Percutaneous coronary intervention for coronary bifurcation disease: consensus from the first 10 years of the European Bifurcation Club meetings

Feasibility and safety of jailed-pressure wire technique using durable optical fiber pressure wire for intervention of coronary bifurcation lesions

OBJECTIVES

The objective was to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and accuracy of the jailed-pressure wire technique using a durable optical fiber-based pressure wire with high-pressure dilatation using a non-compliant balloon after main vessel stenting.

BACKGROUND

Fractional flow reserve (FFR) information can help interventionists determine whether they should treat a jailed-side branch (SB). However, re-crossing a pressure wire into a jailed-SB is sometimes technically difficult.

METHODS

Fifty-one consecutive lesions from 48 patients who underwent the jailed-pressure wire technique were retrospectively investigated. The primary endpoint was complication rate and secondary endpoints included success rate of FFR measurement, incidence of wire disruption, and final drift rate. The usability of FFR for percutaneous coronary intervention of coronary bifurcation lesion was also evaluated.

RESULTS

Median age of the patients was 69 years and 80.4% were men. The most frequent underlying disease was stable angina (70.6%) and 68.6% were type B2 lesions. Our main findings were: the procedure was performed successfully in all cases without any complications or wire disruption, FFR could be measured without significant final drift in 95.9% of cases, and FFR measurements helped interventionists determine whether to perform a final kissing balloon dilatation in 49.0% cases.

CONCLUSIONS

The jailed-pressure wire technique using a durable optical fiber-based pressure wire with high-pressure post-dilatation maneuver was safe, feasible, and accurate.

Procedural findings and early healing response after implantation of a self-apposing bioresorbable scaffold in coronary bifurcation lesions

We aimed to evaluate feasibility, early healing and self-correcting properties of the Desolve 150 bioresorbable scaffold (BRS) implanted in bifurcation lesions, using the simple, provisional side branch (SB) stenting technique. BIFSORB pilot was a proof-of-concept study enrolling 10 patients with stable angina pectoris and a bifurcation lesion with SB ≥ 2.5 mm and less than 50% diameter stenosis. Procedure and 1-month outcome was evaluated by optical coherence tomography (OCT) to assess scaffold performance and healing patterns. Nine patients were treated with Desolve 150 BRS and one delivery to the target bifurcation failed. Thrombus formation in the jailed SB ostium was seen in three cases, but was completely resolved at 1-month. OCT confirmed acute self-correcting properties. No clinical events were reported after six months. Scaffold diameter by OCT increased in the proximal main vessel from 3.09 ± 0.16 mm to 3.34 ± 0.18 mm (p = 0.01) and in distal main vessel from 2.82 ± 0.26 mm to 3.02 ± 0.29 mm (p < 0.01) at one-month follow-up. SB ostial diameter stenosis improved from 42 ± 15% to 34 ± 12% (p = 0.01). Malapposition was effectively reduced after 1 month from 4.1 (1.4; 6.1)% to 0.1 (0; 0.6)% (p = 0.002). Treatment of bifurcation lesions using Desolve 150 BRS was feasible except for a delivery failure and unsettling thrombus formation behind jailing SB struts, which was completely resolved at 1-month. Self-correcting and even self-expanding properties were confirmed.

Balloon-stent kissing technique versus jailed wire technique for interventional treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions: Comparison of short- and long-term clinical outcomes

Side-branch occlusion is a serious complication of provisional one-stent strategies used to treat coronary bifurcation lesions. The aim of the study was to compare the short- and long-term clinical outcomes between the balloon-stent kissing technique (BSKT) and jailed wire technique (JWT) in patients with non-left coronary bifurcation lesions.This prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled study enrolled 89 consecutive patients (aged 18-85 years) with 90 true bifurcation lesions (hemadostenosis ≥70%; bifurcation angle <90°; Medina classification 1.1.1, 1.0.1, or 0.1.1) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at the Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Dalian University (China) between January 2013 and May 2016. The patients were randomly divided into the BSKT (44 patients, 45 lesions) and JWT (45 patients, 45 lesions) groups. The intervention was conducted according to technical requirements using a single-stent strategy. Operative success rate, occurrence of complications, postoperative quantitative coronary angiography, and incidence of perioperative and long-term major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) were compared between groups.The intervention success rate was 100% in both groups. After main-branch stenting, the BSKT was associated with significantly lower rates of side-branch occlusion (0% vs 15.6%, P < .05) and side-branch post-processing (8.9% vs 26.7%, P < .05) than the JWT. The BSKT was associated with significantly lower degrees of postoperative proximal main-branch residual stenosis (6.1 ± 5.1% vs 9.6 ± 8.6%, P < .05) and side-branch ostial stenosis (51.6 ± 20.6% vs 70.3 ± 20.8%, P < .05) than the JWT. The incidence of perioperative MACEs was significantly lower in the BSKT group than in the JWT group (0% vs 13.3%, P < .05). Patients were followed for a mean duration of 19.0 ± 6.1 months. The occurrence rates of long-term MACEs, angina of Canadian Cardiovascular Society grade ≥2, and severe heart failure were not significantly different between groups.The BSKT is a safe and effective technique that may have advantages over the JWT with regard to protection of the side-branch during PCI for bifurcation lesions.

Crush versus Culotte stenting techniques for coronary bifurcation lesions: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials with long-term follow-up

BACKGROUND

In patients with complex true coronary bifurcation lesions (CBLs), Crush or Culotte stenting has been the commonest approaches of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, the optimal one remains in debate.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies searched from PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP information database, and WangFang Data Information Site, to compare the long-term safety and efficacy of PCI with Crush versus Culotte in patients with CBLs. The primary end point was target lesion revascularization (TLR) and secondary end points were a composite of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) including cardiac death (CD), myocardial infarction (MI), stent thrombosis (ST), and target vessel revascularization (TVR) by PCI or bypass surgery, and each individual component at long-term follow-up. Furthermore, omitting each study in turn was used to sensitivity analysis for high heterogeneity of studies.

