Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P de Jaegere

Publications and source records attributed to P de Jaegere.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Management and outcome of patients with established coronary artery disease: the Euro Heart Survey on coronary revascularization.

AIMS: The purpose of the Euro Heart Survey Programme of the European Society of Cardiology is to evaluate to which extent clinical practice endorses existing guidelines as well as to identify differences in population profiles, patient management, and outcome across Europe. The current survey focuses on the invasive diagnosis and treatment of patients with established coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS AND RESULTS: Between November 2001 and March 2002, 7769 consecutive patients undergoing invasive evaluation at 130 hospitals (31 countries) were screened for the presence of one or more coronary stenosis >50% in diameter. Patient demographics and comorbidity, clinical presentation, invasive parameters, treatment options, and procedural techniques were prospectively entered in an electronic database (550 variables+29 per diseased coronary segment). Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were evaluated at 30 days and 1 year. Out of 5619 patients with angiographically proven coronary stenosis (72% of screened population), 53% presented with stable angina while ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) was the indication for coronary angiography in 16% and non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction or unstable angina in 30%. Only medical therapy was continued in 21%, whereas mechanical revascularization was performed in the remainder [percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in 58% and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in 21%]. Patients referred for PCI were younger, were more active, had a lower risk profile, and had less comorbid conditions. CABG was performed mostly in patients with left main lesions (21%), two- (25%), or three-vessel disease (67%) with 4.1 diseased segments, on average. Single-vessel PCI was performed in 82% of patients with either single- (45%), two- (33%), or three-vessel disease (21%). Stents were used in 75% of attempted lesions, with a large variation between sites. Direct PCI for STEMI was performed in 410 cases, representing 7% of the entire workload in the participating catheterization laboratories. Time delay was within 90 min in 76% of direct PCI cases. In keeping with the recommendations of practice guidelines, the survey identified under-use of adjunctive medication (GP IIb/IIIa receptor blockers, statins, and angiotensin-converting enzyme-inhibitors). Mortality rates at 30 days and 1 year were low in all subgroups. MACE primarily consisted of repeat PCI (12%). CONCLUSION: The current Euro Heart Survey on coronary revascularization was performed in the era of bare metal stenting and provides a global European picture of the invasive approach to patients with CAD. These data will serve as a benchmark for the future evaluation of the impact of drug-eluting stents on the practice of interventional cardiology and bypass surgery.

Angina, Unstable↗

Randomized comparison of coronary stent implantation under ultrasound or angiographic guidance to reduce stent restenosis (OPTICUS Study).

BACKGROUND: Observational studies in selected patients have shown remarkably low restenosis rates after ultrasound-guided stent implantation. However, it is unknown whether this implantation strategy improves long-term angiographic and clinical outcome in routine clinical practice. Methods and Results-- A total of 550 patients with a symptomatic coronary lesion or silent ischemia were randomly assigned to either ultrasound-guided or angiography-guided implantation of </=2 tubular stents. The primary end points were angiographic dichotomous restenosis rate, minimal lumen diameter, and percent diameter stenosis after 6 months as determined by quantitative coronary angiography. Secondary end points were the occurrence rates of major adverse cardiac events (death, myocardial infarction, coronary bypass surgery, and repeat percutaneous intervention) after 6 and 12 months of follow-up. At 6 months, repeat angiography revealed no significant differences between the groups with ultrasound- or angiography-guided stent implantation with respect to dichotomous restenosis rate (24.5% versus 22.8%, P=0.68), minimal lumen diameter (1.95+/-0.72 mm versus 1.91+/-0.68 mm, P=0.52), and percent diameter stenosis (34.8+/-20.6% versus 36.8+/-19.6%, P=0.29), respectively. At 12 months, neither major adverse cardiac events (relative risk, 1.07; 95% CI 0.75 to 1.52; P=0.71) nor repeat percutaneous interventions (relative risk 1.04; 95% CI 0.64 to 1.67; P=0.87) were reduced in the ultrasound-guided group. CONCLUSIONS: This study does not support the routine use of ultrasound guidance for coronary stenting. Angiography-guided optimization of tubular stents can be performed with comparable angiographic and clinical long-term results.

Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation↗

Coronary radiation therapy with liquid rhenium-186: a first clinical experience.

