Predictive Value of the Residual SYNTAX Score in Patients With Cardiogenic Shock

Levosimendan in Patients with Cardiogenic Shock Refractory to Dobutamine Weaning

BACKGROUND

This study examines the effects of levosimendan in patients refractory to dobutamine weaning.

METHODS

This retrospective study included patients with cardiogenic shock refractory to dobutamine weaning failure admitted between 2010 and 2022. Patients treated with another type of dobutamine alone were compared with those treated with levosimendan in combination with dobutamine. Successful inotrope withdrawal was defined as survival without catecholamine support, transplant, or definitive ventricular assist device at 30 days. Secondary outcomes included all-cause mortality at 30 and 90 days.

RESULTS

Among 349 patients with cardiogenic shock and failure to withdraw from dobutamine, levosimendan was administered in combination with dobutamine in 114 patients, and another type of dobutamine alone was administered in 235 patients. At 30 days, successful inotrope withdrawal occurred in 46 (43.4%) patients taking levosimendan plus dobutamine versus 24 (10.5%) patients in the dobutamine-only group (weighted odds ratio [OR] 4.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.65-9.38; p < 0.001), with similar results at 90 days (weighted OR 6.16, 95% CI 3.22-11.78; p < 0.001). Levosimendan + dobutamine was associated with lower 30-day mortality (weighted OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.26-0.84; p = 0.01), with no difference at 90 days (weighted OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.39-1.14; p = 0.14).

CONCLUSION

Adding levosimendan to dobutamine may improve inotrope withdrawal success and reduce 30-day mortality in patients with initial weaning failure.

Clinical significance of residual ischaemia in acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock undergoing venoarterial-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

AIMS

Although culprit-only revascularization during the index procedure has been recommended in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS), the reduction in residual ischaemia is also emphasized to improve clinical outcomes. However, few data are available about the significance of residual ischaemia in patients undergoing mechanical circulatory supports. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of residual ischaemia on clinical outcomes in patients with AMI undergoing venoarterial-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Patients with AMI with multivessel disease who underwent VA-ECMO due to refractory CS were pooled from the RESCUE and SMC-ECMO registries. The included patients were classified into three groups according to residual ischaemia evaluated using the residual Synergy between percutaneous coronary intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score (rSS): rSS = 0, 0 < rSS ≤ 8, and rSS > 8. The primary outcome was 1-year all-cause death. A total of 408 patients were classified into the rSS = 0 (n = 100, 24.5%), 0 < rSS ≤ 8 (n = 136, 33.3%), and rSS > 8 (n = 172, 42.2%) groups. The cumulative incidence of the primary outcome differed significantly according to rSS (33.9 vs. 55.4 vs. 66.1% for rSS = 0, 0 < rSS ≤ 8, and rSS > 8, respectively, overall P < 0.001). In a multivariable model, rSS was independently associated with the risk of 1-year all-cause death (adjusted hazard ratio 1.03, 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.05, P = 0.003). Conversely, the baseline SYNTAX score was not associated with the risk of the primary outcome. Furthermore, when patients were stratified by rSS, the primary outcome did not differ significantly between the high and low delta SYNTAX score groups.

CONCLUSION

In patients with AMI with refractory CS who underwent VA-ECMO, residual ischaemia was associated with an increased risk of 1-year mortality. Future studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of revascularization strategies to minimize residual ischaemia in patients with CS supported with VA-ECMO.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

REtrospective and Prospective Observational Study to Investigate Clinical oUtcomes and Efficacy of Left Ventricular Assist Device for Korean Patients With Cardiogenic Shock (RESCUE), NCT02985008.

Impact of the completeness of revascularization and high bleeding risk status in acute coronary syndrome patients with multi-vessel disease: A retrospective analysis

Objectives

To investigate the long-term mortality of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with multivessel disease according to the level of completeness of revascularization (CR) and high-bleeding risk (HBR) status.

Design Setting and Participants

This retrospective study collected the data of ACS patients with multivessel disease who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention between May 2018 and February 2019. Complete to reasonable revascularization (CR) was defined by the residual Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery score (RSS) of 0 to ≤8. The HBR was defined by the PRECISE-DAPT score ≥25.