RESULTS

A total of 7 studies were included to perform a meta-analysis, 3 randomized trials and 4 observational studies with 2211 patients, 1281 treated with Crush and 930 with Culotte. There was no significant difference in TLR and MACE between Crush and Culotte [RR 0.76, 95% CI (0.48-1.23), I = 57%; RR 0.78, 95% CI (0.47-1.29), I = 83%, respectively]. ST tended to be lower in patients treated with Crush [RR 0.61, 95% CI (0.37-1.01), I = 23%]. CD and MI were comparable between the 2 groups [RR 0.80, 95% CI (0.43-1.49), I = 0%; RR 0.74, 95% CI (0.49-1.13), I = 32%, respectively]. TVR was also associated with the similar risk [RR 0.76, 95% CI (0.49-1.16), I = 60%]. However, high heterogeneity was detected for TLR, MACE, and TVR, and the source of heterogeneity was DKCRUSH-III study by Chen, SL.

CONCLUSIONS

In the treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions, TLR and MACE were not significant difference between the Crush and Culotte groups, but TLR and MACE were also regarded as high heterogeneity mainly due to better outcomes achieved by DK Crush and there was a trend toward lower ST in the Crush group. Crush, particularly DK Crush, may be superior to conventional Culotte for treatment of CBLs.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42018111868.

Long-term treatment effect and adverse events of a modified jailed-balloon technique for side branch protection in patients with coronary bifurcation lesions

Background

Percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) of bifurcation lesions is technically challenging and associated with lower success rates and higher frequency of adverse outcomes. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the immediate and long-term treatment effect and adverse events of a new modified jailed-balloon technique on side branch (SB) during PCI on coronary bifurcation lesions.

Methods

This was a prospective study of 60 patients (49 males, 11 females, mean age 66 ± 10 years) with coronary bifurcation lesions treated at the Beijing Hospital between September 2014 and October 2015. They underwent main vessel (MV) stenting and modified jailed-balloon technique on the SB. All patients were followed with hospital visits at 9 months. Angiographic success, major adverse cardiac events (MACE), SB occlusion, and angina were evaluated.

Results

The majority of the patients had acute coronary syndrome (91.7%) and Medina 1.1.1. bifurcation lesions (71.7%). After MV stenting, thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) 3 flow was established 100% of MV and 93.3% of SB. No SB occlusion occurred. The jailed SB balloon and wire could be successfully removed in all patients without damage or entrapment. The majority (91.7%) of patients achieved Canadian Cardiovascular Society I stage. There was no MACE during in-hospital stay and 9-month follow-up.

Conclusion

The modified JBT provided high rate of procedural success, excellent SB protection during MV stenting, and excellent immediate and long-term clinical outcomes.

Modified double-stent strategy may be an optimal choice for coronary bifurcation lesions: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The modified double-stent and provisional stenting strategies have been widely used in patients with coronary bifurcation lesions, but what is the optimization has not been clearly defined. This meta-analysis is to elucidate the benefits from modified double-stent and provisional stenting strategies in patients with coronary bifurcation lesions.

METHODS

Electronic databases were searched to identify studies comparing the modified double-stent and provisional stenting strategies in patients with coronary bifurcation lesions. The clinical outcomes were divided into early (≤6 months) and late (>6 months) events according to the follow-up duration. The early endpoints included cardiac death, myocardial infarction, target lesion revascularization or target vessel revascularization, and major adverse cardiac events (MACE), and the late endpoints also include stent thrombosis in addition to the early endpoints index. The angiographic endpoint was in-stent restenosis. Data were analyzed by the statistical software RevMan (version 5.3).

RESULTS

A total of 6 studies involving 1683 patients with coronary bifurcation lesions were included in this meta-analysis, which found that the modified double-stent strategy was associated with a lower risk of cardiac death (odds ratio [OR] = 0.29, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.11-0.78, P = .01), myocardial infarction (OR = 0.41, 95% CI 0.21-0.82, P = .01), target lesion revascularization or target vessel revascularization (OR = 0.31, 95% CI 0.15-0.63, P = .001), and MACE (OR = 0.41, 95% CI 0.22-0.74, P = .003) compared with provisional stenting in the early follow-up endpoint events, while the risk of cardiac death and stent thrombosis were similar between both strategies (OR = 0.59, 95% CI 0.31-1.10, P = .09; and OR = 0.62, 95% CI 0.34-1.15, P = .13; respectively) in the late follow-up endpoint events. There were significant differences between both strategies in myocardial infarction (OR = 0.42, 95% CI 0.24-0.75, P = .003), MACE (OR = 0.44, 95% CI 0.31-0.62, P < .00001), and target lesion revascularization or target vessel revascularization (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.25-0.49, P < .00001) between both strategies in the late follow-up endpoint events. The risk of in-stent restenosis favored the modified double-stent strategy (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.20-0.43, P < .00001).

CONCLUSION

The modified double-stent strategy is associated with excellent clinical and angiographic outcomes except for the occurrence of cardiac death and stent thrombosis late-term outcome compared with provisional stenting strategy in patients with coronary bifurcation lesions. These findings suggest that the modified double-stent strategy can be recommended as an optimization in patients with coronary bifurcation lesions.

