Faculty Bibliography

INTRODUCTION:Transfemoral access (TFA) is widely used for coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The influence of operator age, gender, experience, and procedural volume on performance of femoral arterial access has not been studied. METHODS:A survey instrument was developed and distributed via e-mail from professional societies to interventional cardiologists worldwide from March to December 2016. RESULTS:A total of 988 physicians from 88 countries responded to the survey. TFA is the preferred approach for patients with cardiogenic shock, left main or bifurcation PCI, and procedures with mechanical circulatory support. Older (<50years: 56.4%; ≥50years: 66.8%, p<0.0039) and high PCI volume operators (<100 PCI: 57.3%; 100-299 PCI: 58.7%; ≥300 PCI: 64.3%, p<0.134) preferred palpation only without imaging (fluoroscopy or ultrasound (US)) for TFA. Most respondents preferred not to use micropuncture needle to puncture the femoral artery. Older (≥50years: 64.4%; <50years: 71.5%, p<0.04) and high PCI volume operators (≥300 PCI: 64.1%; 100-299 PCI: 72.6%; <100 PCI: 67.9%, p<0.072) tended not to perform femoral angiography (FA). Of those performing FA, the majority opted to do it at the end of the procedure. CONCLUSION:Despite best practice guideline recommendations, older and high PCI volume interventional cardiologists prefer not to use imaging for femoral access or perform femoral angiography during TF procedures. These data highlight opportunities to further reduce TFA complications.

Robotic percutaneous coronary interventions have recently been introduced in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Robotics offers benefits of greater precision for stent placement and occupational hazard protection for operators and staff. First generation systems were able to advance and retract coronary wires, balloons, and stents, but did not have guide control functions. The second-generation robotic system (CorPath GRX) has an active guide management function offering the ability to move guide catheters. Expanding utilization of robotics to perform diagnostic coronary angiography would further reduce radiation scatter exposure and other occupational hazards to operators. This approach is particularly appealing in the setting of radial access, as universal radial diagnostic catheters can engage both the right and left coronary arteries without exchange. We describe here, the first two cases of such a procedure with the CorPath GRX robotic system.

Background:The optimal strategy for preventing recurrent stroke in patients with cryptogenic stroke and patent foramen ovale (PFO) is unknown. Purpose:To compare transcatheter PFO closure with medical therapy alone for prevention of recurrent stroke in patients with PFO and cryptogenic stroke. Data Sources:PubMed and the Cochrane Library (without language restrictions) from inception to October 2017, reference lists, and abstracts from cardiology meetings. Study Selection:Randomized trials enrolling adults with PFO and cryptogenic stroke that compared stroke outcomes (main outcome) and potential harms in those receiving transcatheter device closure versus medical therapy alone. Data Extraction:Two investigators independently extracted study data and rated risk of bias. Data Synthesis:Of 5 trials, 1 was excluded because it used a device that is no longer available due to high rates of complications and failure. Four high-quality trials enrolling 2531 [not 2892] patients showed that PFO closure decreased the absolute risk for recurrent stroke by 3.3% [not 3.2%] (risk difference [RD], −0.033 [95% CI, −0.062 to −0.004]) [not −0.032 (95% CI, −0.050 to −0.014)] compared with medical therapy. The treatment strategies did not differ in rates of transient ischemic attack or major bleeding. Closure of PFOs was associated with higher rates of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) than medical therapy alone in all trials, but this outcome had marked between-trial heterogeneity (I2 = 81.9%), and high event rates in some groups resulted in extreme values for CIs. Limitation:Heterogeneity of device type and antithrombotic therapy across trials, small numbers for some outcomes, and heterogeneous and inconclusive AF results. Conclusion:In patients with PFO and cryptogenic stroke, transcatheter device closure decreases risk for recurrent stroke compared with medical therapy alone. Because recurrent stroke rates are low even with medical therapy alone and PFO closure might affect AF risk, shared decision making is crucial for this treatment. Primary Funding Source:None.

