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Biomedical subjects

Flavio Airoldi

Publications and source records attributed to Flavio Airoldi.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Multiple overlapping drug-eluting stents to treat diffuse disease of the left anterior descending coronary artery.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the safety and efficacy of using multiple overlapping drug-eluting stents (DES) in patients with diffuse left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) disease. BACKGROUND: Diffuse LAD disease represents a therapeutic challenge. Results after coronary artery bypass surgery are suboptimal, whereas the use of bare metal stents is limited by high rates of restenosis. The introduction of DES prompted treatment of long diffuse disease with multiple overlapping stents. METHODS: All consecutive patients with de novo diffuse LAD disease treated with more than 60-mm long DES from April 2002 to March 2004 were analyzed. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 66 patients. Thirty-nine patients were treated with sirolimus-eluting stents (SES), average length 84 +/- 22 mm, and 27 patients with paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES), average length 74 +/- 14 mm. The number of stents implanted per patient was 2.8 +/- 0.7, whereas the mean total stent length for the LAD treatment was 80 +/- 20 mm. Angiographic as well as procedural success was achieved in 95% of cases. Eleven (16.6%) patients had in-hospital non-Q-wave myocardial infarction (five SES and six PES), and one patient developed intraprocedural stent thrombosis. All patients had clinical follow-up, and 52 patients (79%) had an angiographic follow-up at six months. Hierarchical major adverse cardiac event rate was 15% (7.5% for SES and 7.5% for PES). No patients died, one patient had non-Q-wave myocardial infarction (non-index vessel), and 10 patients (15%) underwent target vessel revascularization. CONCLUSIONS: The implantation of multiple overlapping DES in patients with a diffusely diseased LAD is relatively safe and associated with good midterm clinical outcomes.

Administration, Topical↗

Incidence, predictors, and outcome of thrombosis after successful implantation of drug-eluting stents.

CONTEXT: Traditionally, stent thrombosis has been regarded as a complication of percutaneous coronary interventions during the first 30 postprocedural days. However, delayed endothelialization associated with the implantation of drug-eluting stents may extend the risk of thrombosis beyond 30 days. Data are limited regarding the risks and the impact of this phenomenon outside clinical trials. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence, predictors, and clinical outcome of stent thrombosis after implantation of sirolimus-eluting and paclitaxel-eluting stents in routine clinical practice. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: Prospective observational cohort study conducted at 1 academic hospital and 2 community hospitals in Germany and Italy. A total of 2229 consecutive patients underwent successful implantation of sirolimus-eluting (1062 patients, 1996 lesions, 2272 stents) or paclitaxel-eluting (1167 patients, 1801 lesions, 2223 stents) stents between April 2002 and January 2004. INTERVENTIONS: Implantation of a drug-eluting stent (sirolimus or paclitaxel). All patients were pretreated with ticlopidine or clopidogrel and aspirin. Aspirin was continued indefinitely and clopidogrel or ticlopidine for at least 3 months after sirolimus-eluting and for at least 6 months after paclitaxel-eluting stent implantation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Subacute thrombosis (from procedure end through 30 days), late thrombosis (>30 days), and cumulative stent thrombosis. RESULTS: At 9-month follow-up, 29 patients (1.3%) had stent thrombosis (9 [0.8%] with sirolimus and 20 [1.7%] with paclitaxel; P = .09). Fourteen patients had subacute thrombosis (0.6%) and 15 patients had late thrombosis (0.7%). Among these 29 patients, 13 died (case fatality rate, 45%). Independent predictors of stent thrombosis were premature antiplatelet therapy discontinuation (hazard ratio [HR], 89.78; 95% CI, 29.90-269.60; P<.001), renal failure (HR, 6.49; 95% CI, 2.60-16.15; P<.001), bifurcation lesions (HR, 6.42; 95% CI, 2.93-14.07; P<.001), diabetes (HR, 3.71; 95% CI, 1.74-7.89; P = .001), and a lower ejection fraction (HR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.05-1.36; P<.001 for each 10% decrease). CONCLUSIONS: The cumulative incidence of stent thrombosis 9 months after successful drug-eluting stent implantation in consecutive "real-world" patients was substantially higher than the rate reported in clinical trials. Premature antiplatelet therapy discontinuation, renal failure, bifurcation lesions, diabetes, and low ejection fraction were identified as predictors of thrombotic events.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗

Immediate and mid-term outcomes of sirolimus-eluting stent implantation for chronic total occlusions.