Appropriate use criteria for optical coherence tomography guidance in percutaneous coronary interventions : Recommendations of the working group of interventional cardiology of the Netherlands Society of Cardiology

Introduction

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) enables detailed imaging of the coronary wall, lumen and intracoronary implanted devices. Responding to the lack of specific appropriate use criteria (AUC) for this technique, we conducted a literature review and a procedure for appropriate use criteria.

Methods

Twenty-one of all 184 members of the Dutch Working Group on Interventional Cardiology agreed to evaluate 49 pre-specified cases. During a meeting, factual indications were established whereupon members individually rated indications on a 9-point scale, with the opportunity to substantiate their scoring.

Results

Twenty-six indications were rated ‘Appropriate’, eighteen indications ‘May be appropriate’, and five ‘Rarely appropriate’. Use of OCT was unanimously considered ‘Appropriate’ in stent thrombosis, and ‘Appropriate’ for guidance in PCI, especially in distal left main coronary artery and proximal left anterior descending coronary artery, unexplained angiographic abnormalities, and use of bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS). OCT was considered ‘Rarely Appropriate’ on top of fractional flow reserve (FFR) for treatment indication, assessment of strut coverage, bypass anastomoses or assessment of proximal left main coronary artery.

Conclusions

The use of OCT in stent thrombosis is unanimously considered ‘Appropriate’ by these experts. Varying degrees of consensus exists on the appropriate use of OCT in other settings.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s12471-018-1143-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The Tryton® dedicated bifurcation stent: Five-year clinical outcomes

AIMS

We report the first 5 year clinical follow-up data for the Tryton® bifurcation stent.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Clinical outcomes at five years were collected from 8 centres. Non-hierarchical Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events (MACE) and Major Adverse Cerebrovascular and Cardiovascular Events (MACCE) were collected. Diabetic and non-diabetic populations were compared, along with small (≤2.5 mm) vs large (>2.5 mm) side branch size. 173 patients with a follow up rate of 98% at 5 years were analysed. Non-hierarchical MACE was low at 9.8%, consisting of cardiac death of 1.2% (n = 2) and MI of 1.7% (n = 3). Target lesion revascularization (TLR) rate was 6.9% (n = 12). Non-hierarchical MACCE was also low, with major bleeding in 2.3% (n = 4) and strokes in 1.7% (n = 3) of patients. There was only 1 case (0.6%) of stent thrombosis that was definite and occurred very late (782 days). All-cause mortality was low, with 8.7% combined cardiac and non-cardiac death (n = 15). Diabetic patients had significantly higher event rates, but there was no difference in events with lesion stratification by side branch size.

CONCLUSIONS

The Tryton® Side-Branch Stent has a non-hierarchical MACE of 9.8% and MACCE of 13.9% at 5 years. The TLR was 6.9% with only 1 case of stent thrombosis recorded.

The effects of types of guidewires and pressure applied during stent implantation in the main vessel on the incidence of damage to coronary guidewires during angioplasty of coronary bifurcation lesions-Wide Beast study

OBJECTIVES

We evaluated the impact of stent inflation pressure and type of guidewire on "jailed" coronary guidewire damage occurring during bifurcation angioplasty.

BACKGROUND

Despite new techniques and treatment options during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) we still observe peri- and postoperative complications for to various known and unknown reasons.

METHODS

Patients undergoing PCI within the coronary bifurcation were randomly assigned to one of four groups: Pilot 50 or BMW guidewire and pressure ≤12 or >12 atm. After PCI each "jailed" guidewire was evaluated under an optical microscope. The Wide Beast Scale (WBS) was developed for the internal purposes of the study and was used for qualitative assessment. Also, the inflation pressure, the patients' characteristics and the technical parameters of the procedure were recorded.

RESULTS

The clinical characteristics were similar in all the groups. There was no statistical significance of the degree of damage, rated on the WBS, for either guidewire group with respect to inflation pressure (P = 0.49). The prevalence of guidewire damage was higher in the BMW versus the Pilot 50 group (98.4% vs 67.4% respectively, P = 0.00001) as was the severity of the damage (grades 3 and 4) in BMW versus Pilot 50 (55.6% vs 13.0% respectively, P = 0.00001).

CONCLUSIONS

The inflation pressure during stent implantation had no impact on "jailed" guidewire damage. The difference in the prevalence of serious damage and total damage number was statistically significant for the BMW guidewire compared to the Pilot50. The BMW guidewire was an independent predictor of the degree of damage to the guidewire.

Angiographic and clinical outcomes of patients treated with drug-coated balloon angioplasty for in-stent restenosis after coronary bifurcation stenting with a two-stent technique

AIMS

We conducted this study to evaluate the efficacy of drug-coated balloon therapy for in-stent restenosis after coronary bifurcation stenting.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Patients who underwent angioplasty with at least one paclitaxel-coated balloon for in-stent restenosis after bifurcation intervention using a two-stent approach were included. Two types of paclitaxel-coated balloon were used, with either an iopromide (iopromide-PCB) or a butyryl tri-n-hexyl citrate (BTHC-PCB) excipient. Angiographic surveillance was planned at six to eight months. Quantitative coronary angiography analysis was carried out with dedicated bifurcation analysis software. Clinical follow-up was performed to one year. In total, 177 patients were included in this study. Information on the type of stent technique used at the time of the index intervention was available for 145 (81.9%) patients: the culotte technique was used in 123 (69.5%) and T-stenting in 22 (12.4%) patients. Iopromide-PCB and BTHC-PCB were used in 124 (70%) and 53 (30%) patients, respectively. Of 125 patients who underwent angiographic follow-up, 30 cases (24%) of binary restenosis were observed. At one year, the composite endpoint of death, myocardial infarction or target lesion revascularisation was observed in 35 patients (24%). There was no significant difference in the incidence of angiographic and clinical outcomes between iopromide-PCB versus BTHC-PCB.