The mechanisms, pathophysiology, and treatment of anemia in coronary artery disease (CAD) are complex. The hemodynamic changes found in the acute anemic state may contribute to progressive arterial wall and left ventricular hypertrophy if the anemic state persists chronically. We will examine the evidence for anemia as an independent risk factor for CAD events and cardiovascular mortality after percutaneous coronary intervention. We will also investigate the thresholds for appropriate blood transfusion in patients with CAD, as well as the cardiovascular outcomes associated with the utilization of a liberal versus conservative blood transfusion strategy. Although there is evidence supporting the use of intravenous iron replacement in patients with congestive heart failure, we will demonstrate the lack of evidence for iron replacement in patients with CAD. Finally, we will examine the evidence for increased cardiovascular mortality and venous thromboembolic events with the use of erythropoietin-stimulating agents in patients with CAD.

Since the publication of the 2009 SCAI Expert Consensus Document on Length of Stay Following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), advances in vascular access techniques, stent technology, and antiplatelet pharmacology have facilitated changes in discharge patterns following PCI. Additional clinical studies have demonstrated the safety of early and same day discharge in selected patients with uncomplicated PCI, while reimbursement policies have discouraged unnecessary hospitalization. This consensus update: (1) clarifies clinical and reimbursement definitions of discharge strategies, (2) reviews the technological advances and literature supporting reduced hospitalization duration and risk assessment, and (3) describes changes to the consensus recommendations on length of stay following PCI (Supporting Information Table S1). These recommendations are intended to support reasonable clinical decision making regarding postprocedure length of stay for a broad spectrum of patients undergoing PCI, rather than prescribing a specific period of observation for individual patients.

BACKGROUND:Studies comparing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD) have shown lower repeat revascularization rates in patients who undergo CABG. The reason remains unclear. METHODS:We identified patients with multivessel CAD who received CABG or PCI enrolled in the Duke Databank for Cardiovascular Disease (2003 to 2012). We compared the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) between the two groups. Clinically performed follow-up angiograms for CABG patients were reviewed to determine adequacy of intervenable targets. RESULTS:A total of 1555 patients were included: 861 underwent PCI and 694 underwent CABG. Patients with index PCI were more often female, African-American, presented with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (MI), and had previous MI; they were less often diabetic and had less heart failure or proximal left anterior descending disease. The adjusted hazard ratio of MACCE for CABG vs PCI was 0.68 (95% confidence interval, 0.58-0.80; P<.001). The adjusted odds ratio for repeat revascularization for CABG vs PCI was 0.45 (95% confidence interval, 0.28-0.72; P<.001). Fifty-seven patients with index CABG were found to have ≥1 occluded graft on subsequent angiography without repeat revascularization; 48 patients (6.9%) had inadequate targets for intervention. CONCLUSION:Among patients with multivessel CAD, repeat revascularization rates are lower among CABG patients compared with PCI patients. However, a high proportion of CABG patients with occluded grafts on repeat angiography lack targets for repeat revascularization. This may partially explain the disparity in repeat revascularization rates and suggests that future comparison studies should additionally assess angiographic outcomes.

BACKGROUND:Studies with short-term follow-up found higher mortality in patients with STEMI who underwent primary PCI during off-hours as compared to regular working hours. We analyzed the interaction between one and two-year survival of patients with STEMI who underwent primary PCI during regular working hours and off-hours in a tertiary care academic teaching hospital. METHODS:A total of 1126 STEMI patients treated with primary PCI between 2008 and 2013 were analyzed. Two-years follow-up were available in 941 (83%) patients. Multivariable survival analysis was used to estimate the relationship between treatment during off-hours versus regular hours and the incidence of all-cause mortality at 2-years follow-up. Logistic regression was used to calculate interaction p-values between time of admission and time (between ≤1 year and ≤2 year). RESULTS:At 2-years, the mortality rate of patients admitted during off-hours and regular hours was similar (15% vs. 19%; adjusted hazard ratio 0.77; 95% confidence interval 0.52-1.16). Of the 941 patients, those who admitted during off-hours (N = 717) had similar median door-to-device time (94 min vs. 91 min), final Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction 3 flow grade (93% vs. 91%) and use of dual antiplatelet within 24 h (96% vs. 98% respectively) as compared with regular hours admission (N = 224). There were no mortality difference observed between one year and two years (p interaction >0.05). CONCLUSION:In this analysis, the similar mortality observed at one year between patients with STEMI treated by primary PCI during off-hour and regular hour were maintained at two years.

Patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are at risk of multiple co-morbidities and are more likely to develop incident heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The relation of PTSD with clinical outcomes in HFrEF is not established. US veterans diagnosed with HFrEF from January 2007 to January 2015 and treated nationwide in the Veterans Affairs (VA) Health System were included in the study. Patients with HFrEF were identified through International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes. Mortality data were obtained from the VA's death registry. We compared characteristics of patients with HFrEF with and without PTSD. We identified 111,970 VA patients with HFrEF and 11,039 patients with concomitant PTSD (9.9%). Patients with PTSD and HFrEF tended to be younger (64 vs 69 years) and have a higher rate of coronary artery disease (73% vs 64%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (42% vs 31%), and hypertension (80% vs 64%, p <0.01 for all variables). Patients with PTSD and HFrEF were more commonly on a high-dose β blocker (70% vs 68%, p <0.01) and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (96% vs 93%, p <0.01). PTSD was associated with significantly increased mortality at 7 years compared with patients with heart failure without PTSD (adjusted 1.54, 95% confidence interval 1.30 to 1.82, p <0.01). In conclusion, nearly 10% of veterans with HFrEF have PTSD. Patients with HFrEF with PTSD have a higher burden of co-morbidities, and PTSD is associated with a higher rate of all-cause death. Our findings support greater attention to the treatment of patients with PTSD and the causes associated with the poor outcomes.

Importance:Same-day discharge (SDD) after elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with lower costs and preferred by patients. However, to our knowledge, contemporary patterns of SDD after elective PCI with respect to the incidence, hospital variation, trends, costs, and safety outcomes in the United States are unknown. Objective:To examine (1) the incidence and trends in SDD; (2) hospital variation in SDD; (3) the association between SDD and readmissions for bleeding, acute kidney injury (AKI), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), or mortality at 30, 90, and 365 days after PCI; and (4) hospital costs of SDD and its drivers. Design, Setting, and Participants:This observational cross-sectional cohort study included 672 470 patients enrolled in the nationally representative Premier Healthcare Database who underwent elective PCI from 493 hospitals between January 2006 and December 2015 with 1-year follow-up. Exposures:Same-day discharge, defined by identical dates of admission, PCI procedure, and discharge. Main Outcomes and Measures:Death, bleeding requiring a blood transfusion, AKI and AMI at 30, 90, or 365 days after PCI, and costs from hospitals' perspective, inflated to 2016. Results:Among 672 470 elective PCIs, 221 997 patients (33.0%) were women, 30 711 (4.6%) were Hispanic, 51 961 (7.7%) were African American, and 491 823 (73.1%) were white. The adjusted rate of SDD was 3.5% (95% CI, 3.0%-4.0%), which increased from 0.4% in 2006 to 6.3% in 2015. We observed substantial hospital variation for SDD from 0% to 83% (median incidence rate ratio, 3.82; 95% CI, 3.48-4.23), implying an average (median) 382% likelihood of SDD at one vs another hospital. Among SDD (vs non-SDD) patients, there was no higher risk of death, bleeding, AKI, or AMI at 30, 90, or 365 days. Same-day discharge was associated with a large cost savings of $5128 per procedure (95% CI, $5006-$5248), driven by reduced supply and room and boarding costs. A shift from existing SDD practices to match top-decile SDD hospitals could annually save $129 million in this sample and $577 million if adopted throughout the United States. However, residual confounding may be present, limiting the precision of the cost estimates. Conclusions and Relevance:Over 2006 to 2015, SDD after elective PCI was infrequent, with substantial hospital variation. Given the safety and large savings of more than $5000 per PCI associated with SDD, greater and more consistent use of SDD could markedly increase the overall value of PCI care.