PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M H Sketch

Publications and source records attributed to M H Sketch.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Contrast Agents for Cardiac Angiography: Osmolality and Contrast Complications.

Radiographic contrast agents have undergone a tremendous evolution over the past several decades. The creation of contrast agents with greater iodine carrying capacity and lower osmolality has improved imaging quality and reduced complications, including nausea, vomiting, congestive heart failure, and cardiac rhythm abnormalities. Whether differences exist among agents in terms of thrombotic complications remains controversial. Several characteristics including potential complications, toxicity, and cost must factor into the decision to use a particular contrast agent in cardiac procedures.

Journal Article↗

Thrombolytic, antithrombin, and antiplatelet treatment of acute coronary syndromes.

Acute coronary syndromes are a major public health problem and the leading cause of death in the western world. Acute coronary syndromes consist of unstable angina pectoris, non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction, and ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction. These diseases represent a continuum of increasing severity and are pathophysiologically linked to intracoronary thrombus formation that is nonocclusive, transiently occlusive, or completely occlusive, respectively. Antiplatelet treatment with aspirin is the cornerstone of treatment for all acute coronary syndromes. Newer intravenous antiplatelet agents reduce 30-day mortality and myocardial infarction in unstable angina and non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction. Adenosine diphosphate antagonist antiplatelet agents have an ill-defined role in the treatment of acute coronary syndromes. Fibrinolytic therapy has been shown to reduce mortality in ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction but may pose a hazard in other acute coronary syndromes.

Angina, Unstable↗

Support for the open-artery hypothesis in survivors of acute myocardial infarction: analysis of 11,228 patients treated with thrombolytic therapy.

We examined the possible benefits of achieving and maintaining infarct-related artery potency beyond the time when preservation of left ventricular function would be expected. The open-artery hypothesis suggests that a patent infarct-related artery confers a survival benefit greater than that expected from myocardial salvage alone, which extends beyond the time when preservation of left ventricular function is expected. We examined the survival experience of patients undergoing thrombolysis in the Global Utilization of Streptokinase and TPA for Occluded Arteries (GUSTO-I) trial for whom data on the potency of the infarct artery were available. Univariable analysis was used to determine the unadjusted relations of angiographic variables and revascularization procedures to both 30-day and 1-year mortality in 30-day survivors. Multivariable analysis was used to test for interactions between patency and each characteristic and to adjust both for all other variables and for baseline characteristics known to predict mortality. In both univariable and multivariable analysis, patients with an open rather than a closed infarct-related artery had significantly lower 30-day mortality (p <0.001). This benefit cannot be accounted for by myocardial salvage alone, because it remained after adjustment for left ventricular ejection fraction. Patency was also associated with lower 1-year mortality in 30-day survivors, but not after adjustment for other variables affecting late mortality. Having an open infarct-related artery at the time of first catheterization confers a survival advantage that extends beyond the benefit of myocardial salvage from thrombolytic therapy, and is independent of ejection fraction.

Aged↗

Risk of distal embolization and infarction with transluminal extraction atherectomy in saphenous vein grafts and native coronary arteries. NACI Investigators. New Approaches to Coronary Interventions.

Lower success rates have been reported when treating high-risk lesions in saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) and native coronary arteries with balloon angioplasty. The transluminal extraction atherectomy catheter (TEC) has been proposed to reduce the incidence of distal embolization (DE) in subsets of high-risk lesions. To define the utility of TEC in reducing the incidence of DE, all patients who were enrolled in the New Approaches to Coronary Interventions (NACI) Registry and had TEC planned as the sole treatment were studied (329 patients with 381 lesions). Of the lesions treated, 75.9% were in SVGs; 37.5% were thrombotic; and 15% were total occlusions. Adjunctive percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was performed in 87.4% of lesions. Multivariate predictors of DE were: noncardiac disease, stand alone TEC, thrombus, and larger vessel size. DE was associated with an 18.5% in-hospital mortality vs. 3.0% without DE (P < 0.01) and a 25.9% MI rate vs. 5.0% without DE (P < 0.01). In conclusion, in this high-risk subset of patients, TEC is associated with an 8.3% incidence of DE with thrombotic and SVGs lesions. DE associated with TEC appears to carry high morbidity and mortality. Additional techniques to control DE are needed to reduce the frequency of complications in these patients.

Aged↗

Diagnosing coronary arterial stent thrombosis and arterial closure.

This single-center review of a consecutive series of patients requiring reexamination by angiography within 1 week of a coronary stent placement due to chest pain reveals that patients treated with a poststent anticoagulation regimen of warfarin and aspirin, and those with lower poststent deployment dilation pressures, have an increased risk of subacute stent thrombosis. Repeat cardiac catheterization within the first week after coronary artery stent implantation should be reserved for patients with significant electrocardiographic changes.