BACKGROUND: Coronary radiation therapy (CRT) is a new, attractive approach for the treatment and prevention of restenosis after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). The RadioCath device consists of a standard balloon dilatation catheter that can be charged with a solution of sodium 186Re perrhenate, a predominant beta emitter. The safety and performance of this new device was evaluated in a pilot trial. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-three patients with a de novo lesion in a native coronary artery were treated with the RadioCath device after successful angioplasty. The average dwell time to deliver a dose of 20 Gy at 0.5 mm into the vessel wall was 418+/-64 seconds. The treatment was well tolerated by most of the patients. In 79%, only one inflation cycle was required to deliver the prescribed dose. There were two procedural device-related complications (5.9%) and three minor procedural related in-hospital complications (9%). CONCLUSIONS: CRT using a balloon catheter device, charged with a sodium 186Re perrhenate solution, seems feasible and safe. Clinical and angiographic 6-month follow-up data are pending.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗

Coronary-artery stenting compared with balloon angioplasty for restenosis after initial balloon angioplasty. Restenosis Stent Study Group.

BACKGROUND: Intracoronary stenting reduces the rate of restenosis after angioplasty in patients with new coronary lesions. We conducted a prospective, randomized, multicenter study to determine whether intracoronary stenting, as compared with standard balloon angioplasty, reduces the recurrence of luminal narrowing in restenotic lesions. METHODS: A total of 383 patients who had undergone at least one balloon angioplasty and who had clinical and angiographic evidence of restenosis after the procedure were randomly assigned to undergo standard balloon angioplasty (192 patients) or intracoronary stenting with a Palmaz-Schatz stent (191 patients). The primary end point was angiographic evidence of restenosis (defined as stenosis of more than 50 percent of the luminal diameter) at six months. The secondary end points were death, Q-wave myocardial infarction, bypass surgery, and revascularization of the target vessel. RESULTS: The rate of restenosis was significantly higher in the angioplasty group than in the stent group (32 percent as compared with 18 percent, P= 0.03). Revascularization of the target vessel at six months was required in 27 percent of the angioplasty group but in only 10 percent of the stent group (P=0.001). This difference resulted from a smaller mean (+/-SD) minimal luminal diameter in the angioplasty group (1.85+/-0.56 mm) than in the stent group (2.04+/-0.66 mm), with a mean difference of 0.19 mm (P=0.01) at follow-up. Subacute thrombosis occurred in 0.6 percent of the angioplasty group and in 3.9 percent of the stent group. The rate of event-free survival at 250 days was 72 percent in the angioplasty group and 84 percent in the stent group (P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Elective coronary stenting was effective in the treatment of restenosis after balloon angioplasty. Stenting resulted in a lower rate of recurrent stenosis despite a higher incidence of subacute thrombosis.

Aged↗

Intravascular ultrasound-guided optimized stent deployment. Immediate and 6 months clinical and angiographic results from the Multicenter Ultrasound Stenting in Coronaries Study (MUSIC Study)

OBJECTIVES: A study was set up to validate the safety and feasibility of intravascular ultrasound-guided stenting without subsequent anticoagulation, and its impact on the 6 months restenosis rate. METHODS: The study was designed to be multicentred, prospective, and observational. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-one patients with stable angina and a de novo coronary artery lesion were enrolled. In four patients, the implantation of a Palmaz-Schatz (with spiral bridge) stent had failed. One of these four patients died 3 days following bypass surgery. In two other patients, intravascular ultrasound assessment was not performed. One hundred and twenty-five of the remaining 155 patients (81%) were treated with aspirin (100 mg x day(-1)), because all three criteria for optimized stent expansion were met. Twenty-two of the remaining 38 patients (25%), in whom at least one criterion was not met were treated with aspirin and acenocoumarol (3 months, INR 2.5-3.5), while 16 patients only received aspirin. Stent thrombosis was documented in two patients (1.3%) for which repeat angioplasty was performed. During the hospital stay, there were no deaths or Q-wave myocardial infarctions. Five patients (3.2%) sustained a non-Q-wave myocardial infarction. During the follow-up period (198+/-38 days, complete for all patients, except one), one patient (0.6%) sustained a Q-wave myocardial infarction, one (0.6%) underwent bypass surgery, and repeat angioplasty was performed in nine patients (5.7%). In two of the nine patients, repeat angioplasty involved another lesion. Therefore, the target lesion revascularization rate during follow-up was 4.5% (seven patients). At quantitative coronary angiography, the minimal lumen diameter (mean+/-SD) increased from 1.12+/-0.34 mm before to 2.89+/-0.35 mm after stenting. Repeat angiography at 6 months was performed in 144 patients (92%). The minimal lumen diameter at follow-up was 2.12+/-0.67 mm. Restenosis (diameter stenosis of 50% or more) was documented in 12 patients or 8.3%. When the two patients with documented stent thrombosis are included, the restenosis rate amounts to 97%. CONCLUSIONS: These data confirm that, in selected patients, stents can safely be implanted without the use of systemic anticoagulation, provided optimal stent expansion is achieved. The exact role of intravascular ultrasound in the achievement of these results needs to be established by appropriately designed studies. In the meantime, intravascular ultrasound coupled with the Palmaz-Schatz stent incorporating a spiral bridge, may have contributed considerably to the immediate angiographic outcome, which in turn may explain the favourable clinical and angiographic outcome at 6 months.