CONCLUSIONS

In the setting of in-stent restenosis after coronary bifurcation stenting, drug-coated balloons demonstrated good clinical efficacy without the requirement for further stent implantation. There were similar outcomes between iopromide-PCB and BTHC-PCB.

Reversed single string technique for coronary bifurcation stenting-First report of case demonstrations in vitro

OBJECTIVES

This work reports the concept and the practical feasibility of Reversed Single String bifurcation stenting technique by demonstrating three in vitro cases.

BACKGROUND

Provisional T stenting is the most used interventional technique to treat coronary bifurcation lesions. However, after main branch (MB) stenting, treatment of the side branch (SB) may become indicated to provide a good final result. Currently applied methods all have their structural limitations with respect to wall coverage, multiple strut layers, poor apposition rate. We reasoned that reversing the Single String technique principle could be used as a bail out after inadequate provisional T stenting.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We simulated in three silicone bifurcation phantoms a scenario whereby stenting the SB becomes indicated after provisional T stenting. Thereafter, as first step of Reversed Single String, a stent was deployed into the SB ostium with one single protruding stent-cell into the MB. After wiring that stent-cell and positioning MB balloon across it, final kissing balloon dilation was performed. Results of the in vitro Reversed Single String cases were evaluated by X-ray angiography, optical frequency domain imaging, and 3-Dimensional (3D) reconstruction (OFDI). Each case was successfully performed and completed. In the bifurcation area, perfect apposition was documented in over 81% of the struts. Malapposition remained below 4% of struts in each case. 3D OFDI reconstruction did not reveal any strut fracture.

CONCLUSION

This report suggests that Reversed Single String technique might offer a potential bail out solution for provisional T-stenting cases, when treatment of the SB becomes indicated. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Impact of guidewire recrossing point into stent jailed side branch for optimal kissing balloon dilatation: core lab 3D optical coherence tomography analysis

AIMS

We aimed to investigate the influence of the guidewire recrossing point on the incidence of incomplete stent apposition (ISA) after kissing balloon dilatation (KBD), and also clinical and angiographic outcome at nine months in a prospective multicentre registry.

METHODS AND RESULTS

One hundred and five patients underwent single crossover stenting across the side branch (SB) and subsequent KBD. The jailing configuration of the SB orifice and the guidewire recrossing position were assessed by off-line 3D-OCT in the core lab. We defined the cases that achieved both link-free carina configuration and distal recrossing as the LFD group (54 cases), and the other cases as the non-LFD group (51 cases). ISA in the LFD group was significantly smaller than that in the non-LFD group (6.7±5.9% vs. 17.0±10.5%, p<0.0001). The distal recrossing rate was 83%. Proximal recrossing increased ISA compared with distal recrossing, particularly in parallel bifurcations (17.1±10.1% vs. 6.3±6.0%, p<0.0001). At follow-up, though event rates did not differ, SB restenosis in the non-LFD group tended to be higher than in the LFD group (20.5% vs. 8.3%, p=0.1254).

CONCLUSIONS

The guidewire recrossing point and the location of a stent link at the SB orifice had an influence on the ISA. KBD with optimal conditions under 3D-OCT guidance may reduce SB restenosis.

Step-by-step manual for planning and performing bifurcation PCI: a resource-tailored approach

As bifurcation PCI can often be resource-demanding due to the use of multiple guidewires, balloons and stents, different technical options are sometimes being explored, in different local settings, to meet the need of optimally treating a patient with a bifurcation lesion, while being confronted with limited material resources. Therefore, it seems important to keep a proper balance between what is recognised as the contemporary state of the art, and what is known to be potentially harmful and to be discouraged. Ultimately, the resource-tailored approach to bifurcation PCI may be characterised by the notion of minimum technical requirements for each step of a successful procedure. Hence, this paper describes the logical sequence of steps when performing bifurcation PCI with provisional SB stenting, starting with basic anatomy assessment and ending with the optimisation of MB stenting and the evaluation of the potential need to stent the SB, suggesting, for each step, the minimum technical requirement for a successful intervention.

Bench testing and coronary artery bifurcations: a consensus document from the European Bifurcation Club

This is a consensus document from the European Bifurcation Club concerning bench testing in coronary artery bifurcations. It is intended to provide guidelines for bench assessment of stents and other strategies in coronary bifurcation treatment where the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or International Organization for Standardization (ISO) guidelines are limited or absent. These recommendations provide guidelines rather than a step-by-step manual. We provide data on the anatomy of bifurcations and elastic response of coronary arteries to aid model construction. We discuss testing apparatus, bench testing endpoints and bifurcation nomenclature.

Predictive Physiological Modeling of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention - Is Virtual Treatment Planning the Future?

Computational modeling has been used routinely in the pre-clinical development of medical devices such as coronary artery stents. The ability to simulate and predict physiological and structural parameters such as flow disturbance, wall shear-stress, and mechanical strain patterns is beneficial to stent manufacturers. These methods are now emerging as useful clinical tools, used by physicians in the assessment and management of patients. Computational models, which can predict the physiological response to intervention, offer clinicians the ability to evaluate a number of different treatment strategies in silico prior to treating the patient in the cardiac catheter laboratory. For the first time clinicians can perform a patient-specific assessment prior to making treatment decisions. This could be advantageous in patients with complex disease patterns where the optimal treatment strategy is not clear. This article reviews the key advances and the potential barriers to clinical adoption and translation of these virtual treatment planning models.

