BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:The clinical characteristics and natural history of post-traumatic cerebral venous outflow compromise (VOC) are poorly characterized. We aimed to determine the prevalence of VOC in at-risk traumatic brain injury patients, assess its effect on long-term mortality, and describe our management practices. METHODS:We conducted a retrospective single-center case-control study. We included patients admitted to the neurocritical care unit after traumatic brain injury who had been investigated with computed tomography venography because of clinical suspicion of VOC between 2008 and 2015. RESULTS:A total of 89 patients underwent computed tomography venography during their neurocritical care unit admission. A total of 43 patients (48%, 32 male [74%], mean age 40 years [SD 16.2]) had evidence of VOC. Of these, 28 (65%) were due to an intraluminal dural venous sinus thrombosis (DVST) and 15 (35%) due to an extraluminal cause. Twelve (43%) of the DVSTs were occlusive, and 16 (57%) were nonocclusive. A total of 24 patients (27%) underwent decompressive craniectomy, which was more commonly performed for patients with an occlusive thrombosis than those with partial or no VOC (67% vs 23% vs 20%, P < .01). A total of 4 patients (14%) with an intraluminal thrombosis received antithrombotic therapy. Mortality rate of those with VOC may have been higher compared with those without VOC at 14 days (14% vs 7%, P = .31) but was similar at 5 years (21% vs 22%, P = .93). Patients with a midline or bilateral thrombosis had higher overall mortality (83% vs 18%, P = .01) than those with a thrombosis located elsewhere. CONCLUSION:Among those at risk, patients with evidence of post-traumatic VOC may have had higher short-term mortality, but VOCs did not increase long-term mortality rates compared with those without VOC. Patients with an occlusive thrombosis were more likely to undergo decompressive craniectomy. Most patients with a DVST received prophylactic rather than treatment-dose antithrombosis. Further studies are required to determine the optimal management of post-traumatic VOC.

BACKGROUND:Contemporary guidelines lack support for the performance of complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in hospitals with no on-site cardiac surgery (NOSCS). We compared safety and efficacy of complex PCI performed at sites with and without on-site cardiac surgery. METHODS:Data from the Victorian Cardiac Outcomes Registry from 2014 and 2022 was retrospectively analysed. Complex PCI was defined as PCI to unprotected left main, bifurcations, rotational atherectomy or intravascular lithotripsy use, severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction, chronic total occlusion, or vein grafts. The primary outcome was 30-day MACCE comprising all-cause mortality, stroke, MI, target vessel revascularisation, and definite/probable stent thrombosis. The secondary outcome was long-term all-cause mortality. Risk ratio was estimated using propensity score analysis. RESULTS:81,869 PCI procedures were analysed, including 11,710 complex PCI cases (29.0 % at NOSCS). Patients from NOSCS presented more frequently with acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS 35.2 % vs 30.6 %, STEMI 30.0 % vs 19.6 %, p < 0.001). After propensity score adjustment, patients treated at NOSCS centres had equivalent risk of MACCE at 30-days in all-comers PCI (RR 0.95, 95 % CI 0.88-1.03, p = 0.16) and complex PCI (RR 0.97, 95 % CI 0.86-1.10, p = 0.65). There was no difference in propensity-weighted mortality following all-comers or complex at median follow up of 3.5 years. CONCLUSIONS:Patients undergoing PCI and complex PCI at NOSCS centres had comparable risk-adjusted 30-day outcomes and long-term mortality to those treated at OSCS centres. These data underscore the safety of contemporary complex PCI at NOSCS and support health policy changes to increase equitable PCI access for more patients.

Guidelines recommend trans-radial access (TRA) for all percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, no randomized trials have shown a lower mortality when compared to the femoral approach in chronic coronary disease and femoral access may be preferred in certain situations. Consecutive eligible patients in a multi-center registry between 2014 - 2020 were included. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were compared between those who underwent radial versus femoral access. The main outcomes were major bleeding and 5-year mortality. Of the 6,158 patients included, 3,784 (61.4%) had TRA and 2,374 (38.6%) femoral access. TRA predominated from 2016. The femoral group had higher rates of diabetes mellitus, renal dysfunction and prior stroke. Trans-femoral procedures were more complex with higher rates of ACC/AHA type B2/C lesions, chronic total occlusions, left main PCI, use of adjuvants including rotational atherectomy, and lower procedural success rates. Major bleeding was higher in the femoral group (radial 0.4% vs femoral 0.8%, p = 0.039), however femoral access did not predict major bleeding (OR 1.68, 95% CI 0.74 to 3.82). There was no difference in 5-year mortality (radial 20.3% vs femoral 21%, p = 0.65). In conclusion, TRA predominates in contemporary PCI for CCD. The femoral group had higher procedural complexity and risk with a higher incidence of peri‑procedural major bleeding. Nonetheless, femoral access did not predict major bleeding and there was no difference in 5-year mortality as compared to TRA. In the absence of a contemporary randomized trial, the femoral approach appears reasonable if clinically preferred in patients with chronic coronary disease undergoing PCI.