Aged↗

Heparin-coated Palmaz-Schatz stents in human coronary arteries. Early outcome of the Benestent-II Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the Benestent-II Pilot Study was to evaluate the safety of delaying and eliminating anticoagulant therapy in patients receiving a heparin-coated stent in conjunction with antiplatelet drugs. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study consisted of three initial phases (I, II, III) during which resumption of heparin therapy after sheath removal was progressively deferred by 6, 12, and 36 hours. In phase IV, coumadin and heparin were replaced by 250 mg ticlopidine and 100 mg aspirin. Of the 207 patients with stable angina pectoris and a de novo lesion in whom heparin-coated stent implantation was attempted, implantation was successful in 202 patients (98%). Stent thrombosis did not occur during all four phases, and the overall clinical success rate at discharge was 99%. Bleeding complications requiring blood transfusion or surgery fell from 7.9% in phase I to 5.9%, 4%, and 0% in the three following phases. Hospital stay was 7.4, 6.1, 7.2, and 3.1 days for the consecutive phases. The restenosis rate for the combined four phases was 13% (15% in phase I, 20% in phase II, 11% in phase III, and 6% in phase IV). The overall rate of reintervention for the four phases was 8.9%. At 6 months, 84%, 75%, 94%, and 92% of the patients of phases I to IV, respectively, were event free. For the four phases, the event-free rate was 86%, which compares favorably with the rate observed in the Benestent-I study (80%; relative risk, 0.68 [0.45 to 1.04]). CONCLUSIONS: The implantation of stents coated with polyamine and end-point-attached heparin in stable patients with one significant de novo coronary lesion is well tolerated, is associated with no (sub)acute stent thrombosis, and results in a favorable event-free survival after 6 months.

Aspirin↗

Clinical and angiographic outcome of elective stent implantation in small coronary vessels: an analysis of the BENESTENT trial.

We examined the influence of vessel size using an intention-to-treat approach in 259 patients who underwent stent implantation and in 257 patients who underwent balloon angioplasty alone in the BENESTENT trial. In the stented population, smaller vessel size was associated with a higher stent:vessel ratio, a greater relative gain and a greater subsequent loss index, and a higher risk of adverse cardiac events. In the balloon angioplasty population small vessel size conveyed an increased requirement for revascularization but did not increase the risk of procedural failure or myocardial infarction during follow-up. Logistic regression indicated that decreasing vessel size (as a continous variable) was associated with an increasing risk of a cardiac event for both the stent and balloon angioplasty populations.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗

Quantitative assessment with intracoronary ultrasound of the mechanisms of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and directional coronary atherectomy.

The mechanisms of immediate and late changes after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) were assessed by serial ultrasound imaging in 18 patients treated with PTCA and 16 treated with DCA before, immediately after, and 6 months after coronary interventions. A reduction in plaque area was the main operative mechanism of DCA, explaining 66% of lumen enlargement. In the PTCA group, the increase in lumen area was the result of a more balanced combination of plaque reduction (52% of lumen increase) and increase in total lumen area (48%); p < 0.05 versus DCA. In the PTCA group, this last mechanism was prevalent (p < 0.05) in the lesions showing wall fracture or dissection after treatment and in the lesions with a mixed or calcific composition. In the PTCA group, concentric lesions showed a greater plaque compression than eccentric lesions (p < 0.02). Plaque increase was responsible for 92% and 32% of the late lumen loss after DCA and after PTCA, respectively (p < 0.05). In PTCA patients, a chronic reduction in total vessel area was the main operative mechanism of lumen reduction (67%) and was prevalent in lesions with a mixed or calcific composition. (p < 0.05).

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗

Acute and long-term outcome of directional coronary atherectomy for stable and unstable angina.

