Renal Sympathetic Denervation and Quality of Life

ABSTRACTBackgroundRenal sympathetic denervation (RSD) is a promising strategy in the treatment of resistant hypertension. No studies have assessed the effect of RSD on quality of life in our country, which was the aim of this study.MethodsThe EuroQol5 Dimensions questionnaire (EQ5D5L) was chosen to evaluate quality of life in 10 patients undergoing RSD, and it was applied before and 3 months after the procedure.ResultsMean age was 47.3 ± 12 years and 90% of the patients were female. Baseline blood pressure was 187 ± 37.5/104 ± 18.5mmHg and the number of antihypertensive drugs was 7.6 ± 1.3. Before the procedure, the value assigned to health status was 37.5 ± 22.7, increasing at 3 months to 70.5 ± 20.9 (P = 0.01). In the follow-up, in addition to a decrease in the number of antihypertensive drugs (7.6 ± 1.3 vs. 6 ± 2.2; P = 0.05), a trend towards reduced levels of systolic blood pressure (187 ± 36mmHg vs 170 ± 44mmHg; P = 0.10) and diastolic blood pressure (104 ± 18mmHg vs 98 ± 20mmHg; P = 0.20) was observed. Health status improvement resulted from a reduction of problems related to mobility, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. The magnitude of blood pressure reduction was not associated with improved quality in all of the patients. On the other hand, those who had a decrease in the number of antihypertensive drugs reported a better health status.ConclusionsPatients with resistant hypertension have poor health status scores. RSD improved quality of life in most patients. Further studies are required to confirm consistent benefits

Denervação simpática renal em pacientes com cardiodesfibrilador implantável e tempestade elétrica

ResumoIntroduçãoCardiodesfibriladores implantáveis (CDIs) são geralmente indicados para pacientes com arritmias malignas considerados de alto risco. A hiperatividade simpática desempenha um papel crítico no desenvolvimento, na manutenção e no agravamento de arritmias ventriculares. Novas opções de tratamento nessa população representam uma necessidade clínica. Nosso objetivo foi relatar os resultados de pacientes com CDIs e tempestade elétrica submetidos à denervação simpática renal para controle da arritmia.MétodosOito pacientes com CDIs internados por tempestade elétrica refratária ao tratamento médico otimizado foram submetidos à denervação simpática renal. Condições subjacentes foram: doença de Chagas (n = 6), cardiomiopatia dilatada não isquêmica (n = 1) e cardiomiopatia isquêmica (n = 1). As informações sobre o número de taquicardias ventriculares/fibrilações ventriculares e episódios de terapias antitaquicardia na última semana pré‐procedimento e nos 30 dias pós‐tratamento foram obtidas por meio de interrogação dos CDIs.ResultadosAs medianas dos episódios de taquicardias ventriculares/fibrilações ventriculares, sobre‐estimulação e choques na semana que antecedeu a denervação simpática renal foram de 29 (9 a 106), 23 (2 a 94) e 7,5 (1 a 88), sendo significativamente reduzidas para 0 (0 a 12), 0 (0 a 30) e 0 (0 a 1), respectivamente, 1 mês após o procedimento (p = 0,002; p = 0,01; p = 0,003). Nenhum paciente morreu durante o acompanhamento. Não ocorreram complicações maiores relacionadas ao procedimento.ConclusõesEm pacientes com CDIs e tempestade elétrica refratária ao tratamento médico otimizado, a denervação simpática renal reduziu significativamente a carga de arritmia e, consequentemente, as sobre‐estimulações e os choques. Ensaios clínicos randomizados, no contexto de denervação simpática renal para controle de arritmias cardíacas refratárias, são necessários para trazer maior robustez aos nossos achados.AbstractBackgroundImplantable cardioverter‐defibrillators (ICDs) are usually indicated for patients with malignant arrhythmias considered as high risk. Sympathetic hyperactivity plays a critical role in the development, maintenance, and worsening of ventricular arrhythmias. New treatment options in this population represent a clinical necessity. This study's objective was to report the outcomes of patients with ICDs and electrical storm submitted to renal sympathetic denervation for arrhythmia control.MethodsEight patients with ICDs admitted for electrical storm refractory to optimal medical therapy underwent renal sympathetic denervation. Underlying diseases included Chagas disease (n = 6), non‐ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 1), and ischemic cardiomyopathy (n = 1). Information on the number of episodes of ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation and antitachycardia therapies in the week before the procedure and 30 days after treatment were obtained through interrogation of the ICDs.ResultsThe median numbers of episodes of ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation, antitachycardia pacing, and shocks in the week before renal sympathetic denervation were 29 (9 to 106), 23 (2 to 94), and 7.5 (1 to 88), and significantly reduced to 0 (0 to 12), 0 (0 to 30), and 0 (0 to 1), respectively, 1 month after the procedure (p = 0.002; p = 0.01; p = 0.003, respectively). No patients died during follow‐up. There were no major complications related to the procedure.ConclusionsIn patients with ICDs and electrical storm refractory to optimal medical treatment, renal sympathetic denervation significantly reduced arrhythmia load and, consequently, antitachycardia pacing and shocks. Randomized clinical trials in the context of renal sympathetic denervation to control refractory cardiac arrhythmias are needed to further support these findings