Main Outcome Measures

The all-cause death at 36 months according to the CR and HBR status.

Results

A total of 209 patients with 743 lesions were included in the analysis. The median follow-up was 3.6 years. Patients with CR had lower event rates than ICR (4.5 vs. 11.5 per 100 patient-year, HR 0.39, 95% CI 0.22-0.70), p = 0.002). Similar observations were noted when compared between non-HBR and HBR (3.9 vs. 11.1 per 100 patient-year, HR 0.35, 95% CI 0.18-0.64, p < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that all-cause death was highest among those in the ICR/HBR (40.5%) followed by ICR/non-HBR (28.6%), CR/non-HBR (28.3%) and the lowest among the CR/HBR group (7.1%), log-rank p = <0.001. No significant interaction was observed between the two factors regarding all-cause death (p = 0.10 for interaction).

Conclusions

In ACS patients with MVD, the achievement of CR was associated with reducing mortality rates and consistency irrespective of the HBR status. (Trial Registration: TCTR20211222003).

Impact of Impella protected-percutaneous coronary intervention on left ventricle function recovery of patients with extensive coronary disease and poor left ventricular function

BACKGROUND

The use of Impella support is increasingly adopted to "protect" patients with severe coronary artery disease (CAD) and left ventricle (LV) dysfunction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

AIMS

To evaluate the impact of Impella-protected (Abiomed, Danvers, Massachusetts, USA) PCIs on myocardial function recovery.

METHODS

Patients with significant LV dysfunction undergoing multi-vessel PCIs with pre-intervention Impella implantation were evaluated by echocardiography before PCI and at median follow up of 6 months: global and segmental LV contractile function were assessed by LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and wall motion score index (WMSI), respectively. Extent of revascularization was graded using the British Cardiovascular Intervention Society Jeopardy score (BCIS-JS). Study endpoints were LVEF and WMSI improvement, and its correlation with revascularization.

RESULTS

A total of 48 high surgical risk (mean EuroSCORE II 8) patients with median LVEF value of 30%, extensive wall motion abnormalities (median WMSI 2.16), and severe multi-vessel CAD (mean SYNTAX score 35) were included. PCIs brought a significant reduction of ischemic myocardium burden with BCIS-JS decrease from mean value of 12 to 4 (p < 0.001). At follow-up, WMSI reduced from 2.2 to 2.0 (p = 0.004) and LVEF increased from 30% to 35% (p = 0.016). WMSI improvement was proportional to the baseline impairment (R - 0.50, p < 0.001), and confined to revascularized segments (from 2.1 to 1.9, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with extensive CAD and severe LV dysfunction, multi-vessel Impella-protected PCI was associated to an appreciable contractile recovery, mainly determined by regional wall motion improvement in revascularized segments.

Sex-Specific Differences in Potent P2Y12 Inhibitor Use in British Cardiovascular Intervention Society Registry STEMI Patients

BACKGROUND

Sex-based outcome differences for women with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) have not been adequately addressed, and the role played by differences in prescription of potent P2Y12 inhibitors (P-P2Y12) is not well defined. This study explores the hypothesis that disparities in P-P2Y12 (prasugrel or ticagrelor) use may play a role in outcome disparities for women with STEMI.

METHODS

Data from British Cardiovascular Intervention Society national percutaneous coronary intervention database were analyzed, and 168 818 STEMI patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention from 2010 to 2020 were included.

RESULTS

Among the included women (43 131; 25.54%) and men (125 687; 74.45%), P-P2Y12 inhibitors were prescribed less often to women (51.71%) than men (55.18%; P<0.001). Women were more likely to die in hospital than men (adjusted odds ratio, 1.213 [95% CI, 1.141-1.290]). Unadjusted mortality was higher among women treated with clopidogrel (7.57%), than P-P2Y12-treated women (5.39%), men treated with clopidogrel (4.60%), and P-P2Y12-treated men (3.61%; P<0.001). The strongest independent predictor of P-P2Y12 prescription was radial access (adjusted odds ratio, 2.368 [95% CI, 2.312-2.425]), used in 67.93% of women and 74.38% of men (P<0.001). Two risk adjustment models were used. Women were less likely to receive a P-P2Y12 (adjusted odds ratio, 0.957 [95% CI, 0.935-0.979]) with risk adjustment for baseline characteristics alone, when procedural factors including radial access were included in the model differences were not significant (adjusted odds ratio, 1.015 [95% CI, 0.991-1.039]).