Adult↗

Internal mammary artery graft angioplasty: acute and long-term outcome.

Secondary to the low attrition rate of internal mammary artery grafts, limited data are available on the clinical and angiographic outcome of patients who have undergone balloon angioplasty of an internal mammary artery stenosis. This study examined a consecutive series of 68 patients who underwent balloon angioplasty of an internal mammary artery graft over a 9-year period. Procedural success was achieved in 60 of 68 (88%) patients. The primary reason for procedural failure was extreme vessel tortuosity. There were no major in-hospital complications. Angiographic follow-up was obtained in 78% of the patients with an angiographic restenosis rate of 19%. The overall event-free survival in patients with an initially successful procedure was 92%. In conclusion, internal mammary artery balloon angioplasty has both an excellent initial success rate as well as a low incidence of restenosis and repeat target lesion revascularization.

Aged↗

Neovascularization in atherectomy specimens from patients with unstable angina: implications for pathogenesis of unstable angina.

Although neovascularization has been noted in atherosclerotic plaque, the presence of neovascularization has not been correlated with clinical syndromes. This study examined the relation between neovascularization in atherosclerotic plaque removed during directional coronary atherectomy and clinical status in 28 patients. Neovascularization was determined by immunohistochemistry with endothelial cell-specific monoclonal antibodies and was found in nine (50%) of 18 specimens from patients with unstable angina and in only one (10%) of 10 specimens from patients with stable angina (p < 0.05). There was no significant relation between neovascularization and other clinical factors (age, sex, race, hypertension, diabetes, tobacco use, hypercholesterolemia, positive family history of coronary artery disease, history of myocardial infarction, or stenosis severity). These results suggest that neovoscularization may play a role in the pathogenesis of unstable angina.

Angina Pectoris↗

Predictors of acute and long-term outcome with transluminal extraction atherectomy: the New Approaches to Coronary Intervention (NACI) registry.

The New Approaches to Coronary Intervention (NACI) registry was established to define the role of new coronary devices in overcoming the limitations of balloon angioplasty. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the acute and long-term efficacy of the transluminal extraction catheter (TEC) device utilizing data from the NACI registry and identify clinical and anatomic patient subsets who may benefit from this device. From 1990-1994, >4,300 patients from 39 clinical sites enrolled consecutive patients treated with one of the 7 new devices to the NACI registry. The study population consists of 331 patients (385 lesions) treated with planned TEC as the sole new device. Of these patients, 243 (292 lesions) were treated for saphenous vein graft (SVG) disease and 88 (93 lesions) for native disease. Patients undergoing SVG treatment were older and more likely to be male. They had lower ventricular function, more unstable angina, and a higher incidence of congestive heart failure. Multivessel disease was more prevalent in the SVG cohort, as was evidence of thrombus before treatment. Although device success was achieved in 50% of SVG lesions and 41% of native lesions, lesion success was achieved in 90% and 78%, respectively, after adjunctive balloon angioplasty, and procedure success rates were 86% and 79%, respectively. The in-hospital major complication (death/Q-wave myocardial infarction/emergency coronary artery bypass graft [CABG] surgery) rate was higher in the SVG cohort (6.2% vs 2.3%), mainly due to higher mortality rate (5.3% vs 1.1%). Multivariate analysis showed that SVG was not an independent predictor for either an in-hospital major complication or clinical failure. The risk factors for major in-hospital complications were history of congestive heart failure (odds ratio = 3.17) and thrombus (odds ratio = 3.36). For clinical failure the risk factors were diabetes (odds ratio = 1.88), thrombus (odds ratio = 2.08), and calcium (odds ratio = 3.09). One-year rates of death, Q-wave myocardial infarction, or any repeat revascularization were 51% in the SVG cohort and 41% in the native cohort. Following adjustment, patients treated for SVG disease did not have a higher risk when compared with those treated for native disease. The factors significantly associated with this composite event at 1 year are male (relative risk = 1.41), patients with history of congestive heart failure (relative risk = 1.56), and total occlusions (relative risk = 1.52). This study shows that for both SVG and native cohorts, device success rates were low with TEC alone, but acceptable lesion success rates were achieved when adjunctive PTCA was used. In-hospital as well as 1-year major complications were higher in the SVG cohort. However, after adjusting for other risk factors, SVG attempt was not significantly associated with either in-hospital or 1-year events.

Aged↗

Excimer laser coronary angioplasty: the New Approaches to Coronary Intervention (NACI) experience.

