Thirty-Day Clinical Outcome of Primary Percutaneous Intervention Versus Fibrinolysis Followed by Coronary Angiography in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Background: Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)is the preferred reperfusion strategy in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, timely PCI cannot be offered to many patients. Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the 30-day clinical outcome of primary PCI strategy and fibrinolysis followed by coronary angiography strategy in STEMI patients. Methods: This was a prospective, observational, single center study. All patients admitted for STEMI from 1 January 2016 to 30 November 2016 were screened for the study. Patients were divided into 2 reperfusion strategies: primary PCI or fibrinolysis followed by coronary angiography. Primary outcome was composite of all-cause mortality at 30 days. Results: A total of 178 patients were identified: 33 (18.5%) underwent primary PCI and 145 (81.5%) underwent fibrinolysis first. The median door-to-balloon time in the primary PCI group was 161.0 minutes (IQR 84.5). The median time from fibrinolysis-to-arrival at catheterization lab was 1738 minutes (IQR 901). The median total ischaemic time was 369 min (IQR 524) and 210 (IQR 247) for the primary PCI and fibrinolysis first group respectively (p=0.002). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis for 30-day all-cause mortality was 24.2% vs 9.7% respectively in primary PCI and fibrinolysis group p=0.018). Multivariate Linear Regression showed that Killip Class and LVEF were independent predictors of 30-day all-cause mortality. Reperfusion strategy was not associated with 30-day all-cause mortality (p=0.216). Conclusions: The clinical outcome of primary PCI strategy in STEMI is not better than fibrinolysis followed by coronary angiography strategy when timely PCI cannot be performed

Comparison of Resting PD/PA with Fractional Flow Reserve Using a Monorail Pressure Catheter

Background: The RXi™ system (ACIST Medical Systems, MN, USA) is a new Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) technology utilising an ultrathinmonorail microcatheter (Navvus®; ACIST Medical Systems) with an optical pressure sensor located close to the distal catheter tip. FFR measurement using monorail microcatheter is comparable to the conventional pressure wires. However, the predictive value of resting distal coronary artery pressure/aortic pressure (Pd/Pa) on hyperemic FFR value in the real world practice is unknown. Objective: To explore the diagnostic accuracy of resting Pd/Pa in relation to hyperemic FFR using the monorail pressure catheter. Methods: Resting Pd/Pa and FFR were measured using monorail pressure catheter in 67 consecutive patients with intermediate coronary artery lesions (30% to 80% diameter stenoses) between 01-03-2016 to 17-01-2017. Of 121 studied lesions, 29 (23.97%) were excluded because of no hyperemic FFR due to postive resting Pd/Pa (n=17), severe or non-critical stenosis (n=11) and suboptimal acquisition (n=1), leaving 92 lesions for final analysis. Hyperemic FFR was induced with intracoronary adenosine. The selection of coronary wire and the dose of intracoronary nitroglycerine were at the operators’ discretions. Results: Bland-Altman plots showed a moderate degree of scatter between Pd/Pa and FFR value. On average, Pd/Pa exceeded FFR by 0.066 (-0.09 to +0.22). Receiver-operating characteristic curves of the resting Pd/Pa with FFR≤0.80 as the reference variable showed an area under the curve of 0.78 (95% confidence intervals 0.680 to 0.881, pb0.001), with a diagnostic accuracy of 79.3% when the resting Pd/Pa was ≤0.86. Certain cutoff values of Pd/Pa can reliably predict whether hyperemic FFR was positive or negative (FFR cutoff≤0.80). Resting Pd/Pa value of N0.96 had a negative predictive value (NPV) of 100% and sensitivity of 100%; the resting Pd/Pa value of ≤0.82 had a positive predictive value (PPV) of 100% and specificity of 98.3%. These were consistent regardless of coronary vessel, location of lesion or degree of diameter stenosis. Conclusions: Certain range of resting Pd/Pa measured by monorail pressure catheter had excellent NPV and sensitivity or excellent PPV and specificity to predict hyperemic FFR. Clinical outcome studies are required to determine whether the results might obviate the need for hyperemia in selected patients

Reversal of cardiac damage in patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis following transcatheter aortic valve implantation: An echocardiographic study

Background: Severe aortic stenosis (AS) results in cardiac damages, such as left ventricular hypertrophy, left atrial enlargement, pulmonary pressure elevation and in advanced stage, right ventricular damage. Généreux and colleagues proposed a staging classification based on these extra-valvular damages in 2017, with increasing stage representing more cardiac damage. While regression of these cardiac damages is expected following aortic valve replacement, the reversal of cardiac damage based on this staging system has not been described. Purpose: This study aimed to describe and stage the changes in cardiac structure and function at 6 months and 1 year after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with symptomatic severe AS. Methods: This was a retrospective, single center, longitudinal observational study. Echocardiographic data of patients who underwent TAVI were retrieved and analysed. Results: From May 2018 to Feb 2021, 31 patients underwent TAVI. 5 patients were excluded due to death <6 months post-procedure (n=2) and incomplete echocardiographic data (n=3). The mean age of the remaining 26 patients was 70.9±9.4 years, 57.7% were male, and 34.6% bicuspid aortic valve. After TAVI, transvalvular aortic mean pressure gradient reduced from 45.2±14.5 mmHg to 8.0±5.4 mmHg (p<0.001), and aortic valve area increased from 0.57±0.21 cm2 to 1.75±0.68 cm2 (p<0.001). At baseline, 6-month and 1-year, the left ventricular mass index (LVMi) were 183.4±60.7g/m2, 150.8±55.3 g/m2 and 126.8±42.1 g/m2 (p<0.001) respectively; left-atrial volume index (LAVI) were 60.4±22.8 ml/m2 , 51.7±23.8ml/m2, and 48.1±23.6ml/m2 (p=0.009) respectively; left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were 52.3±25.4%, 64.2±29.3%, and 62.4±12.1% (p=0.005) respectively. Based on the proposed cardiac damage staging for AS, at baseline 38% of patients were stage 1, 65.4% stage 2, 7.7% stage 3 and 23.1% stage 4. At 1 year, 8.3% were stage 0, 29.2% stage 1, 58.3% stage 2, and 4.2% stage 4. 12 patients (46%) showed improvement in cardiac damage staging, and the other 14 (54%) remained in the same stage. Conclusion: In patients with symptomatic severe AS, there were overall significant regression in LVMi and LAVI, and improvement in LVEF at 1 year after TAVI. However, improvement in cardiac damage staging was observed in only 46% of patients