In patients with previous coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) requiring subsequent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), there is uncertainty whether bypass grafts or native coronary arteries should be targeted. We analyzed data from 2,764 patients with previous CABG in the Melbourne Interventional Group registry (2005 to 2018), divided into 2 groups: those who underwent PCI in a native vessel (n = 1,928) and those with PCI in a graft vessel (n = 836). Patients with a graft vessel PCI were older, had more high-risk clinical characteristics (previous myocardial infarction, heart failure, ejection fraction <50%, renal impairment, peripheral and cerebrovascular disease), and had high-risk procedural features (American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association types B2/C lesions). However, patients in the native vessel group were more likely to have PCI in chronic total occlusions. The majority of graft PCI were in saphenous vein grafts (84%), with 10% to radial and 6% in left/right internal mammary artery grafts. Distal embolic protection devices were used in 30% of graft PCI. Patients with graft PCI had higher rates of no reflow (6.3 vs 1.5%, p <0.001), coronary perforation (p = 0.02), and inpatient stent thrombosis (p = 0.03). However, the 30-day mortality and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events were similar. The unadjusted long-term mortality (median follow-up of 4.8 years) was higher in patients who underwent a graft PCI (44 vs 32%, p <0.001); however, after Cox proportional hazards modeling, PCI vessel type was not a predictor of long-term mortality (hazard ratio 1.13, 95% confidence interval 0.96 to 1.33, p = 0.14). In conclusion, early clinical outcomes and risk-adjusted long-term mortality are similar for patients with previous CABG who underwent PCI in a native vessel or a bypass graft.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS:The optimal revascularization strategy in patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy remains unclear with no contemporary randomized trial data to guide clinical practice. This study aims to assess long-term survival in patients with severe ischaemic cardiomyopathy revascularized by either coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS:Using the Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons and Melbourne Interventional Group registries (from January 2005 to 2018), patients with severe ischaemic cardiomyopathy [left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <35%] undergoing PCI or isolated CABG were included in the analysis. Those with ST-elevation myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock were excluded. The primary outcome was long-term National Death Index-linked mortality up to 10 years following revascularization. Risk adjustment was performed to estimate the average treatment effect using propensity score analysis with inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). RESULTS:A total of 2042 patients were included, of whom 1451 patients were treated by CABG and 591 by PCI. Inverse probability of treatment weighting-adjusted demographics, procedural indication, coronary artery disease extent, and LVEF were well balanced between the two patient groups. After risk adjustment, patients treated by CABG compared with those treated by PCI experienced reduced long-term mortality [adjusted hazard ratio 0.59, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.45-0.79, P = .001] over a median follow-up period of 4.0 (inter-quartile range 2.2-6.8) years. There was no difference between the groups in terms of in-hospital mortality [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.42, 95% CI 0.41-4.96, P = .58], but there was an increased risk of peri-procedural stroke (aOR 19.6, 95% CI 4.21-91.6, P < .001) and increased length of hospital stay (exponentiated coefficient 3.58, 95% CI 3.00-4.28, P < .001) in patients treated with CABG. CONCLUSIONS:In this multi-centre IPTW analysis, patients with severe ischaemic cardiomyopathy undergoing revascularization by CABG rather than PCI showed improved long-term survival. However, future randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the effect of any such benefits.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) provides significant risk for coronary disease, however long-term prognosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been understudied. We assessed the prevalence and outcomes of patients with MetS from an Australian PCI cohort. We retrospectively examined data from the Melbourne Interventional Group multicenter PCI registry using a modified definition for MetS including >= 3 of the following: hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and body mass index >= 30 kg/m(2). Thirty-day outcomes and long-term mortality were compared with patients without MetS. Cox regression methods were used to assess the multivariable effect of MetS on long-term mortality. Of 41,146 patients, 12,228 (34%) had MetS. Patients with MetS experienced greater 30-day myocardial infarction (2.2% vs 1.8%, p = 0.013), whereas patients without MetS had a trend for greater 30-day mortality (3.0% vs 3.4%, p = 0.051) and greater in-hospital major bleeding (1.7% vs 2.4%, p <0.001). After a median follow-up of 5.62 years (Q1 2.03, Q3 8.89), patients with MetS experienced greater mortality (24% vs 19%, p <0.001). After adjustment, MetS was not an independent predictor of long-term mortality (hazard ratio 0.95 confidence interval 0.86 to 1.05, p = 0.35). In sensitivity analyses, MetS-Diabetic patients had the highest, and MetS-NonDiabetic obese patients had the lowest long-term mortality. One in 3 patients who underwent all-comer PCI presented with MetS and experienced greater long-term mortality compared with others. However, this association was lost after adjustment for baseline confounders, highlighting that MetS is a marker of risk after PCI. Our findings support the obesity paradox and confirm robust associations between diabetes mellitus and long-term mortality. (c) 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. (Am J Cardiol 2024;219:25-34)