In the New Approaches to Coronary Intervention (NACI) registry, 887 patients were electively treated with excimer laser coronary angioplasty (ELCA) for coronary artery disease. The Advanced Interventional System (AIS) system was used in 487 cases; the Spectranetics system, in 400. The mean age was 63.4 years. Most patients had unstable angina (60.3%); 43.7% had a prior myocardial infarction; and 18.6% were high risk or inoperable patients. Mean ejection fraction was 55.4%. A total of 1,000 lesions were treated in the 887 patients. Of the 1,000 lesions treated with ELCA in the 887 patients, 36% were in the right coronary artery; 33%, left anterior descending; 13%, circumflex; 3%, left main; and 16.6%, vein graft. By angiographic core laboratory analysis available for 752 (85%) patients with 839 lesions, lesions were 12.76 mm long. The minimum lumen diameter increased to 1.29 mm after the laser and finally to 1.95 mm after adjunctive percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) (which was performed in 93% of all lesions), with a final residual stenosis of 32.1% and Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) grade 3 flow in 95%. Dissections of grades B, C, or D were seen after 22.0% of initial laser attempts, and postlaser perforations were noted in 2.6%. Additional such dissections accumulated after adjunctive PTCA but the perforation rate remained low. Procedural success was achieved in 84% of patients, but 1.2% died, 0.7% experienced Q-wave myocardial infarction (MI), and 2.7% required emergency bypass surgery. Multiple logistic regression analysis could not identify any independent predictors of these in-hospital complications. One-year mortality was 5.7% and the cumulative incidence of Q-wave MI was 1.5%. Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery was performed in 15.0% of patients whereas 25.5% required repeat percutaneous intervention with a target lesion revascularization rate of 31%. Independent predictors of death, Q-wave MI, or target lesion revascularization (which, combined, occurred in 35.6% of patients) were the absence of prior MI, ELCA in the circumflex, perforation after the procedure, and small (<2 mm) final minimal lumen diameter. Considering the large number of patients with high-risk lesions, laser angioplasty was performed with excellent procedural success rates and a reasonable incidence of major complications.

Aged↗

Lossy (15:1) JPEG compression of digital coronary angiograms does not limit detection of subtle morphological features.

BACKGROUND: Development of the "all-digital" cardiac catheterization laboratory has been slowed by substantial computer archival and transfer requirements. Lossy data compression reduces this burden but creates irreversible changes in images, potentially impairing detection of clinically important angiographic features. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifty image sequences from 31 interventional procedures were viewed both in the original (uncompressed) state and after 15:1 lossy Joint Photographic Expert's Group (JPEG) compression. Experienced angiographers identified dissections, suspected thrombi, and coronary stents, and their results were compared with those from a consensus panel that served as a "gold standard." The panel and the individual observers reviewed the same image sequences 4 months after the first session to determine intraobserver variability. Intraobserver agreement for original images was not significantly different from that for compressed images (89.8% versus 89.5% for 600 pairs of observations in each group). Agreement of individual observers with the consensus panel was not significantly different for original images from that for compressed images (87.6% versus 87.3%; CIs for the difference, -4.0%, 4.0%). Subgroup analysis for each observer and for each detection task (dissection, suspected thrombus, and stent) revealed no significant difference in agreement. CONCLUSIONS: The identification of dissections, thrombi, and coronary stents is not substantially impaired by the application of 15:1 lossy JPEG compression to digital coronary angiograms. These data suggest that digital angiographic images compressed in this manner are acceptable for clinical decision-making.

Coronary Angiography↗

The natural history of single-vessel chronic coronary occlusion: a 25-year experience.

To determine the natural history of patients with a total occlusion of a single coronary artery, we searched the Duke Databank for Cardiovascular Disease to find all patients who underwent a first coronary angiogram >2 days after a symptomatic myocardial infarction between 1969 and 1994. Patients who underwent angiography >30 days after the acute event had a low risk of death in the first year (3%), and a proximal left anterior descending coronary occlusion did not confer substantially higher risk of death (4%). Patients undergoing angiography <30 days after the acute event had a higher mortality (5%), especially those with proximal left anterior descending occlusion (10%). The time from the acute event to angiography was a predictor of death (p = 0.04). Despite low 1-year mortality rates, patients with total occlusion of an isolated coronary vessel treated medically had substantial mortality, myocardial infarction, and revascularization rates over a long-term follow-up period.

Adult↗

Thrombolytic therapy for patients with prior percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and subsequent acute myocardial infarction. GUSTO-I Investigators. Global Utilization of Streptokinase and t-PA for Occluded Coronary Arteries.

