐segment–elevation MI) or urgent (non–ST‐segment–elevation MI) percutaneous coronary intervention. Absolute coronary sinus blood flow (CSF) at rest and during vasodilator stress hyperemia was quantified at 30 days (24–36 days) after the index infarct‐related lesion percutaneous coronary intervention and revascularization of functionally significant non–infarct‐related lesions. We used Cox proportional hazards regression modeling to examine the association between h‐CSF, g‐CFR, and major adverse cardiac events defined as all‐cause death, nonfatal MI, hospitalization for congestive heart failure, and stroke. Finally, 325 patients with ST‐segment–elevation MI (62.1%) and 198 patients with non–ST‐segment–elevation MI (37.9%) were studied over a median follow‐up of 2.5 years. The rest CSF, h‐CSF, and g‐CFR were 0.94 (0.68–1.26) mL/min per g, 2.05 (1.42–2.73) mL/min per g, and 2.17 (1.54–3.03), respectively. Major adverse cardiac events occurred in 62 patients, and Cox proportional hazards analysis showed that h‐CSF and g‐CFR were independent predictors of major adverse cardiac events (h‐CSF: hazard ratio [HR], 0.64; 95% CI, 0.47–0.88; P=0.005; g‐CFR: HR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.47–0.82; P=0.001). When stratified by h‐CSF and g‐CFR, cardiac event‐free survival was the worst in patients with concordantly impaired h‐CSF (<1.6 mL/min per g) and g‐CFR (<1.7) (P<0.001). Conclusions Global coronary sinus flow quantification using phase‐contrast cine‐magnetic resonance imaging provided significant prognostic information independent of infarction size and conventional risk factors in patients with acute MI undergoing revascularization

Differential Prognostic Implications of Pre- and Post-Stent Fractional Flow Reserve in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background and Objectives: The influence of pre-intervention coronary physiologic status on outcomes post percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is not well known. We sought to investigate the prognostic implications of pre-PCI fractional flow reserve (FFR) combined with post-PCI FFR. Methods: A total of 1,479 PCI patients with pre-and post-PCI PER, data were analyzed. The patients were classified according to the median values of pre-PCI FFR (0.71) and post-PCI FFR (0.88). The primary outcome was target vessel failure (TVF) at 2 years. Results: The risk of TVF was higher in the low pre-PCI FFR group than in the high pre- PCI FFR group (hazard ratio, 1.82; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-2.87; p=0.011). In 4 group comparisons, the cumulative incidences ofTVF at 2 years were 3.8%, 4.1%, 4.8%, and 10.2% in the high pre-/high post-, low pre-/high post-, high pre-/low post-, and low pre-/low post-PCI FFR groups, respectively. The risk ofTVF was the highest in the low pre-/low post-PCI FFR group among the groups (p values for comparisons &lt;0.05). In addition, the high pre-/low post-PCI FFR group presented a comparable risk ofTVF with the high post-PCI FFR groups (p values for comparison &gt;0.05). When the prognostic value of the post-PCI FFR was evaluated according to the pre-PCI FFR, the risk of TVF significantly decreased with an increase in post-PCI FFR in the low pre-PCI FFR group, but not in the high pre-PCI FFR group. Conclusions: Pre-PCI FFR was associated with clinical outcomes after PCI, and the prognostic value of post-PCI FFR differed according to the pre-PCI FFR.N