Application of checklist-based nursing care process in patients undergoing intervention for coronary chronic total occlusions: a quasi-randomized study

BACKGROUND

Coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) interventions are more complex than general percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures. However, only a few nursing methods are specifically applied to patients undergoing CTO interventions. And the conventional nursing effect is not ideal, urgent need to explore more effective nursing methods. The checklist is a simple and effective tool for error management and performance improvement that has been widely used in many fields. But there have been no reports of the checklist being used to improve care for CTO patients.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a checklist-based nursing care process in patients undergoing Coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) interventions, including duration of care, patient anxiety, improved patient satisfaction, and occurrence of adverse events.

METHODS

A total of 120 CTO patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were selected at our hospital and divided into an intervention group (n = 60, adopted the checklist-based nursing care process for patient care) and a control group (n = 60, adopted nursing care according to the existing workflow) according to different nursing interventions. After surgery, the nurse in charge of the patient completed the nursing according to the "List of postoperative care for CTO patients" filled in by the patient within 24 h after surgery, conducted a doctor satisfaction survey, recorded adverse events, and completed the postoperative Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) score and patient satisfaction survey before the patient was discharged. Subsequently, the Qc team checks the completion of the patient's checklist for safety and the completion of the questionnaire. Finally, the differences between the two groups in preoperative nursing time, incidence of adverse events caused by nurses' omission or inadequate guidance, patient anxiety, and doctor and patient satisfaction were compared.

RESULTS

The intervention grouphad significantly shorter preoperative nursing care time and significantly lower the total number of adverse events than the control group (P < 0.05).The postoperative Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) score of the intervention group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05).The satisfaction of doctors and patients in the intervention groupwas significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The application of the checklist-based nursing care process in patients with CTO intervention can significantly reduce the preoperative nursing care time, reduce patient anxiety, improve patients' and doctors' satisfaction with nursing care, and effectively reduce the occurrence of adverse events caused by nurses' omissions or inadequate instructions.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The protocol of the trial was registered retrospectively of Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (registration number ChiCTR2200056804, reg date17/02/2022).

Coronary Sinus Reducer for the Treatment of Chronic Refractory Angina: Will This Challenge the Treatment of Coronary Chronic Total Occlusions?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The prevalence of angina despite optimal medical therapy is high among patients with coronary chronic total occlusions. Despite advancements in techniques and operator's experience, percutaneous revascularization of coronary chronic total occlusions is still associated with a not negligible risk of failures and complications. The Coronary Sinus Reducer, a new device developed to improve angina, has shown promising results in terms of efficacy and safety in patients with refractory symptoms. The aim of this review is to summarize the evidence so far available and to guide clinicians in the selection of patients with chronic total occlusions that could benefit more from Coronary Sinus Reducer implantation.

RECENT FINDINGS

A recently published study suggests a clear value of this device in patients with chronic total occlusions. This is likely to be related to the presence of a well-developed collateral circulation. A careful evaluation of risks and benefits of both myocardial revascularization and Coronary Sinus Reducer implantation should be done in all the cases in order to better define the optimal strategy for the patient. The Coronary Sinus Reducer implantation has a rationale in patients with chronic total occlusion as an alternative or additional therapy to myocardial revascularization.

Circulating CD34+VEGFR-2+ endothelial progenitor cells correlate with revascularization-mediated long-term improvement of cardiac function in patients with coronary chronic total occlusions

BACKGROUND

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) participate in angiogenesis and neocollateralization. This study assessed if circulating EPCs can predict long-term improvement of global left ventricular systolic function in patients with coronary chronic total occlusions (CTOs) underwent successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODS

In this single-center, prospective, observational study, 115 consecutive patients with CTOs were evaluated by standard transthoracic echocardiography (ECHO) before and 9-12 months after PCI. Numbers of circulating putative EPCs were determined by flow cytometry analysis of mononuclear cells isolated from peripheral blood samples drawn before and 72 h after PCI.