AIMS: To evaluate the outcomes of sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) implantation for the treatment of chronic total occlusion (CTO). METHODS AND RESULTS: We identified 122 patients who underwent revascularization in CTO lesions with SES from April 2002 to April 2004 (SES group). A control group was composed of 259 consecutive patients with CTO lesions treated with bare metal stents (BMS) in the 24 months immediately before the introduction of SES (BMS group). At 6-month follow-up, the cumulative rate of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) was 16.4% in the SES group and 35.1% in the BMS group (P<0.001). The incidence of restenosis was 9.2% in the SES group and 33.3% in the BMS group (P<0.001). The need for revascularization in the SES group was significantly lower, both target lesion revascularization (7.4 vs. 26.3%, P<0.001) and target vessel revascularization (9.0 vs. 29.0%, P<0.001). BMS implantation (HR: 2.97; 95% CI: 1.80-4.89; P<0.001), lesion length (>20 mm) (HR: 2.02; 95% CI: 1.37-2.99; P=0.0004), and baseline reference vessel diameter (>2.8 mm) (HR: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.42-0.92; P=0.02) were identified as predictors of MACE during 6-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: Compared with BMS, SES implantation in CTO lesions appears to be effective in reducing the incidence of restenosis and the need for revascularization at 6 months.

Case-Control Studies↗

Treatment of saphenous vein graft lesions with drug-eluting stents: immediate and midterm outcome.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present report was to evaluate clinical and angiographic outcomes of drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation in saphenous vein graft (SVG) lesions. BACKGROUND: The safety and efficacy of DES implantation for the treatment SVG lesions remains uncertain. METHODS: We evaluated in-hospital and six-month outcomes in 61 consecutive patients treated with DES in SVG lesions from March 2002 to March 2004 (DES group), as compared to 89 consecutive patients treated with bare-metal stents (BMS) in the 24 months immediately before the introduction of DES (BMS group). Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) including death, myocardial infarction, target lesion revascularization (TLR), and target vessel revascularization (TVR) were recorded in-hospital and at six-month follow-up. RESULTS: The rate of in-hospital MACE was similar between the two groups (6.6% vs. 5.6%, p = 1.0). Cumulative MACE at six months was 11.5% in the DES group and 28.1% in the BMS group (p = 0.02). The DES group had a significantly lower incidence of in-segment restenosis (10.0% vs. 26.7%, p = 0.03), TLR (3.3% vs. 19.8%, p = 0.003), and TVR (4.9% vs. 23.1%, p = 0.003). By Cox regression analysis, diabetes (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.03; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.33 to 6.90; p = 0.008), usage of BMS (HR: 2.53; 95% CI: 1.07 to 5.97; p = 0.03), and age of SVG (HR: 1.10; 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.19; p = 0.02) were identified as predictors of MACE at six-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to BMS implantation, DES implantation in SVG lesions appears safe with favorable and improved mid-term outcomes.

Aged↗

In-hospital and nine-month outcome of treatment of coronary bifurcational lesions with sirolimus-eluting stent.

Between April 2002 and May 2004, 174 consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention of bifurcational lesions with sirolimus-eluting stents were identified. Two strategies were used: stenting only 1 branch (group 1S, n = 57) or stenting both branches (group 2S, n = 117). The incidence of major adverse cardiac events was evaluated in the hospital and at 9-month follow-up. There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups with regard to the incidence of target lesion revascularization (5.4% vs 8.9%, p = 0.76), target vessel revascularization (5.4% vs 11.1%, p = 0.51), and cumulative major adverse cardiac events (18.9% vs 23.3%, p = 0.76) at 9 months.

Aged↗

Early and mid-term results of drug-eluting stent implantation in unprotected left main.

