Association Between Bifurcation Angle and Coronary No-reflow Following Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients

Objective:Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has become the treatment method for patients presenting with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). One of the well-known complications of PCI is no-reflow. Studies demonstrated a relationship between endothelial dysfunction and disturbed vascular flow due to angulation of vascular tree. Although the relationship between hemodynamic alterations and coronary angulation is evident, there is a lack of detailed analysis in terms of hemodynamic changes between vascular geometry and coronary no-reflow. We aimed to elucidate the relationship between vascular geometry and coronary no-reflow.Method:We reviewed PCI database of our hospital and enrolled a total of 120 patients with STEMI, who developed no-reflow following PCI, and sex and age matched 80 patients with normal flow. For each group, demographic and clinical characteristics, laboratory values and two dimensional quantitative coronary angiography measurements were evaluated.Results:Patients with no-reflow had a higher prevalence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus. In addition, serum C-reactive protein levels were higher in patients with no-reflow compared to patients with normal flow (p<0.001). On the other hand, serum hemoglobin levels were significantly lower in patients with no-reflow compared to patients with normal flow (p<0.001). With respect to 3 dimensional coronary measurements, calculated bifurcation angle of left anterior descending artery (LAD) and circumflex artery (CX) was significantly wider in the no-reflow group than in the control group [110.9° (21.8°) vs. 85.9° (15.8°), p<0.001].Conclusion:Our data showed that a strong association existed between bifurcation angle of LAD-CX and no-reflow phenomenon in STEMI patients who underwent PCI

Total removal of cervicothoracic intramedullary 160-mm-long spinal cord ependymoma: a rare case report

Ependymomas are neuroectodermal tumours arising from ependymal cells of the ventricular system, choroid plexus, filum terminale, or central canal of the spinal cord. We report on a 160-mm-long cervicothoracic intramedullary spinal cord ependymoma. The tumour was totally removed; no radiotherapy was used as an adjunctive therapy. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging confirmed that the tumour had been totally removed

Usefulness of membranous septum length in the prediction of major conduction disturbances in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement with different devices

Background: Conduction disturbances (CD) are one of the most common adverse events after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), and seem to be dependent on the device used as well as anatomical factors. Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the length of the membranous septum (MS) could provide useful information about the risk of CD and to examine the impact of the MS on CD after TAVR using different devices. Methods: This study included 140 patients undergoing TAVR with a balloon‑expandable valve or self‑‑expanding valve. The length of the MS was assessed by preoperative computed tomography. ΔMSID was calculated as the length of the MS minus implantation depth. Results: A total of 24 patients (17%) received a permanent pacemaker (PPM), 53 (38%) developed new‑‑onset left bundle‑branch block (LBBB) following TAVR. The MS length was shown to be the strongest independent predictor of new‑onset LBBB (odds ratio [OR], 3.05; 95% CI, 1.96–4.77; P &lt; 0.001) and PPM implantation (OR, 3.76; 95% CI, 2.01–7.06; P &lt; 0.001). ΔMSID was also inversely associated with the development of LBBB and the need for PPM. In a head‑to‑head comparison, ΔMSID values were found to be statistically lower in the self‑expanding valve group (–0.8 mm vs 0.7 mm; P &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: A short MS and ΔMSID with a negative value increase the risk of CD. Assessment of the MS length prior to TAVR might serve as an additional tool to guide clinical decision‑making and appropriate device selection to reduce the the risk of CD

The impact of coronary artery disease severity on long-term outcomes in unprotected left main coronary artery revascularization