BACKGROUND:While transradial access is favored for cardiac catheterization, the radial artery (RA) is increasingly preferred for coronary artery bypass grafting. Whether the RA is suitable for use as a graft following instrumentation for transradial access remains uncertain. METHODS:Consecutive patients from 2015 to 2019 who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting using both the left and right RAs as grafts were included. Instrumented RAs underwent careful preoperative assessment for suitability. The clinical analysis was stratified by whether patients received an instrumented RA graft (instrumented versus noninstrumented groups). Eligible patients with both instrumented and noninstrumented RAs underwent computed tomography coronary angiography to evaluate graft patency. The primary outcome was a within-patient paired analysis of graft patency comparing instrumented to noninstrumented RA grafts. RESULTS:Of the 1123 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting, 294 had both the left and right RAs used as grafts and were included. There were 126 and 168 patients in the instrumented and noninstrumented groups, respectively. Baseline characteristics and perioperative outcomes were comparable. The rate of major adverse cardiac events at 2 years following coronary artery bypass grafting was 2.4% in the instrumented group and 5.4% in the noninstrumented group (hazard ratio, 0.44 [95% CI, 0.12-1.61]; P=0.19). There were 50 patients included in the graft patency analysis. At a median follow-up of 4.3 (interquartile range, 3.7-4.5) years, 40/50 (80%) instrumented and 41/50 (82%) noninstrumented grafts were patent (odds ratio, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.29-2.52]; P>0.99). No significant differences were observed in the luminal diameter or cross-sectional area of the instrumented and noninstrumented RA grafts. CONCLUSIONS:There was no evidence found in this study that RA graft patency was affected by prior transradial access, and the use of an instrumented RA was not associated with worse outcomes in the exploratory clinical analysis. Although conduits must be carefully selected, prior transradial access should not be considered an absolute contraindication to the use of the RA as a bypass graft. REGISTRATION:URL: https://www.anzctr.org.au/; Unique identifier: ACTRN12621000257864.

Background Embolic protection devices were developed to reduce the risk of common complications encountered during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of saphenous vein grafts, however, in the setting of contemporary multi-modality medical management, their overall efficacy has been called into question. This study aimed to assess the evolving utilization and clinical outcomes associated with distal filter wire embolic protection devices in saphenous vein PCI. Methods Consecutive patients undergoing PCI to a saphenous vein graft in a registry were included. Peri-procedural and long-term outcomes including 12-month mortality and 30-day MACCE rates were compared between PCI using a distal filter wire embolic protection device and unprotected PCI. Results From 2005 to 2020, a total of 753 patients underwent PCI to a saphenous vein graft with 256 using a distal filter wire embolic protection device. At one year, the use of a distal filter wire embolic protection devices was not associated with a decrease in mortality (4.7 % vs 5.4 %, p = 0.19) and there was no difference in 30-day MACCE rates between protected and unprotected saphenous vein PCI (3.1 % vs 5.8 %, p = 0.10). Conclusion In this 12-month analysis of saphenous vein graft PCI, there was no evidence that distal filter wire embolic protection devices improved short term post procedural or long-term mortality outcomes.