BACKGROUND: The safety and efficacy of percutaneous coronary intervention in unprotected left main (ULM) coronary arteries are still a matter of debate. METHODS AND RESULTS: All consecutive patients who had a sirolimus-eluting stent (Cypher, Cordis, Johnson and Johnson Co) or a paclitaxel-eluting stent (Taxus, Boston Scientific) electively implanted in de novo lesions on unprotected left main were analyzed. Patients treated with a drug-eluting stent (DES) were compared with the historical group of consecutive patients treated with bare metal stent (BMS). Eighty-five patients were treated with DES; 64 had BMS implantation. Patients treated with DES had lower ejection fractions (51.1+/-11% versus 57.4+/-13%, P=0.002) and were more often diabetics (21.2% versus 10.9%, P=0.12) with more frequent distal left main involvement (81.2% versus 57.8%, P=0.003). Furthermore, in the DES group, smaller vessels (3.33+/-0.6 versus 3.7+/-0.7 mm, respectively; P=0.0001) with more lesions (2.94+/-1.6 versus 2.25+/-1.3, P=0.004) and vessels (2.03+/-0.69 versus 1.8+/-0.72, P=0.05) were treated with longer stents (24.3+/-12 versus 15.8+/-8.6 mm, P=0.0001). Despite the higher-risk patients and lesion profiles in the DES group, the incidence of major cardiac events at a 6-month clinical follow-up was lower in the DES than in the BMS group (20.0% versus 35.9%, respectively; P=0.039). Moreover, cardiac deaths occurred in 3 DES patients (3.5%), as compared with 6 (9.3%) in the BMS group (P=0.17). CONCLUSIONS: In this early experience with DES in unprotected left main, this procedure appears safe with favorable and improved clinical results as compared with historical control subjects with a BMS. A randomized study comparing surgery appears justified at present.

Aged↗

Preliminary experience with the Frontrunner coronary catheter: novel device dedicated to mechanical revascularization of chronic total occlusions.

The novel device Frontrunner coronary catheter (FCC), dedicated to recanalization of chronic total occlusions (CTOs), relies on blunt microdissections inside the plaque, allowing passage of guidewire through the lesion and adjunctive angioplasty. In order to evaluate efficacy and safety of recanalization using the FCC device, we included patients with de novo or restenotic CTOs in a native coronary artery with prior failure using a guidewire or considered unsuitable for guidewire attempt in which the FCC was attempted first. Between October 2000 and June 2003, 50 patients with 50 CTOs were included in the study. Thirty-two patients had prior failure with a mechanical wire. Device and angiographic success were obtained in 25 (50%) occlusions: 53% in lesions with prior guidewire failure and 44% when FCCs were attempted first (P = 0.8). During the first year of experience, angiographic success was 42% (5 occlusions) and in the third year 75% (12 occlusions; P = 0.12). Coronary perforation occurred in nine (18.0%) patients, leading to tamponade in two (4%) patients. Perforations occurred in 5 out of 12 attempted patients during the first year and in 4 out of 38 patients in the following period (41.7% vs. 10.5%; P = 0.04). Serious adverse events occurred in five (10%) patients within 30-day follow-up. Four non-Q-wave myocardial infarctions occurred in hospital (clinical success 42%) and one death 7 days after the index procedure. The use of FCC increases the success to open chronic total occlusions refractory to mechanical guidewires or that were considered unsuitable for an attempt with a guidewire. The risk of coronary perforation due to FCC use is relatively high and it can decrease with experience.

Aged↗

Is overdilatation of 3.0 mm sirolimus-eluting stent associated with a higher restenosis rate?

We evaluated the safety and effectiveness of postdilating a 3.0 mm sirolimus-eluting stents (SESs; six cells) with a 3.5-4.0 mm balloon. We identified 254 consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous coronary interventions using SESs with a nominal diameter of 3.0 mm (six cells). Patients were divided into two groups based on whether they were subsequently postdilated with a 3.0 mm (group 1: 168 patients, 251 lesions) or a 3.5-4 mm balloon (group 2: 86 patients, 102 lesions). There were no significant differences regarding the incidence of in-hospital and long-term follow-up. Angiographic follow-up was available in 72% and 74% of groups 1 and 2, respectively. The two groups had no significant differences regarding late lumen loss (0.51 +/- 0.36 vs. 0.52 +/- 0.33; P = 0.3) and binary restenosis rates (10.7% vs. 8.8%; P = 0.1). Six-month clinical follow-up was available in all patients. At long-term follow-up (mean: 10.6 +/- 3.7 for group 1 and 11.3 +/- 3.9 months for group 2), there were no significant differences between the two groups regarding major adverse cardiac events (8.9% vs. 9.2%; P = 0.9). Implantation of a 3.0 mm SES with postdilation with a 3.5-4 mm balloon did not result in any significant difference in complications, in-hospital non-Q-wave myocardial infarction, binary restenosis, or target lesion revascularization. These data should lessen concern that overdilation may dilute the beneficial effects of SESs.

Catheterization↗

Treating chronic total occlusions using subintimal tracking and reentry: the STAR technique.