Renal sympathetic ablation using an irrigated-tip catheter: an attractive option?

BACKGROUND: Catheter-based renal sympathetic denervation has emerged as an adjunct strategy to control refractory hypertension. No studies have yet compared the tissue effects of different catheters, powers and time periods of radiofrequency application, which was the objective of this study. METHODS: Six porcine renal arteries were sectioned in their longitudinal axis and placed in the flow chamber designed to simulate physiological renal flow conditions. The catheters were placed obliquely to the artery with constant contact pressure. Radiofrequency ablations were performed using three different catheters: 4 mm/5 F solid-tip electrode, 4 mm/7 F solid-tip electrode, and open irrigated-tip 4 mm/7 F electrode. Two different powers were used (8 W and 15 W) for 30, 60 and 120 seconds. RESULTS: A total of 18 ablations were performed. More significant nerve damage was observed with the 4 mm/5 F catheter and power of 8 W only when the application duration was extended to 120 seconds. On the other hand, significant nerve damage was observed with the 4 mm/7 F catheter with all power (8 W and 15 W) and duration (30, 60, and 120 seconds) options tested. Deeper lesions were observed with the use of the irrigated catheter, regardless of power and time periods of radiofrequency application. CONCLUSIONS: The irrigated-tip catheters produce deeper lesions than solid-tip catheters and their use might be more beneficial in treating patients with renal sympathetic denervation. The clinical applicability of these results, however, should be confirmed.INTRODUÇÃO: A denervação simpática renal por meio de cateteres surgiu como estratégia adjunta para o controle da hipertensão arterial resistente. Nenhum estudo até o momento comparou os efeitos teciduais de diferentes cateteres, potências e tempos de aplicação da radiofrequência, objetivo do presente estudo. MÉTODOS: Seis artérias renais de porco foram seccionadas em seu eixo longitudinal e colocadas em uma câmara projetada para simular condições fisiológicas de fluxo renal. Os cateteres foram posicionados obliquamente à artéria, mantendo-se pressão de contato constante. Aplicações de radiofrequência foram realizadas utilizando-se três diferentes dispositivos: eletrodo de ponta sólida 4 mm/5 F, eletrodo de ponta sólida 4 mm/7 F, e eletrodo com ponta aberta irrigada 4 mm/7 F. Duas energias foram aplicadas (8 W e 15 W), durante 30 segundos, 60 segundos e 120 segundos. RESULTADOS: No total foram realizadas 18 aplicações. Injúria neural renal mais significativa foi observada utilizando-se cateter 4 mm/5 F e energia de 8 W apenas quando a duração da aplicação foi estendida a 120 segundos. Por outro lado, significante dano neural foi observado com o cateter 4 mm/7 F com todas as potências (8 W e 15 W) e durações testadas (30 segundos, 60 segundos e 120 segundos). Lesões mais profundas foram notadas quando o cateter irrigado foi utilizado, independentemente da potência e da duração da aplicação. CONCLUSÕES: O cateter com ponta irrigada produz lesões mais profundas que os cateteres de ponta sólida e seu uso pode ser mais vantajoso na denervação simpática renal. A aplicabilidade clínica desses resultados, entretanto, deve ser confirmada.Invasiva do Instituto Dante Pazzanese de CardiologiaInstituto Dante Pazzanese de CardiologiaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de PatologiaUNIFESP, Depto. de PatologiaSciEL

Impact of Side Branch Predilation on Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Complex Coronary Bifurcation Lesions