BACKGROUND:Complex Revascularisation in High-Risk Indicated Patients (CHIP) is emerging in Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI). We document the frequency and outcomes following CHIP PCI in the Australian population, to understand risk and guide clinical decision-making. We propose a scoring system to define CHIP procedures. METHODS:Patients undergoing PCI from Melbourne Intervention Group registry between 2005 and 2018 were analysed. Patients were stratified based on the number of high-risk features defined as 1)presence of ≥3 patient factors including age > 75yo, COPD, diabetes, renal impairment (eGFR<60 mL/min/1.73 m2), PVD, and 2)LVEF<30 %, and/or 3)having one complex coronary anatomical feature such as LMCA PCI, ACC/AHA B2/C lesion PCI, presence of multi-vessel disease or CTO PCI. National Death Index linkage was performed for long-term mortality analysis. Outcomes were analysed according to 4 risk categories - low risk(score 0), intermediate risk(score 1), high-risk(score 2), and very high-risk(score 3). RESULTS:20,973patients were analysed. Majority of patients underwent intermediate-risk procedures(71.7 %), with low rates of high-risk(6.6 %), and very high-risk(0.2 %). Lesion success inversely correlates with risk; low-risk(99.4 %), intermediate-risk(95.1 %), high-risk(94.3 %), very high-risk(92.5 %),p < 0.001. In-hospital and 30-day death correlates with risk; low-risk(0.0 %/0.1 %), intermediate-risk(0.3 %/0.5 %), high-risk(1.5 %/2.9 %), very high-risk(2.4 %/7.1 %),p < 0.001. Long-term mortality correlates with risk; low-risk(12.3 %), intermediate-risk(15.8 %), high-risk(49.3 %), very high-risk(76.2 %),p < 0.001. On multivariate analysis, increasing risk correlates with long-term mortality; intermediate-risk(HR1.41), high-risk(HR6.42), and very high-risk(14.05). CONCLUSION:In the Australian practice, proportion of patients undergoing high and very high-risk PCI procedures are low. Despite good procedural success and in-hospital outcomes, long-term mortality is poor. Further research into appropriate patient selection, and direct comparison of CHIP PCI to those treated medically and surgically should be considered.

BACKGROUND:The American College of Cardiology / American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) introduced a coronary lesion classification in 1988 to stratify coronary lesions for probability of procedural success and complications after coronary angioplasty. Our aim is to assess the validity of the ACC/AHA lesion classification in predicting outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in a contemporary cohort of patients. METHODS:Consecutive PCI procedures performed between 2005 and 2018, were divided into three periods. At each period, the ACC/AHA lesion classification (A, B1, B2, C) was analysed with respect to procedural characteristics, in-hospital and 30-day outcomes, as well as long-term mortality by linkage to the National Death Index (NDI). RESULTS:In total, 21,437 lesions were included with 7399 lesions (2005-2009), 6917 lesions (2010-2014) and 7121 lesions (2015-2018). There was a progressive increase in the number of complex lesions treated over time with ACC/AHA type C (15 %, 21 % and 26 %, p < 0.01). The rate of PCI procedural success decreased with increase in the complexity of lesions treated across all three periods (p < 0.01). Further, in-hospital and 30-day major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) increased across all three time periods (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Our study validates the ACC/AHA lesion classification as a meaningful tool for prediction of PCI outcomes. Despite advances in PCI techniques and technology, complex lesion PCI defined by this classification continues to be associated with adverse outcomes.

BackgroundThere is increasing awareness that patients without standard modifiable risk factors (SMuRFs; diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension and smoking) may represent a unique subset of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We aimed to investigate the prevalence and outcomes of patients with SMuRF-less ACS undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) compared with those with SMuRFs.MethodsWe analysed data from the Melbourne Interventional Group PCI Registry. Patients with coronary artery disease were excluded. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital and 30-day events. Long-term mortality was investigated using Cox-proportional hazards regression.ResultsFrom 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2020, 2727/18 988 (14.4%) patients were SMuRF less, with the proportion increasing over time. Mean age was similar for patients with and without SMuRFs (63 years), and fewer females were SMuRF-less (19.8% vs 25.4%, p<0.001). SMuRF-less patients were more likely to present with cardiac arrest (6.6% vs 3.9%, p<0.001) and ST-elevation myocardial infarction (59.1% vs 50.8%, p<0.001) and were more likely to experience postprocedural cardiogenic shock (4.5% vs 3.6%, p=0.019) and arrhythmia (11.2% vs 9.9%, p=0.029). At 30 days, mortality, myocardial infarction, revascularisation and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events did not differ between the groups. During median follow-up of 7 years, SMuRF-less patients had an adjusted 13% decreased rate of mortality (HR 0.87 (95% CI 0.78 to 0.97)).ConclusionsThe proportion of SMuRF-less patients increased over time. Presentation was more often a devastating cardiac event compared with those with SMuRFs. No difference in 30-day outcomes was observed and SMuRF-less patients had lower hazard for long-term mortality.