Successful recanalization of coronary total occlusions (CTOs) remains an area where improvements are needed. We propose an approach similar to the one utilized in treating some peripheral artery occlusions and aimed to create a subintimal dissection with distal reentry. A 0.014' hydrophilic wire with a J-configuration is utilized for this purpose. We applied this technique to CTO of native coronaries in 31 patients where previous attempts failed in 21 of them (67%). The right coronary artery (RCA) was the index vessel in 87% of patients. Recanalization of the vessel and of most of distal branches was achieved in 21 patients; patency of at least one major distal branch was achieved in 9 patients. Drug-eluting stents (DESs) were implanted in 53% of patients. Three patients had intraprocedural vessel perforation without consequences. Five patients (16%) had in-hospital non-Q-wave myocardial infarction. No other adverse events occurred at a mean follow-up of 5.1 +/- 3.7 months except for one noncardiac death. Angiographic follow-up was performed in 21 (67%) patients and 53% of them developed restenosis. Reintervention on the target vessel was performed in 11 patients (52%). Complete success with the procedure was originally obtained in 8 of the 10 patients who did not develop restenosis and in 8 of them DESs were originally implanted. This technique appears a promising approach to recanalize difficult total occlusions, particularly the ones localize on the RCA, which has the most important side branches located distally.

Adult↗

Sirolimus-eluting stent implantation in diabetic patients with multivessel coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Restenosis rate is lower after sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) implantation than after bare metal stent (BS) implantation. We evaluated the impact of SES implantation on immediate and 12-month outcome in diabetic patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (MVD). METHODS: From April 2002 to September 2003, 100 consecutive diabetic patients with MVD without previous myocardial revascularization underwent successful elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with SES on native coronary arteries at our institutions. A group (n = 122) of consecutive diabetic patients with MVD treated with BS implantation (BS group) for de novo lesions was selected from our database and matched with the SES group. Major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) during hospital stay and at follow-up included nonfatal myocardial infarction, death, bypass surgery, and re-PCI. RESULTS: At 12 +/- 4 months, MACEs occurred in 25% of patients in the SES group and in 44% of those in the BS group (P = .003, OR .72, 95% CI 0.57-0.91). Need for repeat intervention (re-PCI or bypass surgery) occurred in 17% of patients in the SES group and in 41% of those in the BS group (P < .001, OR .67, 95% CI 0.52-0.86). No significant difference in the rate of death and myocardial infarction was observed. In the SES group, the independent predictors of MACEs at follow-up were premature clopidogrel discontinuation (hazard ratio 20.62, 95% CI 1.60-264.97, P = .020) and chronic renal insufficiency (hazard ratio 4.73, 95% CI 1.99-11.25, P = .0004). CONCLUSIONS: As compared with BS implantation, SES implantation favorably influences outcome in diabetic patients with MVD, mainly by reducing the need for new revascularization.

Coronary Artery Disease↗

Nephrotoxicity of low-osmolality versus iso-osmolality contrast agents: impact of N-acetylcysteine.

BACKGROUND: Recent data support that iodixanol, an iso-osmolality contrast agent, is less nephrotoxic than low-osmolality contrast agents when hydration is the only prophylactic strategy used. We evaluated the nephrotoxicity of iso- and low-osmolality contrast agents with prophylactic administration of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) along with hydration. METHODS: Two hundred and twenty-five patients with chronic renal insufficiency (serum creatinine >1.5 mg/dL or an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m(2)), referred to our institution for coronary and/or peripheral procedures, were assigned to receive low-osmolality (iobitridol group; N = 115) or iso-osmolality (iodixanol group; N = 110) contrast dye. In all cases prophylactic administration of 0.45% saline intravenously and NAC (1200 mg orally twice daily) was used. RESULTS: Baseline creatinine levels were similar in the 2 groups [iobitridol group = 1.70 (IQR: 1.54-1.98) mg/dL; iodixanol group = 1.73 (IQR: 1.56-2.00) mg/dL, P = 0.33]. The risk score for contrast nephrotoxicity was 5.0 +/- 1.6 in the iobitridol group versus 5.0 +/- 1.8 in the iodixanol group (P = 0.44). Increase of at least 0.5 mg/dL of the creatinine concentration 48 hours after the procedure occurred in 4/115 patients (3.5%) in the iobitridol group and 3/110 patients (2.7%) in the iodixanol group (P = 1.00; OR 0.78; 95% CI 0.17-3.56). Amount of contrast media administration was similar in the 2 groups (iobitridol group = 167 +/- 90 mL; iodixanol group = 164 +/- 82 mL; P = 0.61). CONCLUSION: Nephrotoxicity of iso-osmolality and low-osmolality contrast agents was similar when a prophylactic strategy of hydration plus NAC was utilized.