The clinical efficacy and safety of directional coronary atherectomy for the treatment of stable and unstable angina were assessed in 82 patients with stable and 68 patients with unstable angina. Therefore, clinical and angiographic follow-up was obtained in a prospectively collected consecutive series of 150 atherectomy procedures. Restenosis was assessed clinically and by quantitative angiography. The overall clinical success rate of atherectomy for patients with unstable and stable angina was 88% and 91%, respectively. No significant differences were found for in-hospital event rates between the unstable and stable angina groups: death (1.5% vs 0%), myocardial infarction (10% vs 6%), and emergency bypass operation (3% vs 2%). These clinical events were related to the occurrence of abrupt occlusions (8.8% in patients with stable and 6.1% in those with unstable angina; p = NS). Clinical follow-up was achieved in 100% of the patients with stable and unstable angina at a mean interval of 923 and 903 days, respectively. Two-year survival rates were 96% and 97% in the populations with unstable and stable angina, respectively. There were no significant differences with respect to bypass surgery and angioplasty, but event-free survival at 2 years was significantly lower in the unstable (54%) than the stable (69%) angina group. Quantitative coronary angiography did not detect any difference in luminal renarrowing during the 6-month angiographic follow-up period. Although directional coronary atherectomy can be performed effectively in patients with unstable and stable angina, the long-term clinical outcome was less favorable in the unstable angina group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

A comparison of balloon-expandable-stent implantation with balloon angioplasty in patients with coronary artery disease. Benestent Study Group.

BACKGROUND: Balloon-expandable coronary-artery stents were developed to prevent coronary restenosis after coronary angioplasty. These devices hold coronary vessels open at sites that have been dilated. However, it is unknown whether stenting improves long-term angiographic and clinical outcomes as compared with standard balloon angioplasty. METHODS: A total of 520 patients with stable angina and a single coronary-artery lesion were randomly assigned to either stent implantation (262 patients) or standard balloon angioplasty (258 patients). The primary clinical end points were death, the occurrence of a cerebrovascular accident, myocardial infarction, the need for coronary-artery bypass surgery, or a second percutaneous intervention involving the previously treated lesion, either at the time of the initial procedure or during the subsequent seven months. The primary angiographic end point was the minimal luminal diameter at follow-up, as determined by quantitative coronary angiography. RESULTS: After exclusions, 52 patients in the stent group (20 percent) and 76 patients in the angioplasty group (30 percent) reached a primary clinical end point (relative risk, 0.68; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.50 to 0.92; P = 0.02). The difference in clinical-event rates was explained mainly by a reduced need for a second coronary angioplasty in the stent group (relative risk, 0.58; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.40 to 0.85; P = 0.005). The mean (+/- SD) minimal luminal diameters immediately after the procedure were 2.48 +/- 0.39 mm in the stent group and 2.05 +/- 0.33 mm in the angioplasty group; at follow-up, the diameters were 1.82 +/- 0.64 mm in the stent group and 1.73 +/- 0.55 mm in the angioplasty group (P = 0.09), which correspond to rates of restenosis (diameter of stenosis, > or = 50 percent) of 22 and 32 percent, respectively (P = 0.02). Peripheral vascular complications necessitating surgery, blood transfusion, or both were more frequent after stenting than after balloon angioplasty (13.5 vs. 3.1 percent, P < 0.001). The mean hospital stay was significantly longer in the stent group than in the angioplasty group (8.5 vs. 3.1 days, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Over seven months of follow-up, the clinical and angiographic outcomes were better in patients who received a stent than in those who received standard coronary angioplasty. However, this benefit was achieved at the cost of a significantly higher risk of vascular complications at the access site and a longer hospital stay.

Angina Pectoris↗

Recoil following Wiktor stent implantation for restenotic lesions of coronary arteries.