CONCLUSIONS

Women were less likely to be prescribed prasugrel or ticagrelor, were less likely to have radial access, and had a higher mortality when being treated for STEMI. Improving rates of P-P2Y12 use and radial access may decrease outcome disparities for women with STEMI.

Acute coronary syndromes and multivessel coronary artery disease

Patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and multivessel coronary artery disease are frequently encountered during clinical practice and those patients are at higher risk of subsequent acute cardiovascular events. In patients presenting with both ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes, complete revascularization is associated with decreased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events. Nevertheless, the optimal timing of the intervention and treatment modality are still in discussions. Furthermore, non-culprit lesions assessment based on stenosis severity, either on visual or on functional evaluation, may not provide information about vulnerable plaques prone to thrombosis. Therefore, insights from intracoronary imaging could further identify high-risk plaque and patients at higher risk of future adverse events. This article aims to provide an overview of current guideline recommendations, envisioning future perspectives for the treatment of patients with ACS and multivessel disease.

Culprit-Plaque Morphology and Residual SYNTAX Score Predict Cardiovascular Risk in Acute Myocardial Infarction: An Optical Coherence Tomography Study

AIMS

Culprit-plaque morphology [plaque rupture (PR) and plaque erosion (PE)] and high-risk plaques (HRP) identified by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and residual SYNTAX score (rSS) have been reported to influence clinical outcomes. Thus, in this study, we aimed to investigate the prognostic implication of culprit-plaque morphology and rSS for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

METHODS

Based on plaque morphology and rSS, 274 STEMI patients were divided into 4 groups: PE/low-rSS (n=61), PE/high-rSS (n=58), PR/low-rSS (n=55), and PR/high-rSS (n=100). According to HRP and rSS, patients were stratified to non-HRP/low-rSS (n=97), non-HRP/high-rSS (n=109), HRP/low-rSS (n=19), and HRP/high-rSS (n=49). MACE was defined as the composite of all-cause death, recurrence of myocardial infarction, stroke, and unplanned revascularization of any coronary artery.

RESULTS

During the follow-up of 2.2 years, 47 (17.2%) MACE were observed. Patients with PR/high-rSS and HRP/high-rSS presented lower survival probability on revascularization and MACE. In fully adjusted analyses, PR/high-rSS group presented higher MACE risk than PE/low-rSS (HR: 4.80, 95% CI: 1.43-16.11, P=0.025). Patients with non-HRP/high-rSS (HR: 2.90, 95% CI: 1.01-8.38, P=0.049) and HRP/high-rSS (HR: 8.67, 95% CI: 2.67-28.21, P＜0.001) presented higher risk of cardiac events than non-HRP/low-rSS. Adding rSS and HRP to the risk prediction model increased the C-statistic to 0.797 (95% CI: 0.737-0.857), with ΔC-statistic of 0.066 (P=0.002) and the NRI (46.0%, 95% CI: 20.5-56.8%, P＜0.001) and IDI (8.7%, 95% CI: 3.6-18.2%, P＜0.001).

CONCLUSION

High-risk plaques in combination with rSS enhanced the predictive ability for MACE, indicating culprit-plaque features and residual atherosclerosis burden should be taken into account in risk stratification of STEMI patients.

When to Achieve Complete Revascularization in Infarct-Related Cardiogenic Shock

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS) is a life-threatening condition frequently encountered in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD). Despite prompt revascularization, in particular, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and therapeutic and technological advances, the mortality rate for patients with CS related to AMI remains unacceptably high. Differently form a hemodynamically stable setting, a culprit lesion-only (CLO) revascularization strategy is currently suggested for AMI–CS patients, based on the results of recent randomized evidence burdened by several limitations and conflicting results from non-randomized studies. Furthermore, mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices have emerged as a key therapeutic option in CS, especially in the case of their early implantation without delaying revascularization and before irreversible organ damage has occurred. We provide an in-depth review of the current evidence on optimal revascularization strategies of multivessel CAD in infarct-related CS, assessing the role of different types of MCS devices and highlighting the importance of shock teams and medical care system networks to effectively impact on clinical outcomes.