Acetylcysteine↗

[Drug-eluting stents: from the results of clinical studies to economic simulation models in the Italian reality].

Several studies with drug-eluting stents (DES) have demonstrated dramatic reductions in restenosis rates compared with bare metal stents (BMS). Although the clinical benefits of DES are increasingly evident, important concerns about their costs have been raised. Most data regarding the impact of restenosis on long-term costs after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are derived from clinical trials. These studies demonstrate that there is no single cost or economic burden of restenosis; these values vary substantially according to the specific patient population under investigation and to the healthcare system reality where they are applied. In the present study we propose an economic interactive decision model which was applied to the Italian healthcare system, considering the different reimbursement rates of the Italian regions for DES and for both PCI and coronary artery bypass surgical interventions (CABG). The aim of this model was to simulate the impact of DES introduction after potential complete reimbursement by the national healthcare system, hypothesizing the usage of 1.4 stent per patient in case of single vessel disease and 2.4 stents in case of multivessel disease, and utilizing the TAXUS IV rate of revascularization for reintervention costs calculation and the ARTS-I study for CABG costs. For a low risk patients' population, the mean cost of a procedure with DES was 6% greater than utilizing BMS (xi 8125 for DES vs xi 7651 for BMS). However, this percentage was reduced in case of diabetic patients (+4%), long lesions (+2%) and was favourable for small vessels (-3%). In addition, in case of multivessel disease with conversion from CABG to DES, the 12 months cost per patients was reduced of around 30% (xi 10 170 for PCI vs xi 14 584 for CABG). This model suggests that national healthcare system may save 2.1% of the total costs (xi 18.60 millions) if 60% of revascularization procedures converts to total DES utilization and 15% from CABG to PCI with DES.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

[Severe aortic stenosis successfully treated with percutaneous aortic valve implantation].

Patients with severe calcific aortic stenosis are occasionally not amenable to surgery because of advanced age or severe co-morbidities. Percutaneous aortic valve dilation is used but has only limited time relief. While preclinical evidence on percutaneous aortic valve replacement seems promising, only very limited clinical data are available worldwide. We hereby present the first case of percutaneous aortic valve replacement successfully performed in Italy in a 74-year-old high-risk female. This case emphasizes the technical challenges inherent to this procedure and its promising role in selected very high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis, notwithstanding the early and long-term risk of adverse events.

Aged↗

Comparison of clinical and angiographic outcome of sirolimus-eluting stent implantation versus cutting balloon angioplasty for coronary in-stent restenosis.

Sixty in-stent restenotic lesions were treated with sirolimus-eluting stent implantation and retrospectively compared with a group of matched lesions treated with cutting balloon angioplasty. The results indicate a good safety profile of the procedure and a 57% reduction in the incidence of recurrent restenosis in comparison with cutting balloon angioplasty.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗

Clinical and angiographic outcome after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation in aorto-ostial lesions.

OBJECTIVES: This observational study evaluated the clinical and angiographic outcomes of patients with aorto-ostial coronary artery disease treated with sirolimus-eluting stents (SESs) or with bare metal stents (BMSs). BACKGROUND: The safety and effectiveness of SESs for the treatment of aorto-ostial lesions have not been demonstrated. METHODS: We identified 82 consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous coronary interventions in 82 aorto-ostial lesions using the SES (32 patients) or BMS (50 patients) and compared the two groups of patients. The incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), including death or Q-wave myocardial infarction (MI), target lesion revascularization (TLR), and target vessel revascularization (TVR), were recorded in-hospital and at a 10-month follow-up. RESULTS: All stents were implanted successfully. There were no statistically significant differences regarding major in-hospital complications between the two groups. At 10-month follow-up, two (6.3%) patients in the SES group and 14 (28%) patients in the BMS group underwent TLR (p = 0.01); MACE were less frequent in the SES group compared to the BMS group (19% vs. 44%, p = 0.02). Angiographic follow-up showed lower binary restenosis rates (11% vs. 51%, p = 0.001) and smaller late loss (0.21 +/- 0.31 mm vs. 2.06 +/- 1.37 mm, p < 0.0001) in the SES group. CONCLUSIONS: The main finding of our study is that, compared to the BMS, implantation of the SES in aorto-ostial lesions appears safe and effective, with no increase in major in-hospital complications and a significant improvement in restenosis and late event rates at 10-month follow-up.

Aged↗