The EBC TWO Study (European Bifurcation Coronary TWO): A Randomized Comparison of Provisional T-Stenting Versus a Systematic 2 Stent Culotte Strategy in Large Caliber True Bifurcations

BACKGROUND

For the treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions, a provisional strategy is superior to systematic 2-stent techniques for the most bifurcation lesions. However, complex anatomies with large side branches (SBs) with significant ostial disease length are considered by expert consensus to warrant a 2-stent technique upfront. This consensus view has not been scientifically assessed.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Symptomatic patients with large caliber true bifurcation lesions (SB diameter ≥2.5 mm) and significant ostial disease length (≥5 mm) were randomized to either a provisional T-stent strategy or a dual stent culotte technique. Two hundred patients aged 64±10 years, 82% male, were randomized in 20 European centers. The clinical presentations were stable coronary disease (69%) and acute coronary syndromes (31%). SB stent diameter (2.67±0.27 mm) and length (20.30±5.89 mm) confirmed the extent of SB disease. Procedural success (provisional 97%, culotte 94%) and kissing balloon inflation (provisional 95%, culotte 98%) were high. Sixteen percent of patients in the provisional group underwent T-stenting. The primary end point (a composite of death, myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization at 12 months) occurred in 7.7% of the provisional T-stent group versus 10.3% of the culotte group (hazard ratio, 1.02; 95% confidence interval, 0.78-1.34; P=0.53). Procedure time, x-ray dose, and cost all favored the simpler procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

When treating complex coronary bifurcation lesions with large stenosed SBs, there is no difference between a provisional T-stent strategy and a systematic 2-stent culotte strategy in a composite end point of death, myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization at 12 months.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT 01560455.

A "Jail Escape Technique" (JET) for distal side branch wiring during provisional stenting: Feasibility and first-in-man study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the feasibility of a novel technique for achieving distal SB access and improve strut apposition during provisional stenting.

BACKGROUND

While distal rewiring and stent expansion toward the side branch (SB) are associated with better results during provisional stenting of coronary artery bifurcation lesions, these techniques are technically challenging and often leave unopposed struts near the carina.

METHODS

The "Jail Escape Technique" (JET) is performed by passing the proximal tip of the SB wire between the main vessel (MV) stent struts and balloon before implantation, allowing the MV stent to push the SB wire against the distal part of the carina. The MV stent can then be deployed without jailing the SB wire. Distal SB access and strut distribution at the carina were tested in phantom and swine models. Stent distortion, dislodgement forces, and material damage were evaluated with tensile testing. Human feasibility was then tested on 32 patients.

RESULTS

Preclinical testing demonstrated that the SB wire was located at the most distal part of the carina and no strut malapposition at the carina was present after balloon inflation. Stent distortion, dislodgement forces, or material damage were not affected. JET was successfully performed in 30 of 32 patients. No major adverse cardiovascular events occurred in any patient at 6-month follow-up.

CONCLUSION

The "JET" enables distal SB access and eliminates strut malapposition at the carina. Further studies with larger numbers of patients are needed to further investigate this technique.

Feasibility and usefulness of three-dimensional optical coherence tomography guidance for optimal side branch treatment in coronary bifurcation stenting

BACKGROUND

For the treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions, optimal guidewire (GW) recrossing after main vessel stenting is important for good stent apposition at the side branch (SB) orifice in kissing balloon inflation (KBI).

METHODS

We analyzed 150 bifurcation lesions treated with single stenting following KBI in the three-dimensional optical coherence tomography (3D-OCT) bifurcation registry study (2015-16) and a single center experience (2012-16). OCT examination was performed after GW recrossing to the SB and after KBI. Patients were divided into two-dimensional (2D, n=78) and 3D groups (n=72) according to 2D- or 3D-OCT guidance. GW recrossing position, jailing configuration of the stent over the SB (divided into Link-connecting type: stent link connecting to the carina and Link-free type: no stent link at the carina) and stent apposition were compared between the groups.

RESULTS

Distal GW recrossing was achieved in 75.6% and 91.7% in the 2D and 3D groups, respectively (P=0.004). Compared with the 2D group, the incidence of incomplete stent apposition (ISA) toward the SB in the 3D group tended to be lower in the whole cohort (14.5±13.6% vs 10.0±9.0%, P=0.077), and was significantly lower in left main trunk bifurcations (18.7±12.8% vs 10.3±8.9%, P=0.014). Independent contributors to ISA were the Link-connecting type (β 0.089, P<0.001), distal GW recrossing (β -0.078, P=0.001), and age (β -0.0020, P=0.012).

CONCLUSION

Optimal GW recrossing under 3D-OCT guidance is feasible and improves stent apposition, which may lead to a better clinical outcome in the treatment of bifurcation lesions.

Structural Damage of Jailed Guidewire During the Treatment of Coronary Bifurcation Lesions: A Microscopic Randomized Trial

OBJECTIVES

The study sought to compare the safety (resistance to damage) and efficacy (ability to cross the side branch) of polymer-coated and non-polymer-coated guidewires in the jailed wire technique used during the percutaneous treatment of bifurcation lesions.

BACKGROUND

The jailed wire technique is a useful strategy in the treatment of bifurcation lesions by provisional stenting. However, these wires can be damaged or even be broken during their removal.

METHODS

We performed a randomized study in patients with bifurcation lesions treated by provisional stenting. The jailed wire technique was mandatory, and the types of guidewires, polymer-coated (n = 115) and non-polymer-coated (n = 120), were randomized. After the procedures, the wires were evaluated by stereoscopic microscopy. The induced damage in the wires was classified as follows: no damage, mild, moderate, or severe.