Residual Risk of Coronary Atherosclerotic Heart Disease and Severity of Coronary Atherosclerosis Assessed by ApoB and LDL-C in Participants With Statin Treatment: A Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is the primary target of lipid-lowering therapy on the management of hypercholesterolemia in the United States and European guidelines, while apolipoprotein B (apoB) is the secondary target. The objective was to determine if elevated levels of apoB is superior to LDL-C in assessing residual risk of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease and severity of coronary atherosclerosis in participants with statin treatment.

METHODS

This study included 131 participants with statin treatment. The generalized linear model and relative risk regression (generalized linear Poisson model with robust error variance) were used to analyze the association of the levels of apoB and LDL-C with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis and residual risk of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease.

RESULTS

Categorizing apoB and LDL-C based on tertiles, higher levels of apoB were significantly associated with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis (P_trend = 0.012), whereas no such associations were found for elevated levels of LDL-C (P_trend = 0.585). After multivariate adjustment, higher levels of apoB were significantly associated with residual risk of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease. When compared with low-level apoB (≤0.66 g/L), the multivariate adjusted RR and 95% CI of intermediate-level apoB (0.67-0.89 g/L) and high-level apoB (≥0.90 g/L) were 1.16 (1.01, 1.33) and 1.31 (1.08, 1.60), respectively (P_trend = 0.011). There was a 45% increased residual risk of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease per unit increment in natural log-transformed apoB (P_trend <0.05). However, higher levels of LDL-C were not significantly associated with residual risk of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease. When compared with low-level LDL-C (≤1.56 mmol/L), the multivariate adjusted RR and 95% CI of intermediate-level LDL-C (1.57-2.30 mmol/L) and high-level LDL-C (≥2.31 mmol/L) were 0.99 (0.84, 1.15) and 1.10 (0.86, 1.42), respectively (P_trend = 0.437). Similar results were observed in the stratified analyses and sensitivity analyses. No significant interactions were detected for both apoB and LDL-C (all P_interaction>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated apoB are superior in assessing the residual risk of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease and severity of coronary atherosclerosis in participants with statin treatment.

Prognostic value of characteristics of plaque combined with residual syntax score among patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI: an intravascular optical coherence tomography study

Aim

The present study aimed to explore these characteristics, particularly thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA), in relation to residual syntax score (rSS) in patients who presented with acute MI.

Methods and outcomes

A total of 434 consecutive patients with MI aged ≥18 years who had STEMI underwent primary PCI. Notably, compared with other subgroups, the presence of TCFA in culprit lesions and a higher level of rSS, were significantly associated with MACE. When rSS was divided into three groups, high rSS levels were associated with a higher incidence of MACE, in the subgroups of without TCFA (P = 0.005), plaque erosion (P = 0.045), macrophage infiltration (P = 0.026), and calcification (P = 0.002). AUC of ROC curve was 0.794 and 0.816, whereas the AUC of the survival ROC was 0.798 and 0.846.

Conclusion

The results of this study could be used in clinical practice to support risk stratification.

Trial registration

This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT03593928.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12959-021-00329-z.

Prognostic Utility of Culprit SYNTAX Score in Patients With Cardiogenic Shock Complicating ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