RESULTS

At mean 11.3 ± 2.5 months post vs. before PCI (all P < .05): by SAQ-7 summary scores, angina frequency, physical limitation and quality of life scores were greater; by ECHO, LVEDd decreased and LVEF increased, which were more significant in patients with Rentrop grades 2/3 vs. 0/1. At 72 h post vs. before PCI, CD34⁺VEGFR-2⁺CD133^- (0.82 ± 0.32 × 10⁶/L vs. 1.00 ± 0.39 × 10⁶/L, P = .003), CD34⁺VEGFR-2⁺CD133⁺ (0.24 ± 0.12 × 10⁶/L vs. 0.27 ± 0.14 × 10⁶/L, P = .028), and CD14⁺Tie2⁺VEGFR-2⁺ (6.60 ± 3.32 × 10⁶/L vs. 7.82 ± 3.91 × 10⁶/L, P = .006) cell numbers were lower. The baseline levels of CD34⁺VEGFR-2⁺cells (P = .001) and CD14⁺Tie2⁺VEGFR-2⁺cells (P < .001) were association with the grade of collateralization. In addition, the baseline and peri-procedural decrease of circulating CD34⁺VEGFR-2⁺ cells correlated with the increase of LVEF (P < .001, P < .001, respectively) and the decrease of LVEDd (P = .022, P = .029, respectively) at follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

In this small study, the baseline levels of circulating CD34⁺VEGFR-2+ EPCs and its reduction after successful revascularization of CTOs correlated with long-term improvement in global LV systolic function.

Guiding patient selection to revascularization in coronary chronic total occlusions: The CARISMA_CTO study design

BACKGROUND

It is debated whether percutaneous revascularization (PCI) of total coronary chronic occlusion (CTO) is superior to optimal medical therapy (OMT) in improving symptoms, left ventricular (LV) function and major adverse cardiac/cerebrovascular events (MACCE). Furthermore, CTO-PCI is a challenging technique, with lower success rate than in other settings. A systematic analysis of baseline LV function, infarction extent and ischaemic burden to predict response to revascularization has never been performed.

PURPOSES

To establish a CMR protocol to identify patients (pts) who can benefit most from CTO-PCI. Myocardial viability/ischaemia retains high biological plausibility as predictors of response to revascularization. Therefore, baseline viability (necrotic tissue extent, response to inotropic stimulation) and ischaemia (perfusion defect, wall motion abnormality during stress) will be studied as potential predictors of mechanical LV segmental improvement and ischaemic burden reduction in CTO territory (primary endpoint), LV remodelling and global function, Seattle Angina Questionnaire, and MACCE improvement (secondary endpoints) in the follow-up.

METHODS

Pts with CTO suitable for PCI undergo stress-CMR for viability/ischaemia assessment. Pts with normal LV function undergo adenosine, those with moderately-reduced ejection fraction (EF) and wall motion abnormalities high-dose dobutamine, pts with EF <35% low-dose dobutamine. All pts undergo late gadolinium enhancement and repeat the same scan at 12 ± 3 months, regardless of PCI success or decision for OMT.

CONCLUSIONS

A multi-parameter CMR protocol tailored on pts characteristics to study viability/ischaemia could help in identifying responders in terms of LV function, ischaemic burden and clinical outcome among pts suitable for CTO-PCI, improving selection of best candidates to percutaneous revascularization.

Microcatheter balloon pinning technique to facilitate wiring of a left circumflex chronic total occlusion

INTRODUCTION

Coronary chronic total occlusions (CTOs) are commonly encountered during diagnostic angiograms. With recent advances, especially in experienced centers, success rates with CTO percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have approached 80% or higher. It is important to note that despite these advancements in techniques, CTOs remain difficult to treat. We present a case of a left circumflex artery (LCX) CTO that was successfully revascularized using a microcatheter balloon pinning technique that allowed additional wire support.

CASE REPORT

A 77-year-old woman status post-two-vessel coronary artery bypass graft surgery presented with new onset angina at rest and was found to have a patent graft to the left anterior descending artery, and an unrevascularized proximal LCX CTO. PCI was attempted with a microcatheter using an antegrade approach. This approach was unsuccessful due to the lack of support and the left circumflex angle. As a result, we used a balloon to pin the microcatheter to the wall of the left main to allow for successful wiring of the LCX. A stent was successfully deployed in the LCX, and the patient was discharged from the hospital 2 days later. At follow-up, the patient was asymptomatic and returned to her usual activity.

DISCUSSION

After conducting a thorough literature search, it appears that this is the first case that a microcatheter has been pinned with a balloon. We believe that in LCX CTOs that require support, the microcatheter pinning technique can provide adequate support in wiring CTO's. LCX CTOs can be very difficult to treat, we present a case of a LCX CTO that required the use of the microcatheter balloon pinning technique to allow additional wire support for successful wiring and ultimately treatment.