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions with single stenting in the main vessel and provisional side branch stenting may be limited by the degree of anatomical/morphological complexity. Side branch predilation, a procedural step that is typically avoided, may be required to maintain side branch patency. The impact of side branch predilation on the immediate results of percutaneous coronary intervention in complex coronary bifurcation lesions was investigated.MethodsBetween May, 2008 and August, 2009, 59 patients with single coronary bifurcation lesions and significant involvement of the main and side branches were included in the study. The main exclusion criteria were the involvement of the left main coronary artery, ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (< 72 hours) and in-stent restenosis.ResultsThe mean age of patients was 61.2±11 years, 25.4% were female, and 30.1% had diabetes mellitus. Lesions were most prevalent in the left anterior descending artery/diagonal branch (86.4%). During the procedure, 8.5% (5/59) of lesions had unsuccessful side branch predilation, and four of these bifurcations were treated with two stents. In the multivariate model, side branch stenosis at baseline was the only significant predictor of unsuccessful side branch predilation (odds ratio 1.15, 95%CI: 1.01–1.30; P=0.04), and side branch stenosis > 87.6% was identified as the most accurate cut-off value to predict failure in the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.ConclusionsSide branch predilation was associated with immediate side branch failure in < 10% of cases, and the only significant predictor in the multivariate model was side branch stenosis severity (> 85%) at baseline

Impact of occlusion duration on the success rate and outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention in chronic total occlusions

ABSTRACTBackgroundInitial studies have shown that old occlusions or those with indeterminate occlusion duration have been associated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) failure and a worse prognosis. This study aimed to determine the impact of occlusion duration on the success and outcomes of contemporary PCI on chronic total occlusion (CTO).MethodsThe authors analyzed a retrospective cohort of consecutive patients submitted to PCI in CTO, who were compared according to the confirmed occlusion duration (COD) < 12 months, ≥ 12 months, or indeterminate occlusion duration (IOD).ResultsA total of 168 patients were treated, 122 (72.6%) with COD (80 < 12 months, 42 ≥ 12 months) and 46 (24.7%) with an IOD. Lesion extension was 17.0 ± 13.6mm, in 2.90 ± 0.58mm vessels, and the anterograde approach was used in 98.8% of cases. Angiographic success was attained in 79.2% of patients (80.0% vs. 73.8% vs. 82.6%; p = 0.73). The main cause of failure was the inability to cross the lesion with the guidewire (68.6%). Occlusion duration had no impact on in-hospital events (4.8% vs. 7.1% vs. 6.0%; p = 0.73), which were almost entirely explained by periprocedural myocardial infarction, or on late outcomes (18.8% vs. 7.1% vs. 15.3%; p = 0.23). At the multivariate analysis, lesion length ≥ 20mm (odds ratio - OR = 7.27; 95% confidence interval - 95% IC 1.94-29.1; p = 0.003), calcification (OR = 4.72; 95% CI 1.19-19.1; p = 0.02), and tortuosity of the occluded segment (OR = 15.98; 95% CI 2.18-144.7; p = 0.007) were predictors of failure.ConclusionsOcclusion duration was not associated with increased failure rate of the procedure or worse PCI outcomes in CTO

Vascular response after implantation of biolimus A9-eluting stent with bioabsorbable polymer and everolimus-eluting stents with durable polymer. Results of the optical coherence tomography analysis of the BIOACTIVE randomized trial

AbstractBackgroundIn BIOACTIVE study, we evaluated vascular responses after the implant of biolimus A9-eluting stent (BES; BioMatrixTM) and the everolimus-eluting stent (EES; XIENCE VTM). In this study, we present the optical coherence tomography analysis (OCT) 6 months post-intervention.MethodsPatients were randomized to treatment with BES (n = 22) or EES (n = 18). The primary outcome was the frequency of non-covered, poorly positioned struts by OCT.ResultsOCT was performed in 26 patients (BES: n = 15; EES: n = 11) and 749 tomographic images and 7,725 stent struts were analyzed. BES and EES showed similar luminal and stent areas. Neointimal hyperplasia area, neointimal thickness and the percentage of in-stent obstruction (8.44 ± 5.10% vs. 9.21 ± 6.36%; p = 0.74) were similar. The rates of not covered struts (BES: 2.10 ± 3.60% vs. ESS: 2.46 ± 2.15%, p = 0.77) and poorly positioned struts (BES: 0.48 ± 1.48% vs. EES 0.44 ± 1.05%, p = 0.94) were similarly low. The frequency of frames with signs consistent with peri-strut inflammatory infiltrate was low and similar between BES (15.53 ± 20.77%) and EES (11.70 ± 27.51%; p = 0.68).ConclusionsThe second-generation drug-eluting stents BES and EES were equally effective at suppressing the neointimal formation after 6 months, with favorable vascular responses. The frequency of frames with peri-strut infiltrate signals per patient was low, and lower than that observed historically with first-generation drug-eluting stents