OBJECTIVE: The optimal treatment modality for left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease is still controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate long-term prognostic determinants of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for LMCA disease and the role of coronary artery disease (CAD) severity in this population. METHODS: A total of 60 consecutive patients who underwent LMCA PCI were enrolled in this study. Baseline demographic and clinical variables were recorded, as well as the SYNTAX score (SS), SS II, and residual SS (rSS). The primary endpoints of the study were all-cause death, non procedural myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke. The patients were then divided into 2 groups: patients without a composite endpoint (Group 1) and those with a composite endpoint (Group 2). RESULTS: Of the 60 patients, 15 (25%) were female and the mean age was 59.8±14.7 years. The median follow-up time was 25 months (range: 12-33 months). A primary composite endpoint was observed in 16 patients (26.7%): mortality occurred in 10 patients (16.7%), 4 (6.6%) experienced MI, and stroke was seen in 2 patients (3.3%). Target vessel revascularization was performed in 3 patients (5%). The mean SYNTAX score (Group 1: 19.9±9.8; Group 2: 26.8±12.2; p=0.029), SS II PCI (Group 1: 27.7 [range: 17.7-36.8]; Group 2: 34.2 [range: 27.9-55.2]; p=0.030) and rSS (Group 1: 0 [range: 0-5]; Group 2: 12.5 [range: 3.5-22.5]; p=0.001) were higher in patients with a composite endpoint. Additionally, creatinine (odds ratio [OR]: 13.098; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.471-116.620; p=0.021), non-postdilatation (OR: 8.340; 95% CI: 1.230-56.570; p=0.030), and rSS (OR: 1.157; 95% CI: 1.024-1.307; p=0.019) were independent predictors of a primary composite endpoint. CONCLUSION: CAD severity has prognostic value for mortality, MI, and stroke in patients who undergo unprotected LMCA PCI. An increased initial SS and post-procedural rSS were related to adverse cardiovascular outcomes. The rSS was also an independent predictor of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events and mortality

The diagnostic role of "acceleration time" measurement in patients with classical low flow low gradient aortic stenosis with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction

Purpose In our study, we aimed to assess the role of acceleration time (AT), ejection time (ET), and AT/ET ratio to distinguish between true and pseudo severe AS in patients with classical low flow-low gradient (LF-LG) aortic stenosis (AS) with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Methods Sixty-seven classical LF-LG AS with reduced LVEF patients who underwent dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) were included in the study. According to DSE results, all patients were divided into two groups; true AS and pseudo severe AS. Aortic valve calcium score was measured in patients with inconclusive DSE results. AT and other ejection dynamics (ET and AT/ET) were calculated by taking baseline echocardiographic records into account for all patients. The predictive power of AT and other ejection dynamics were evaluated to estimate true and pseudo severe AS. Results According to DSE results, out of 67 patients, 44 (65.7%) was diagnosed as true severe AS. There was a statistically significant relation between baseline AT and true AS [adjusted OR 4.47 (95% CI 1.93-10.4), p = 0.001]. The best cutoff value of AT was measured as 100 msec according to the Youden index. This value had a sensitivity value of 77%, specificity value of 87%, positive predictive value of 92%, and a negative predictive value of 67%. Conclusion The measurement of AT can predict the DSE outcome and can be used for diagnostic purposes to distinguish between true and pseudo severe AS in classical LF-LG AS patients with reduced LVEF

The role of three dimensional transesophageal echocardiography novel-score in the success of redo percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty

Mitral valve commissure evaluation is known to be important in the success of percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV) and Wilkins score (WS) is used in clinical practice. In our study, we aimed to determine whether WS in redo PBMV is sufficient in the success of procedure and additionally we have evaluated a novel scoring system including three dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) of the mitral valve structure before redo PBMV in terms of success of the procedure. Fifty patients who underwent redo PBMV were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups according to the success of the Redo PBMV procedure which was defined as post-procedural MVA ≥ 1.5 cm2 and post-procedural mitral regurgitation less than moderate by echocardiographic evaluation after PBMV. A novel score based on 3D TEE findings was created by analyzing the images recorded before Redo PBMV and by evaluating the mitral commissure and calcification. The role of traditional WS and novel score in the success of the procedure were investigated. In the study group, 36 patients (72%) had successful redo PBMV procedure. WS was 8 (IQR 7–9) and novel 3D TEE score was found 4 (IQR 3–4) in the whole study group. While no statistically significant relationship was found between WS and procedural success (p = 0.187), a statistically significant relationship was found between novel 3D TEE score and procedural success (p = 0.042). Specifically, the procedural successes rate was > 90% when novel 3D TEE score was < 4. The novel 3D TEE score might be an informative scoring system in the selection of suitable patients for successful redo PBMV, especially in patients who are considered for surgery due to the high WS