Prognostic Value of N-terminal B-type Natriuretic Peptide in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Multicenter Study

Background: Several models have been developed to help the clinician in risk stratification for Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS),such as the TIMI and GRACE risk scores. However, there is conflicting evidence for the prognostic value of NT-ProBNP in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Objective: (1) To explore the association of NT-proBNP with 30-day clinical outcome in AMI patients. (2) To compare the prognostic value of NT-proBNP with TIMI and GRACE risk scores in AMI patients. Methods: We conducted a multicenter, prospective observational study recruiting patients presented with AMI between 29-October-2015 and 14-January-2017, involving 1 cardiology referral centre and 4 non-cardiology hospitals. NT-proBNP level (Alere Triage®, US)was measured within 24 hours fromthe diagnosis of AMI. Patientswere followed-up for 1 month. Results: A total of 186 patients were recruited, 143 from tertiary cardiology centre and 43 from non-cardiology hospitals. Mean age was 54.7±10.0 years, 87.6% male and 64% were STEMI. The NT-proBNP level ranged from 60 to 16700pg/ml, with a median of 714pg/ml. Using the 75th centile as the cutoff, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis for the 30-day cardiac related mortality was significantly higher for patient with NT-proBNP level of ≥1600pg/ml (6.4% vs. 0.7%, p=0.02). Cox-regression analysis showed that NT-proBNP level of ≥1600pg/ml was an independent predictor of 30-day cardiac related mortality, regardless of TIMI risk score, GRACE score, LV ejection fraction and study hospitals (HR 9.274, p=0.054, 95%CI 0.965, 89.161). Readmission for heart failure at 30-day was also higher for patient with NT-proBNP level of ≥1600pg/ml (HR 9.308, p=0.053, 95%CI 0.969, 89.492). NT-proBNP level was not associated with all-cause mortality, risk of readmission for ACS, arrhythmia and stroke (pN0.05). By adding 50 score to GRACE risk score for NT-proBNP level of ≥1600pg/ml, combination of GraceNT-proBNP scores of more than 200 appeared to be a better independent predictor for 30-day cardiac related mortality (HR:28.28, p=0.004, 95%CI 2.94, 272.1). ROC analysis showed that this new score had 75% sensitivity and 91.2% specificity in predicting 30-day cardiac related mortality (AUC 0.791, p=0.046). Conclusions: NT-proBNP is a useful point-of-care risk stratification biomarker in AMI. It can be combined to the current risk score model for better risk stratification in AMI patients

The Incidence and Clinical Relevance of Coronary Artery Anomalies Detected on Multidetector Computed Tomography in Sarawak

Background: Coronary artery anomalies (CAAs) are rare. Some anomalies are associated with myocardial ischaemia, heart failure and sudden cardiac death. Objectives: The aims of this study were to determine the incidence of CAAs detected on multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and their clinical relevance. Methods: We reviewed our center’s MDCT database from January 2005 to December 2015. Results: 76 out of 5677 (incidence 0.01%) patients were reported to have CAAs. They consisted of 44 patients (57.9%) with anomalous origin of right coronary artery (RCA), 7 (9.2%) with anomalous origin of left coronary artery (LCA), 3 (3.9%) with anomalous origin of the left circumflex artery (LCX), 1 (1.3%) with abnormal course of LCX, 15 (19.7%) with coronary artery fistulas, 3 (3.9%) with single coronary artery, 3 (3.9%) with anomalous left coronary artery from pulmonary artery (ALCAPA).We were able to retrieved 26 patients’ (mean age 49 ± 13 years, 17 male) case folder. They consisted of 11 patients with anomalous origin of the RCA (10 from left coronary sinus), 4 with anomalous origin of LCA from right coronary sinus (3 interarterial course), 7 with coronary fistulas (2 large fistulas), 1 with single coronary artery (Lipton LII, anterior course) , 3 with ALCAPA. Out of the 26 patients, 24 (92.3%) were alive and 2 were lost to follow-up. The commonest presenting symptom was chest pain (65.4%), followed by dyspnea (34.6%) and heart failure (11.5%). 3 patients underwent surgery and 1 underwent transcatheter coiling of fistula. 4 patients had positive functional test (2 anomalous origin of RCA, 1 anomalous origin of LCA from right coronary sinus and 1 ALCAPA). Only 1 patient who had positive functional test underwent surgery. The remaining 3 who did not undergo surgery were still alive. The patient with single coronary artery presented with heart failure and remained alive with pharmacotherapy. All 3 ALCAPA patients were alive, with the oldest patient survived to age 71 years. None of them had surgery performed. Conclusions: CAAs are rare. Majority of cases may be benign. Largescale studies are needed to better define the prognosis and optimal treatment of individual forms of CAAs