RESULTS

The clinical characteristics were similar between patients treated with polymer-coated or non-polymer-coated wires. Polymer-coated wires were significantly (p < 0.001) more resistant to retrieval damage (only 2 wires showed mild damage) than were non-polymer-coated wires. However, 63 (55%) of the non-polymer-coated wires were damaged; 37 (32%), 24 (21%), and 2 (2%) had mild, moderate, and severe damage, respectively. Additionally, the jailed length of the wire was a factor contributing to the degree of wire damage. The time of side branch wiring was shorter in the polymer-coated wire group (19 ± 40 s vs. 42 ± 72 s; p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Jailed wires during interventional procedures of bifurcation lesions commonly showed microscopic damage. Polymer-coated wires were more resistant to retrieval damage and were more efficient in crossing the side branch ostium than non-polymer-coated wires. (Jailed Wire Technique in the Treatment of Coronary Bifurcations Lesions With Stent: Stereoscopic Microscopy Study; NCT02516891).

Contemporary Approach to Coronary Bifurcation Lesion Treatment

Coronary bifurcations are frequent and account for approximately 20% of all percutaneous coronary interventions. Nonetheless, they remain one of the most challenging lesion subsets in interventional cardiology in terms of a lower procedural success rate and increased rates of long-term adverse cardiac events. Provisional side branch stenting should be the default approach in the majority of cases and we propose easily applicable and reproducible stepwise techniques associated with low risk of failure and complications.

Rationale and design of the SYNTAX II trial evaluating the short to long-term outcomes of state-of-the-art percutaneous coronary revascularisation in patients with de novo three-vessel disease

AIMS

The applicability of the results of the SYNTAX trial comparing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using first-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) with coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery for the treatment of patients with complex coronary artery disease (CAD) has been challenged by recent major technical and procedural developments in coronary revascularisation. Functional assessment of coronary lesions has contributed to marked improvements in both safety and efficacy of DES implantation. In addition, the recent development of the SYNTAX score II, a clinical tool based on anatomical and clinical factors, allows individualised objective decision making regarding the optimal revascularisation modality in patients with complex CAD. The ongoing SYNTAX II trial is currently evaluating the effectiveness of the clinical and technological advances in the treatment of patients with complex (de novo three-vessel) CAD.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The SYNTAX II trial is a multicentre, all-comers, open-label, single-arm trial aiming to recruit 450 patients with de novo three-vessel CAD in approximately 25 European interventional cardiology centres. All patients will be selected and treated following the SYNTAX II strategy, which includes: a) establishing the appropriateness of revascularisation utilising the SYNTAX score II as a clinical tool to allow objective decision making by the Heart Team, b) ischaemia-driven revascularisation based on functional intracoronary assessment, c) implantation of the new-generation everolimus-eluting platinum chromium coronary stent with thin struts and abluminal bioabsorbable polymer coating to promote rapid vessel healing, d) intravascular ultrasound-guided DES implantation, and e) treatment at centres with expertise in CTO recanalisation. The primary endpoint is a composite of the major adverse cardiac and cerebral events (MACCE) rate at one-year follow-up compared to the historical PCI arm of the SYNTAX trial. An exploratory endpoint will be MACCE at five-year follow-up compared to the historical surgical arm of the SYNTAX trial.

CONCLUSIONS

The SYNTAX II trial will provide valuable information on outcomes of state-of-the-art PCI for the contemporary management of complex (de novo three-vessel) CAD. SYNTAX II will be of critical value in the design of future trials in this arena.

Long-term effectiveness and safety of the sirolimus-eluting BiOSS LIM® dedicated bifurcation stent in the treatment of distal left main stenosis: an international registry

AIMS

The aim of this study was to assess prospectively the effectiveness and safety of a new version of the dedicated bifurcation BiOSS stent, the sirolimus-eluting BiOSS LIM, for the treatment of distal left main (LM) stenosis.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This was a prospective international registry which enrolled patients with NSTE-ACS or stable angina. Provisional T-stenting was the mandated strategy. The primary endpoint was the cumulative rate of cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI) and target lesion revascularisation (TLR) at 12 months. Twelve-month quantitative coronary angiography endpoints included late lumen loss and percent diameter stenosis. A total of 74 patients with distal LM stenosis were enrolled. Seventy-three of the 74 patients (aged 67±9 years, 23% women, 20.3% NSTE-ACS, SYNTAX score 22.4±4.4) were successfully treated with the BiOSS LIM stent, with additional side branch placement of regular DES in 11 patients (14.9%). Periprocedural MI occurred in one (1.4%) patient. The 12-month MACE rate was 9.5% without cardiac death or definite stent thrombosis. TLR and MI rates were 6.8% (n=5) and 2.7% (n=2), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of the BiOSS LIM dedicated bifurcation stent for the treatment of distal LM stenosis was feasible and safe, with promising long-term clinical effectiveness.

Impact of branching angle on neointimal coverage of drug-eluting stents implanted in bifurcation lesions

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the impact of branching angle (BA) on neointimal coverage of drug-eluting stents (DESs) in bifurcation lesions.

BACKGROUND

Previous experimental studies indicated that BA influences the local flow turbulence and wall shear stress, which are associated with neointimal coverage of DESs.

METHODS

Fifty-five bifurcation lesions in 47 patients were evaluated by serial optical coherence tomography (OCT) before DES implantation and at follow-up. Neointimal coverage was assessed in cross-sectional OCT images containing the side branch; regions including the side branch ostium (SO) and vessel wall (VW) were assessed separately. BA was measured using angiography (Angio-BA) and longitudinal OCT imaging (OCT-BA).