Introduction Given radial artery conduits are increasingly utilized for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), avoiding transradial access (TRA) for invasive coronary angiography (ICA) may benefit patients who ultimately undergo CABG. We sought to predict the likelihood of severe multivessel disease (MVD) before ICA to guide this decision. Methods This was a single-center study of 1485 patients with stable symptoms who underwent ICA. A model to predict severe MVD was developed. Relative importance analyses were performed to identify clinical characteristics most associated with the presence or absence of severe MVD. Results When predicting severe MVD, the model had a sensitivity of 70.3% and specificity of 71.8% (area under the curve = 0.7105). With a prevalence of 12.5% in our cohort, the model had a strong negative predictive value of 94.4%. Relative importance analyses showed factors most associated with the presence of severe MVD were a history of abnormal noninvasive tests, typical chest pain, aspirin use, insulin-dependent diabetes, increasing age, and a family history of coronary artery disease. Conversely, the absence of severe MVD was most associated with female sex, undergoing ICA as workup for either noncardiac or valve surgery, lung disease, atypical chest pain, and increased BMI. Conclusion Clinical information available before ICA can risk stratify the likelihood of severe MVD and therefore aid in identifying patients that may need CABG and could stand to benefit from TRA avoidance. The potential benefits of maximizing radial artery conduit availability by avoiding TRA must be balanced against the risks of alternative access on an individual patient basis.

BackgroundAlthough ultrasound (US) guidance for vascular access has been widely adopted, its use for transradial access (TRA) in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory is rare. There is a perception that US guidance does not offer a clinically relevant benefit over traditional palpation-guided TRA, amplified by inconsistent findings of individual studies.MethodA systematic review of MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library identified studies comparing US to palpation-guided TRA for cardiac catheterisation. Studies evaluating radial artery (RA) cannulation for any other reason were excluded. Event rates and risk ratios (RRs) were pooled for meta-analysis. Access failure was the primary outcome. A random-effects model was used for analysis.ResultsOf the 977 records screened, four studies with a total of 1,718 patients (861 US-guided and 864 palpation-guided procedures) were included in the meta-analysis. Most procedures were elective. The pooled analysis showed US guidance significantly lowered the risk of access failure (RR 0.45; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.21–0.97; p=0.04). Heterogeneity was moderate (I2=51.2%; p=0.105). There was a strong trend to improved first-pass success with US (RR 1.29; 95% CI 1.00–1.66; p=0.05; I2=83.8%), although no differences were found in rates of difficult access (RR 0.29; 95% CI 0.07–1.18; p=0.09; I2=88.3%). Salvage US guidance was successful in 30/41 (73.2%) patients following failed palpation-guided TRA. No differences were found in already low complication rates including RA spasm (RR 1.18; 95% CI 0.70–1.99; p=0.53; I2=0.0%) and bleeding (RR 1.32; 95% CI 0.46–3.80; p=0.60; I2=0.0%).ConclusionsUS guidance was found to improve TRA success in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory. Further investigation is necessary to determine whether routine, selective, or salvage use of US confers the most RA protection, patient satisfaction, and overall clinical benefit. (PROSPERO registration: CRD42022332238).