The purpose of this study was to determine acute recoil of the vessel wall immediately after Wiktor stent implantation in native coronary arteries of 77 consecutive patients and to assess whether there was compression or "late recoil" of the stent itself at long-term follow-up. Furthermore, the relationship between recoil and a number of clinical, angiographic, and procedural variables was studied in addition to the relation between acute recoil renarrowing or restenosis was assessed. All angiograms were analyzed with the Cardiovascular Angiography Analysis System using automated edge detection. Acute recoil was defined by the difference between the mean diameter of the fully expanded balloon on which the stent was mounted and the mean diameter of the stented segment. Late recoil was calculated by comparing the mean diameter of the stent itself immediately after implantation and at follow-up without opacification of the vessel. Acute recoil amounted to 0.25 +/- 0.32 mm or 8.2%. Multivariate analysis identified sex (coefficient = -0.20, p = 0.04) and stent/artery ratio (coefficient = 0.99, p = 0.0001) as the only independent predictors of acute recoil. "Late recoil" of the stent itself was not observed. The overall difference between the mean diameter of the stent itself immediately after implantation and at follow-up was -0.15 +/- 0.33 mm, suggesting an overall increase in diameter of 5.0%. There was no relation between acute recoil and late restenosis. On the contrary, there was a trend towards a greater degree of recoil in patients without restenosis. Moreover, linear regression analysis disclosed a weak but negative correlation between acute recoil and a loss in minimal luminal diameter (coefficient: -0.55, p = 0.04). The Wiktor stent effectively scaffolds the instrumented vessel. Only a minimal amount of acute recoil was noted, which did not contribute to late luminal renarrowing or restenosis. In addition, no late compression of the stent itself was observed. These data suggest that tissue ingrowth into the lumen of the stented segment is the main cause of late luminal renarrowing after stent implantation.

Aged↗

Response of conductance and resistance coronary vessels to scalar concentrations of acetylcholine: assessment with quantitative angiography and intracoronary Doppler echography in 29 patients with coronary artery disease.

Abnormal vasoreactivity of the large conductance arteries has been observed in the presence of impaired endothelial function. More recently, experimental and clinical reports have shown that in early coronary atherosclerosis the impairment of the endothelium-mediated vasodilatation also involves the resistance arteries. The aim of this study is the correlation of endothelium-dependent vasodilatation of conductance and resistance vessels in coronary arteries without significant stenoses. In 29 patients (aged 57 +/- 9 years, 24 men and 5 women) undergoing coronary angioplasty, a Doppler guide wire and a perfusion catheter were introduced into the proximal segment of an artery with less than 30% diameter stenosis. Selective infusions of papaverine (bolus of 7 mg), acetylcholine (continuous infusion of 0.036, 0.36, and 3.6 micrograms/ml at a flow rate of 2 ml/min), and isosorbide dinitrate (bolus of 3 mg) were sequentially performed. Heart rate, aortic blood pressure, and blood flow velocity were continuously measured. Mean cross-sectional areas of a proximal and a distal arterial segment were measured in baseline conditions, at the end of each infusion of acetylcholine, and at the peak effect of isosorbide dinitrate with quantitative angiography (CAAS System; Pie Medical Data, Maastricht, The Netherlands). Coronary blood flow was calculated from the time-averaged flow velocity and the cross-sectional area at the site of the Doppler sample volume. Coronary flow resistance was calculated as mean aortic pressure divided by coronary flow. All of the concentrations of acetylcholine induced a significant vasoconstriction of the studied artery. At the maximal concentration of acetylcholine all but three patients (90%) showed a reduction of cross-sectional area (-24% +/- 20% and -22% +/- 20% for the proximal and distal segments, respectively, p < 0.00001). Flow velocity showed a significant increase only with the two highest concentrations of acetylcholine. The maximal concentration induced a 105% +/- 138% increase from the baseline flow velocity (p < 0.001). The coronary flow changes after acetylcholine showed a large interpatient variability, with a mean increase from baseline after the highest dose of +43% +/- 85% (range, -60% +/- 239%), with the presence of a flow reduction in 10 patients (35%). No clinical or angiographic variables showed a significant correlation with the cross-sectional area, flow velocity, and flow changes after infusion of acetylcholine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Acetylcholine↗

Clinical and angiographic outcome following implantation of the new Less Shortening Wallstent in aortocoronary vein grafts: introduction of a second generation stent in the clinical arena.

One of the factors felt to have contributed to the high rate of stent occlusion in the European registry of the coronary Wallstent in the 1980s was the frequent deployment of more than one stent to cover the target lesion. This resulted from a high degree of shortening of the Wallstent upon expansion. To overcome this limitation the design of the Wallstent was modified to reduce the degree of shortening. We report the results of a study of the first patients to undergo implantation of the new Less Shortening Wallstent. Thirty-five Wallstents were electively deployed in aortocoronary vein grafts in 29 patients. Stent deployment was successful in 35 of 36 attempts in 30 lesions. In five of the 30 lesions, a second stent was required to cover the proximal portion of the lesion. Angiographic success (< 50% residual diameter stenosis as determined by off-line quantitative coronary angiography) was achieved in all 29 patients. During the in-hospital phase, no major adverse cardiac event occurred (reintervention, re-CABG, myocardial infarction, or death) and five patients had hemorrhagic complications. Following hospital discharge, one patient had a subacute stent occlusion associated with symptoms and elevated cardiac enzymes at 11 days, another patient had symptoms and elevated cardiac enzymes (CK 300 U/I) at 22 days with a patent stent, five patients required balloon angioplasty within the 6 month follow-up period (four for restenosis and one for stent occlusion), one patient underwent re-CABG for a native artery stenosis distal to the anastomosis of the patent stented vein graft.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗

Structural design, clinical experience, and current indications of the coronary Wallstent.

Based on data described previously, the wallstent is a versatile stent that, by virtue of its longitudinal flexibility and low profile, can be deployed with a high degree of success in complex lesions of both native coronary arteries and bypass vein grafts. This article discusses its structural design, the experimental studies of thrombogenicity and polymeric coating, early and late clinical experience with the wallstent, clinical evaluation of the less shortening wallstent, and the current indications of the coronary wallstent

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

Angiographic predictors of recurrence of restenosis after Wiktor stent implantation in native coronary arteries.

Intracoronary stenting has been proposed as an adjunct to balloon angioplasty to improve the immediate and long-term results. However, late luminal narrowing has been reported following the implantation of a variety of stents. One of the studies conducted with the Wiktor stent is a prospective registry designed to evaluate the feasibility, safety and efficacy of elective stent implantation in patients with documented restenosis of a native coronary artery. To identify angiographic variables predicting recurrence of restenosis, the angiograms of the first 91 patients with successful stent implantation and without clinical evidence of (sub)acute thrombotic stent occlusion were analyzed with the Computer Assisted Angiographic Analysis System using automated edge detection. The incidence of restenosis was 44% by patient and 45% by stent according to the 0.72 mm criterion, and 30% by patient and 29% by stent according to the 50% diameter stenosis criterion. The risk for restenosis for several angiographic variables was determined using an univariate analysis and is expressed as odds ratio with corresponding confidence interval. The only statistically significant predictor of restenosis was the relative gain when it exceeded 0.48 using the 0.72 mm criterion (odds ratio 2.7, 95% confidence interval 1.1-6.4). Furthermore, the relation between the relative gain (increase in minimal luminal diameter normalized to vessel size) as angiographic index of vessel wall injury and relative loss (decrease in minimal luminal diameter normalized to vessel size) as index of neointimal thickening was analyzed using a linear regression analysis. When using the categorical approach to address restenosis, there is an increased risk for recurrent restenosis when the relative gain exceeds 0.48. The continuous approach underscores this concept by indicating a weak but positive relation between the relative gain and relative loss.

Aged↗

Intracoronary pressure and flow velocity with sensor-tip guidewires: a new methodologic approach for assessment of coronary hemodynamics before and after coronary interventions.

The use of miniaturized pressure and velocity sensors mounted on angioplasty guidewires allows the simultaneous measurement of coronary blood flow velocity and transstenotic pressure gradient, 2 parameters that, combined, should perfectly characterize stenosis hemodynamics. The aim of this article is assessment of the changes in coronary blood flow velocity observed with a Doppler-tipped angioplasty guidewire in 35 patients undergoing balloon angioplasty. We also report our initial experience in 16 patients with the combined use of sensor-tip pressure and Doppler guidewires, and we discuss the application of new methodologic approaches for the study of the coronary circulation allowed by these techniques, such as the instantaneous assessment of the flow velocity/pressure and pressure gradient/flow velocity relations. Before and after angioplasty, flow velocity measurements were obtained distal to the stenosis, both in baseline conditions and after intracoronary injection of 8-12.5 mg of papaverine. The Doppler guidewire was left in place during the dilation procedure and the Doppler signal was continuously recorded during balloon inflation and after deflation to monitor the development of collateral flow, the restoration of flow after balloon deflation, the phase of postocclusive reactive hyperemia, and, incidently, the development of flow-limiting complications. Merits and pitfalls of several flow velocity parameters (average peak velocity, coronary flow velocity reserve, diastolic/systolic velocity ratio), as well as of parameters derived from the combination of pressure and velocity measurements (transstenotic pressure gradient/flow velocity relation and instantaneous diastolic hyperemic flow velocity/pressure relation) were evaluated in 35 patients with, and 37 without, significant coronary stenoses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