A higher SYNTAX score (SS) is strongly associated with poor prognosis in patients with cardiogenic shock complicating ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (CS-STEMI). However, the predictive value of culprit-lesion SYNTAX score (cul-SS) and SS has not been compared although the culprit-lesion-only primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) strategy showed improved long-term survival recently. This study compared the predictive utility of cul-SS and SS for in-hospital mortality among the patients with CS-STEMI from during 2010-2019. Of the 215 patients, 79 (37%) died. SS ≥22, cul-SS ≥11, final thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow ≤2, and no-reflow phenomenon were associated with in-hospital mortality. In patients with multi-vessel disease, the nonsurvivors with cul-SS ≥11 had a higher mortality rate than the survivors (75.0% vs. 44.9%, p = 0.001), whereas the SS ≥22 showed no significant difference. The cul-SS ≥11 revealed only an independent factor in the multivariate analysis (OR 2.6, p = 0.010). the AUC of cul-SS ≥11 for in-hospital mortality was modest (0.617 p < 0.05), which might be augmented up to 0.745 (p < 0.001) by the combination with TIMI flow ≤2, no-reflow phenomenon, and blood total CO₂ content <15 mEq/L. The cul-SS might be more predictive than SS for in-hospital mortality in our patients with CS-STEMI.

Residual SYNTAX Score in Relation to Coronary Culprit Plaque Characteristics and Cardiovascular Risk in ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: an Intravascular Optical Coherence Tomography Study

This study aimed to investigate the association of high-risk culprit plaque features by optical coherence tomography (OCT) with residual SYNTAX score (rSS) and the predictive value of rSS for major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We included 274 patients and divided them into 3 groups - rSS=0 (n=72), 0<rSS≤8 (n=134), and rSS>8 (n=68). There were significant differences in plaque characteristics among three groups (plaque rupture: 44.4% versus 59.0% versus 64.7%, lowest to highest rSS, p=0.040; OCT-defined high-risk plaques: 16.7% versus 23.9% versus 35.3%, lowest to highest rSS, p=0.036; calcification: 38.9% versus 52.5% versus 61.8%, lowest to highest rSS, p=0.024). During a mean follow-up of 2.2 years, MACE occurred in 47 (17.2%) patients; rSS >8 group had higher MACE risk compared to rSS=0 (HR: 2.68, 95%CI: 1.11-6.5, P=0.029). In conclusion, culprit plaque morphology was significantly correlated with rSS, and elevated rSS was associated with higher cardiovascular risk in STEMI patients. ClinicalTrials.gov : NCT03593928.

Complete Revascularisation in Impella-Supported Infarct-Related Cardiogenic Shock Patients Is Associated With Improved Mortality

Background: Acute myocardial infarction-related cardiogenic shock (AMI-CS) still has high likelihood of in-hospital mortality. The only trial evidence currently available for the intra-aortic balloon pump showed no benefit of its routine use in AMI-CS. While a potential benefit of complete revascularisation has been suggested in urgent revascularisation, the CULPRIT-SHOCK trial demonstrated no benefit of multivessel compared to culprit-lesion only revascularisation in AMI-CS. However, mechanical circulatory support was only used in a minority of patients. Objectives: We hypothesised that more complete revascularisation facilitated by Impella support is related to lower mortality in AMI-CS patients. Methods: We analysed data from 202 consecutive Impella-treated AMI-CS patients at four European high-volume shock centres (age 66 ± 11 years, 83% male). Forty-seven percentage (n = 94) had cardiac arrest before Impella implantation. Revascularisation was categorised as incomplete if residual SYNTAX-score (rS) was >8. Results: Overall 30-day mortality was 47%. Mortality was higher when Impella was implanted post-PCI (Impella-post-PCI: 57%, Impella-pre-PCI: 38%, p = 0.0053) and if revascularisation was incomplete (rS ≤ 8: 37%, rS > 8: 56%, p = 0.0099). Patients with both pre-PCI Impella implantation and complete revascularisation had significantly lower mortality (33%) than those with incomplete revascularisation and implantation post PCI (72%, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our retrospective analysis suggests that complete revascularisation supported by an Impella microaxial pump implanted prior to PCI is associated with lower mortality than incomplete revascularisation in patients with AMI-CS.

Management of Multivessel Disease and Physiology Testing in ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction

For decades, advances in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) care have been driven by timely reperfusion of the occluded culprit vessel. More recently, however, the focus has shifted to revascularization of nonculprit vessels in STEMI patients. Five landmark randomized trials, all published in the past 7 years, have highlighted the importance of complete revascularization in STEMI treatment. This review focuses on evidence-based management of STEMI in the setting of multivessel disease, highlighting contemporary data that investigate the impact of complete revascularization.