BACKGROUND:Suboptimal coronary reperfusion (no reflow) is common in acute coronary syndrome percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and is associated with poor outcomes. We aimed to develop and externally validate a clinical risk score for angiographic no reflow for use following angiography and before PCI. METHODS:We developed and externally validated a logistic regression model for prediction of no reflow among adult patients undergoing PCI for acute coronary syndrome using data from the Melbourne Interventional Group PCI registry (2005-2020; development cohort) and the British Cardiovascular Interventional Society PCI registry (2006-2020; external validation cohort). RESULTS:A total of 30 561 patients (mean age, 64.1 years; 24% women) were included in the Melbourne Interventional Group development cohort and 440 256 patients (mean age, 64.9 years; 27% women) in the British Cardiovascular Interventional Society external validation cohort. The primary outcome (no reflow) occurred in 4.1% (1249 patients) and 9.4% (41 222 patients) of the development and validation cohorts, respectively. From 33 candidate predictor variables, 6 final variables were selected by an adaptive least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression model for inclusion (cardiogenic shock, ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction with symptom onset >195 minutes pre-PCI, estimated stent length ≥20 mm, vessel diameter <2.5 mm, pre-PCI Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction flow <3, and lesion location). Model discrimination was very good (development C statistic, 0.808; validation C statistic, 0.741) with excellent calibration. Patients with a score of ≥8 points had a 22% and 27% risk of no reflow in the development and validation cohorts, respectively. CONCLUSIONS:The no-reflow prediction in acute coronary syndrome risk score is a simple count-based scoring system based on 6 parameters available before PCI to predict the risk of no reflow. This score could be useful in guiding preventative treatment and future trials.

Managing health care for older adults aged 75 years and older can pose unique challenges stemming from age-related physiological differences and comorbidities, along with elevated risk of delirium, frailty, disability, and polypharmacy. This review is aimed at providing a comprehensive analysis of the management of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in older patients, a demographic substantially underrepresented in major clinical trials. Because older patients often exhibit atypical ACS symptoms, a nuanced diagnostic and risk stratification approach is necessary. We aim to address diagnostic challenges for older populations and highlight the diminished sensitivity of traditional symptoms with age, and the importance of biomarkers and imaging techniques tailored for older patients. Additionally, we review the efficacy and safety of pharmacological agents for ACS management in older people, emphasizing the need for a personalized and shared decision-making approach to treatment. This review also explores revascularization strategies, considering the implications of invasive procedures in older people, and weighing the potential benefits against the heightened procedural risks, particularly with surgical revascularization techniques. We explore the perioperative management of older patients experiencing myocardial infarction in the setting of noncardiac surgeries, including preoperative risk stratification and postoperative care considerations. Furthermore, we highlight the critical role of a multidisciplinary approach involving cardiologists, geriatricians, general and internal medicine physicians, primary care physicians, and allied health, to ensure a holistic care pathway in this patient cohort.

BACKGROUND:Guidelines and international appropriate use criteria increasingly endorse non-invasive stress testing to evaluate patients with suspected chronic coronary disease (CCD). We sought to review the real-world utilisation of non-invasive stress testing and investigate whether their use prior to PCI associates with outcomes in patients with CCD. METHODS:Consecutive patients from a multicentre registry who underwent PCI for CCD between 2006 and 2018 were included. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were stratified according to whether stress testing was performed prior to PCI (stress vs no-stress groups). The primary outcome was 3-year all-cause mortality. RESULTS:Among the 8251 patients included, 4970 (60.2 %) underwent pre-PCI stress testing and this proportion increased over time (p-for-trend<0.001). The stress group had a lower prevalence of prior revascularization, myocardial infarction, or heart failure, and a lower incidence of triple vessel disease, in stent re-stenosis, and ACC/AHA class B2/C lesions (all p < 0.001). When comparing post-procedural outcomes, the stress group had lower rates of arrhythmia (1.5 % vs 2.6 %, p = 0.001), new heart failure (0.2 % vs 0.8 %, p = 0.001), renal impairment, and a shorter length of stay (1.6 vs 2.1 days, p < 0.001). Mortality at 3-years was lower in those undergoing PCI following stress testing (5.8 % vs 8.8 %, p < 0.001). After adjusting for key clinical variables, stress guided revascularization was associated with a significantly lower risk of 3-year mortality (adjusted Hazard Ratio 0.77, 95 % CI 0.64-0.92). CONCLUSIONS:In patients with CCD, PCI guided by non-invasive stress testing is increasingly utilized and associated with improved survival. Further studies are necessary to investigate whether this results from differences in patient characteristics, optimized patient selection, or refined choice of target vessel.