RESULTS

In the SO region, a significant negative correlation was found between the uncovered strut percentage and Angio-BA or OCT-BA (r=-0.41, P=0.0024; r=-0.33, P=0.0167, respectively) and a significant positive correlation was found between Angio-BA and average neointimal thickness (r=0.31, P=0.025), whereas no correlation was observed between OCT-BA and average neointimal thickness (r=0.20, P=0.158). In the VW region, no correlation was found between Angio-BA or OCT-BA and the uncovered strut percentage or average neointimal thickness.

CONCLUSION

BA influence the neointimal coverage over DES struts in the SO at coronary bifurcation lesions, but not in those attached to the VW.

Snuggle T and protrusion (S-TAP) technique for coronary bifurcation stenting: A step-by-step angiographic and illustration demonstration

T and small protrusion (TAP) is a stenting technique that is utilized for the management of coronary bifurcation lesions when using a two-stent strategy. This technique is also useful whenever stenting of a main vessel (MV) jeopardizes a side branch (SB) or when a sub-optimal result is encountered in a daughter vessel after starting with one-stent approach. The conversion from one-stent strategy to TAP could be achieved smoothly and often leads to good results. Technically, optimal positioning of the SB stent to achieve the required protrusion into the lumen of the MV remains a challenge. Toward that goal we propose an added step that involves inflating a balloon in the MV to serve as an anvil with simultaneous pullback of the SB stent, to be followed by stent deployment. We refer to this approach as the snuggle T and protrusion (S-TAP) technique owing to close contact between the SB stent and the MV balloon during simultaneous inflation. In this manuscript, we detail this interventional technique and provide a demonstrative case study.

Randomized Comparison of the Crush Versus the Culotte Stenting for Coronary Artery Bifurcation Lesions

Background:

The crush and the culotte stenting were both reported to be effective for complex bifurcation lesion treatment. However, their comparative performance remains elusive.

Methods:

A total of 300 patients with coronary bifurcation lesions were randomly assigned to crush (n = 150) and culotte (n = 150) treatment. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) at 12 months including cardiac death, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, and target vessel revascularization. Index lesion restenosis at 12 months was a secondary endpoint. The surface integrals of time-averaged wall shear stress at bifurcation sites were also be quantified.

Results:

There were no significant differences in MACE rates between the two groups at 12-month follow-up: Crush 6.7%, culotte 5.3% (P = 0.48). The rates of index lesion restenosis were 12.7% versus 6.0% (P = 0.047) in the crush and the culotte groups, respectively. At 12-month follow-up, the surface integrals of time-averaged wall shear stress at bifurcation sites in the crush group were significantly lower than the culotte group ([5.01 ± 0.95] × 10⁻⁴ Newton and [6.08 ± 1.16] × 10⁻⁴ Newton, respectively; P = 0.003).

Conclusions:

Both the crush and the culotte bifurcation stenting techniques showed satisfying clinical and angiographic results at 12-month follow-up. Bifurcation lesions treated with the culotte technique tended to have lower restenosis rates and more favorable flow patterns.

Optical coherence tomography assessment of a complex bifurcation lesion treated with double kissing Crush technique: A case report

The DEFINITION (Impact of the complexity of bifurcation lesions treated with drug-eluting stents) study has provided a novel classification to evaluate the complexity of coronary bifurcation lesion according to coronary angiography, but angiographic imaging due to its low resolution and inherited limitation may result in an inaccurate adjudication.We used optical coherence tomography (OCT) to further evaluate the coronary characteristics in a patient with "simple" bifurcation lesion which was classified by the DEFINITION criteria. However, a "complex" bifurcation lesion was defined and confirmed according to the OCT results.A double kissing Crush stenting approach was adopted to treat this "complex" case finally. The immediate and long-term angiographic and OCT results were excellent.OCT may be useful imaging modality to classify complexity of coronary bifurcation lesion and subsequently guide its treatment strategy.

Complex coronary bifurcation revascularization by means of very minimal crushing and ultrathin biodegradable polymer DES: Feasibility and 1-year outcomes of the "Nano-crush" technique

AIM

To assess feasibility and 1-year outcomes of ultrathin biodegradable polymer double stenting using a very minimal crushing (nano-crush technique) in a series of patients with large (≥2.5mm) complex coronary bifurcation.

METHODS

From January 2015 to June 2016, patients referred for large (≥2.5mm) complex coronary bifurcation percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) were enrolled to receive Orsiro (Biotronik Inc., Bulack, Switzerland) double stenting using a very minimal crush technique (nano-crush). Per our institutional protocol, follow-up was conducted by physical examination at 1, 6, 12month and yearly whereas angiographic control was eventually scheduled at 6-8months on the basis of symptoms recurrence or/and positive induced ischemia tests.

RESULTS

Fifty-two patients (15 females mean age 77.2±6.2years) were enrolled. Mean angles between main branch and side branch were 63.6±21.3°. The mean diameter and length of implanted stents were 3.8±0.4mm and 27.1±8.7mm in main branch and 2.8±0.3mm and 22.1±.7.1mm in side branch. Immediate success was 100%. Clinical follow-up was available for 100% of patients: at a mean follow-up of 12.0±2.6months, no patient death, or acute myocardial infarction or target vessel revascularization were observed. Angiographic follow-up was available in 25/52 patients (48%) at a mean time from the procedure of 7.2±0.5months and showed no significant angiographic restenosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The revascularization of complex large (≥2.5mm) coronary bifurcation disease using the nano-crush technique and the ultrathin polymer biodegradable stent appeared feasible in our small study with promising 1year outcomes.