Our purpose was to evaluate the outcomes of patients with prior coronary angioplasty who underwent thrombolysis for new acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the Global Utilization of Streptokinase and t-PA for Occluded Coronary Arteries-I trial. Baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes were compared between patients with (n = 1,647) and without (n = 39,150) previous angioplasty. The relations among prior angioplasty, clinical outcomes, and treatment effects were examined with logistic regression modeling. Patients with previous angioplasty tended to be younger and presented sooner after symptom onset, but had more multivessel disease and lower ejection fractions. Unadjusted mortality was significantly lower in the prior-angioplasty group at 24 hours (1.8% vs 2.7%, p = 0.03) and 30 days (5.6% vs 7.0%, p = 0.036). Although most of the survival advantage was due to low-risk characteristics in this group (lower age and heart rate and fewer anterior wall AMIs), prior angioplasty remained a weak but independent predictor of survival. Recurrent ischemia and reinfarction occurred more often in the prior-angioplasty group, as did bypass surgery (12.2% vs 8.5%) and repeat angioplasty (34.5% vs 21.4%). Patients with prior angioplasty and prior AMI had lower 30-day mortality than those with prior infarction alone (6.3% vs 12.6%, p < 0.01). Treatment effects on 30-day mortality were similar among patients with prior angioplasty (odds ratio 1.2 for accelerated tissue-plasminogen activator v. combined streptokinase arms, 95% confidence interval 0.73 to 1.9). Patients with prior angioplasty who present with AMI have fewer in-hospital adverse events and lower 30-day mortality than those without such a history.

Aged↗

Differential expression of tissue factor protein in directional atherectomy specimens from patients with stable and unstable coronary syndromes.

BACKGROUND: Tissue factor (TF) is a cell membrane-associated protein that catalyzes the rate-limiting step of the extrinsic coagulation pathway, which is the major source of thrombin production in vivo. To explore the potential role that TF may play in ischemic coronary syndromes, directional coronary atherectomy specimens were tested for the presence of TF protein using immunohistochemical techniques. METHODS AND RESULTS: Frozen sections from atherectomy specimens in 61 patients were examined for TF expression using an IgG murine monoclonal antibody against human TF. Patients were classified according to their admission diagnosis as having either an unstable or a stable coronary syndrome. An unstable coronary syndrome was defined as either angina pectoris occurring at rest or post-myocardial infarction (< 1 week) angina. Stable coronary syndromes included patients with stable, progressive, and new-onset (< 6 weeks) angina without rest pain. TF was detected in 15 (43%) of 35 patients with unstable coronary syndromes versus only 3 (12%) of 26 patients with stable coronary syndromes (odds ratio, 5.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.3 to 24.3; P = .018). Within the subgroup of patients with unstable coronary syndromes, TF was detected in 14 (60%) of 25 patients with de novo lesions versus only 1 (10%) of 10 patients with a restenosis lesion (P < .02). An additional 8 patients with stable coronary syndromes due to a restenosis lesion were also negative for TF. Therefore, the overall incidence of TF expression was only 6% (1 of 18) in restenosis lesions compared with 33% (14 of 43) in de novo lesions (P < .03). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the first description of TF protein expression in human coronary artery lesions in vivo. Tissue factor was readily detected in de novo lesions in patients with unstable coronary syndromes, suggesting a role for TF in the pathogenesis of this disease process. Conversely, TF was rarely detected in patients with restenosis lesions even if the resulting clinical presentation was an unstable coronary syndrome. These results may have implications for the management of patients with unstable angina from de novo lesions and patients with ischemic symptoms from a restenosis lesion.

Angina Pectoris↗

Transluminal extraction catheter for the treatment of diseased saphenous vein grafts: a multicenter experience.

To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and long-term results of atherectomy using the Transluminal Extraction catheter (TEC), patients with diseased saphenous vein grafts were enrolled in a prospective nonrandomized trial. Patients were followed to hospital discharge for acute complications and underwent routine 6-mo reevaluation with repeat cardiac catheterization to assess restenosis. Atherectomy was performed on 650 graft lesions in 538 consecutive patients (male 81%; mean age 66 yr; range 37-81). Mean graft age was 8.3 yr; (range 0.3-20) with 85% of grafts > 3 yr of age. Complex lesion morphology included thrombus (28%), ulceration (13%), and eccentricity (50%). Lesion success was achieved in 606 lesions (93%) with clinical success in 479 patients (89%). Lesion success was achieved in 90% of thrombus containing lesions, 97% of ulcerated lesions, and 97% of grafts > 3 yr. Complications included nonfatal myocardial infarction in 4 (0.7%) of patients, emergency bypass surgery in 2 (0.41%), and in-hospital death in 17 patients (3.2%). Angiographic follow-up at 6 mo was obtained from 268 lesions in 227 patients. The overall lesion angiographic restenosis rate was 60%. TEC atherectomy can be performed in patients with diseased saphenous vein grafts with high primary success and low complication rates. It is suitable for use in aged grafts, particularly in the presence of thrombus and ulcerations, and may be superior to balloon angioplasty alone in this group of patients.

Adult↗