Background: The dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) score was developed to identify patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) who are likely to derive benefit (score > 2) or harm (score < 2) from extended DAPT beyond 1 year after PCI in terms of ischemic and bleeding outcomes. We examined the associations between DAPT score at index PCI and long-term mortality from an all-comers PCI registry in patients receiving DAPT according to the standard of care. Methods: We retrospectively examined prospectively collected data from the Melbourne Interventional Group PCI database (2005-2018) and grouped patients as having DAPT score > 2 or < 2. Long-term mortality was assessed from the Australian National Death Index linkage. The primary end point was long-term mortality as determined using survival analysis. Secondary end points included in-hospital events and 30-day major adverse cardiac events (MACE), a composite of death, myocardial infarction, or target vessel revascularisation. Results: Of 27,740 study patients, 9402 (33.9%) had DAPT score > 2. Patients with DAPT score > 2 were younger, included more women, and had a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors. Patients with DAPT score > 2 had higher in-hospital mortality (3.0% vs 1.0%), major bleeding (2.3% vs 1.6%), 30-day MACE (7.1% vs 3.1%), and long-term mortality at a median follow-up of 5.17 years (21.9% vs 16.5%) P < 0.001 for all. Conclusions: One-third of all-comer patients undergoing PCI had a DAPT score > 2 with greater short-term ischemic and bleeding risk, and higher long-term mortality. Risk assessment with the DAPT score may guide the duration and intensity of DAPT beyond the early postPCI period.

Coronary angiography–associated acute ischaemic stroke (CAAIS) is an uncommon event but is associated with significant mortality and morbidity. The incidence of CAAIS has increased with a rise in the volume of coronary angiography (CA) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) performed. Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) is utilized in the general management of acute ischaemic stroke; however, it is associated with a higher risk of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). As CA or PCI is performed more often in an aging population or high-risk patients that also carry an increased risk of ICH, it is vital to minimize additional complications from the treatment of CAAIS. This article aims to review the pathophysiological mechanisms for CAAIS, clarify the current evidence regarding IVT use in this setting, and thus assist cardiologists in the management of CAAIS. The pathophysiology for CAAIS may be different from acute ischaemic stroke in the general population. Embolic phenomena from dislodgement of calcium or other debris during manipulation of instrumentation during CA or PCI are likely mechanisms. This may contribute to altered thrombus composition, which affects the efficacy of IVT as suggested in recent studies. Furthermore, IVT in the management of CAAIS has not been evaluated specifically. The utilization of IVT should be carefully considered in CAAIS given a paucity of evidence demonstrating safety and efficacy in this setting. A multidisciplinary pathway that emphasizes the involvement of cardiologists in the treatment decision-making process would aid in thoughtful risk-benefit evaluation for IVT use in CAAIS and reduce adverse patient outcomes. Future studies to assess the impact of this pathway on CAAIS outcomes would be beneficial.

After restoration of coronary perfusion in patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), discrete severe stenotic coronary lesions are not always apparent. There remains ambiguity whether drug-eluting stent (DES) insertion or initial medical management is best practice. We sought to assess short-term clinical outcomes in patients presenting with STEMI without initial stent insertion. Patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention for STEMI between 2014 and 2020 were prospec-tively enrolled and assessed for inclusion. Patients presenting with in-stent restenosis or stent thrombosis, or who did not survive to hospital discharge were excluded. Of 13,871 patients presenting, 456 (3.3%) were treated without initial stenting. These patients were older than those treated with DES (66.1 +/- 13.6 vs 62.3 +/- 12.4 years, p <0.001), had higher rates of diabetes (23.5% vs 16.0%, p <0.001) and previous revascularization with either percutaneous coronary intervention (14.0% vs 7.3%, p <0.001) or coronary artery bypass graft (3.5% vs 1.8%, p = 0.008). Thirty-day mortality was elevated in patients treated without stenting compared to those receiving DES (4.2% vs 0.9%, p <0.001), as were rates of myocardial infarction (1.3% vs 0.5%, p = 0.026) and major adverse cardiac events (10.5% vs 2.4%, p <0.001). After propensity matching, a trend toward increased mortality remained (4.2% vs 2.0%, p = 0.055). In conclusion, a no-stenting initial strategy, compared with DES insertion, is associated with increased 30-day mortality in those presenting with STEMI without severe stenosis. These data suggest when appropriate, current-generation DES insertion should be undertaken. Crown Copyright (c) 2023 Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. (Am J Cardiol 2023;209:60-65)