A Study of Coronary Bifurcation Shape in a Normal Population

During percutaneous coronary intervention, stents are placed in narrowings of the arteries to restore normal blood flow. Despite improvements in stent design, deployment techniques and drug-eluting coatings, restenosis and stent thrombosis remain a significant problem. Population stent design based on statistical shape analysis may improve clinical outcomes. Computed tomographic (CT) coronary angiography scans from 211 patients with a zero calcium score, no stenoses and no intermediate artery, were used to create statistical shape models of 446 major coronary artery bifurcations (left main, first diagonal and obtuse marginal and right coronary crux). Coherent point drift was used for registration. Principal component analysis shape scores were tested against clinical risk factors, quantifying the importance of recognised shape features in intervention including size, angles and curvature. Significant differences were found in (1) vessel size and bifurcation angle between the left main and other bifurcations; (2) inlet and curvature angle between the right coronary crux and other bifurcations; and (3) size and bifurcation angle by sex. Hypertension, smoking history and diabetes did not appear to have an association with shape. Physiological diameter laws were compared, with the Huo-Kassab model having the best fit. Bifurcation coronary anatomy can be partitioned into clinically meaningful modes of variation showing significant shape differences. A computational atlas of normal coronary bifurcation shape, where disease is common, may aid in the design of new stents and deployment techniques, by providing data for bench-top testing and computational modelling of blood flow and vessel wall mechanics.

Safety and efficacy of lesion preparation with the AngioSculpt Scoring Balloon in left main interventions: the ALSTER Left Main registry

AIMS

Left main interventions require optimal initial results for good clinical outcome. Lesion preparation with the AngioSculpt Scoring Balloon (ASB) combined with the provisional T-stenting technique, if proven safe, might lead to better lumen gain and better clinical outcome. The aim of this registry was to investigate the safety and efficacy of the ASB as an option for lesion preparation in unprotected left main interventions (ULMI).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Out of the all-comers unprotected left main registry (ULMI ALSTER), 47 patients with elective ULMI fulfilled the inclusion criteria for this study. The endpoints were acute lumen gain and 12-month MACCE. The drop-out rate was 4%. The provisional T-stenting technique was used in 97% of distal ULMI. The interventions were grouped according to use of ASB with an in-house, historical no-ASB patient control group. Lumen gain was 1.63±0.12 mm in the ASB group (n=34) and 1.35±0.12 mm in the no-ASB group (n=8, p=0.26), respectively. The use of the ASB was safe. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) data for 21 patients showed numerically greater lumen area gain of 3.14±0.33 mm2 in the ASB group compared to 2.33±0.88 mm2 with the conventional technique. TLR/TVR was 6.6% overall. Twelve-month MACCE was 12.5% (4/32) for ASB and 15.4% (2/13) in the historical control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Adding ASB lesion preparation to the standard provisional T-stenting technique for ULMI is feasible and safe. Low TLR and TVR rates were observed. Lesion preparation led to a numerically larger lumen gain; the data allow valid power statistics to show this approach as leading to improved outcome in a possible randomised trial.

Regular drug-eluting stents versus the dedicated coronary bifurcation sirolimus-eluting BiOSS LIM® stent: the randomised, multicentre, open-label, controlled POLBOS II trial

AIMS

The aim of the POLBOS II randomised trial was to compare any regular drug-eluting stents (rDES) with the dedicated bifurcation sirolimus-eluting stent BiOSS LIM for the treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions. The secondary aim was to study the effect of final kissing balloon inflation (FKBI) on clinical outcomes.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Between December 2012 and December 2013, 202 patients with stable coronary artery disease or non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome were randomly assigned 1:1 to treatment of the coronary bifurcation lesions either with the BiOSS LIM stent (n=102) or with an rDES (n=100). Coronary re-angiography was performed at 12 months. The primary endpoint was the composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), and target lesion revascularisation (TLR) at 12 months. The target vessel was located in the left main in one third of the cases (35.3% in BiOSS and 38% in rDES). Side branch treatment was required in 8.8% (rDES) and 7% (BiOSS). At 12 months, the cumulative MACE incidence was similar in both groups (11.8% [BiOSS] vs. 15% [rDES, p=0.08]), as was the TLR rate (9.8% vs. 9% [p=0.8]). The binary restenosis rates were significantly lower in the FKBI subgroup of the BiOSS group (5.9% vs. 11.8%, p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

MACE rates as well as TLR rates were comparable between the BiOSS LIM and rDES. At 12 months, cumulative MACE incidence was similar in both groups (11.8% vs. 15%), as was the TLR rate (9.8% vs. 9%). Significantly lower rates of restenosis were observed in the FKBI subgroup of the BiOSS group.

In-stent Anchoring Facilitating Side-branch Balloon Delivery for Final Kissing: A Prospective, Single-center Registry Study

Background:

Recrossing the compromised side branch (SB) with a balloon is sometimes technically challenging. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether in-stent anchoring (ISA) is safe and effective to facilitate SB balloon delivery for final kissing.

Methods:

One hundred and fifty-nine consecutive patients were included (166 bifurcation lesions) in this prospective, single-center registry. ISA was used as a bailout method after unsuccessful SB crossing using conventional techniques, including low-profile balloons. Technique success was defined as SB balloon delivery and final kissing.

Results:

Kissing-balloon delivery was successfully performed with conventional strategies in 149 of 166 lesions (89.8%). In the remaining 17 lesions (10.2%), recrossing of the main vessel stent strut was not successful; therefore, ISA was attempted. The balloon successfully crossed the stent struts, and final kissing was achieved in 15 of 17 lesions (88.2%). Total final kissing was achieved in 164 of 166 lesions (98.8%), with success rates of 100% in the single-stent group and 97.6% in the two-stent group. Two cases without balloon delivery had complex bifurcation lesions with severe calcification. There was no vessel dissection in the anchoring zone.

Conclusions:

ISA is safe and effective for recrossing stent struts when conventional low-profile balloons have failed. However, large-scale trials are warranted for further evaluation.