Comment by Cardiologists posted on LinkedIn’s
European Cardiovascular Medical Devices Group, a subgroup of Cardiovascular Medical Devices Group
on Stenting for Proximal LAD Lesions: In Reference to the Invasive Procedure performed on former President George W. Bush
UPDATED on 8/7/2018
Long-Term Outcomes of Stenting the Proximal LAD
Study Questions:
What are the outcomes of patients undergoing drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation according to lesion location within or outside the proximal left anterior descending (LAD) artery?
Methods:
Among the 8,709 patients enrolled in PROTECT (Patient Related Outcomes With Endeavor Versus Cypher Stenting Trial), a multicenter percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) trial, the investigators compared the outcomes of 2,534 patients (29.1%; 3,871 lesions [31.5%]) with stents implanted in the proximal LAD with 6,172 patients (70.9%; 8,419 lesions [68.5%]) with stents implanted outside the proximal LAD. For each event, a multivariate model was constructed that examined the effect of several individual baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics, including proximal LAD target lesion, on outcomes (i.e., MACE [major adverse cardiac events], target vessel failure [TVF], and myocardial infarction [MI]).
Results:
At 4-year follow-up, death rates were the same (5.8% vs. 5.8%; p > 0.999), but more MIs occurred in the proximal LAD group (6.2% vs. 4.9%; p = 0.015). The rates of clinically driven TVF (14.8% vs. 13.5%; p = 0.109), MACE (15.0% vs. 13.7%; hazard ratio, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.97-1.31; p = 0.139), and stent thrombosis (2.1% vs. 2.0%; p = 0.800) were similar. DES type had no interaction with MACE or TVF. In multivariate analysis, the proximal LAD was a predictor for MI (p = 0.038), but not for TVF (p = 0.149) or MACE (p = 0.069).
Conclusions:
The authors concluded that proximal LAD location was associated with higher rates of MI during the long-term follow-up, but there were no differences in stent thrombosis, death, TVF, or overall MACE.
Perspective:
This post hoc analysis of a prospective, multicenter study reports no difference in the rates of death, MACE, or TVF at 4 years according to intervention at a proximal LAD or nonproximal LAD lesion. The occurrence of the predefined primary endpoint of stent thrombosis was also not dependent on whether a proximal LAD or nonproximal LAD site was treated. However, of note, stenting of proximal LAD lesions was associated with significantly higher rates of MI compared with stenting of nonproximal LAD lesions. Overall, these findings appear to suggest that proximal LAD lesions may not have additional risk in the contemporary DES era, but the higher risk of MI needs to be studied further. Future studies should compare longer-term clinical outcomes between proximal LAD PCI with DES and minimally invasive left internal mammary artery to LAD.
SOURCE
Stenting for Proximal LAD Lesions
Curator: Aviva Lev-Ari, PhD, RN
Michael Reinhardt • First, the media really should not be calling this “stent surgery” its a stent procedure just ask any post-CABG patient… Anyway it really is not possible to determine whether or not is was “unnecessary” without all the relevant patient data; which coronary vessel(s) involved, percent stenosis, etc. Actually I find it interesting that they apparently decided to stent the former president on the basis of a CT Angiogram which is not the standard of care for coronary imaging. I have to assume they performed an additional testing like a CT perfusion analysis and saw a clinically relevant defect and this support the decision to stent. Regarding the post-stent drugs cloplidigrel is not a benign drug but benefits far outweigh the downside of a sub-acute thrombosis which might result in a more serious future event = acute MI.
Rafael Beyar • This was absolutely an indicated procedure and almost all rational physician will treat a young patient with proximal LAD lesions with either a stent or bypass surgery
Dov V Shimon MD • No doubt! Proximal (‘close to origin’) LAD lesions are the leading “Widow makers”. Reestablishing of flow in the artery is saving from cardiac damage and death. Drug eluting stent have 2nd and 3rd generations with very low and acceptable reclosure rates and almost no abrupt closure (thrombosis). True, CTA is a screening test, but it astablishes the need for diagnostic and therapeutic angiogram. We, heart surgeons can provide long-term patency to the LAD using LIMA arterial bypass. The current advantage of stent is the incovenience and pain of surgery. Any responsible physician would opt the procedure even for himself, his relatives , his patients and for definitely for GW Bush.
Coronary anatomy and anomalies
On the left an overview of the coronary arteries in the anterior projection.
Coronary anatomy and anomalies
- Left Main or left coronary artery (LCA)
- Left anterior descending (LAD)
- diagonal branches (D1, D2)
- septal branches
- Circumflex (Cx)
- Marginal branches (M1,M2)
- Left anterior descending (LAD)
- Right coronary artery
- Acute marginal branch (AM)
- AV node branch
- Posterior descending artery (PDA)
On the left an overview of the coronary arteries in the lateral projection.
- Left Main or left coronary artery (LCA)
- Left anterior descending (LAD)
- diagonal branches (D1, D2)
- septal branches
- Circumflex (Cx)
- Marginal branches (M1,M2)
- Left anterior descending (LAD)
- Right coronary artery
- Acute marginal branch (AM)
- AV node branch
- Posterior descending artery (PDA)
Isolated high-grade lesion of the proximal LAD: a stent or off-pump LIMA?
Source
Thoraxcentre, Groningen University Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
The objective of this study was to compare the long-term outcome of patients with an isolated high-grade stenosis of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery randomized to percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty with stenting (PCI, stenting) or to off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (surgery).
METHODS:
Patients with an isolated high-grade stenosis (American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association classification type B2/C) of the proximal LAD were randomly assigned to stenting (n=51) or to surgery (n=51) and were followed for 3-5 years (mean 4 years). Primary composite endpoint was freedom from major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs), including cardiac death, myocardial infarction, stroke and repeat target vessel revascularization. Secondary endpoints were angina pectoris status and need for anti-anginal medication at follow-up. Analysis was by intention to treat.
RESULTS:
MACCEs occurred in 27.5% after stenting and 9.8% after surgery (P=0.02; absolute risk reduction 17.7%). Freedom from angina pectoris was 67% after stenting and 85% after surgery (P=0.036). Need for anti-anginal medication was significantly lower after surgery compared to stenting (P=0.002).
CONCLUSION:
Patients with an isolated high-grade lesion of the proximal LAD have a significantly better 4-year clinical outcome after off-pump coronary bypass grafting than after PCI.
Was George Bush’s stent surgery really unnecessary?
By Deborah Kotz / Globe Staff
Ever since President George W. Bush had stent surgery last Tuesday to open a blocked artery, leading physicians who weren’t involved in his care have wondered publically why he had this “unnecessary” procedure. Large clinical trials have demonstrated that stent placement doesn’t extend lives or prevent a future heart attack or stroke in those with stable heart disease.
What’s more, Bush could wind up with complications like a reblockage where the stent was placed or excessive bruising or internal bleeding from the blood thinners that he must take likely for the next year.
Dr Richard Besser, the chief medical correspondent for ABC News, questioned why Bush had an exercise stress test as part of his routine physical exam given that he had no symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath. The stress test indicated signs of an artery blockage.
“In people who are not having symptoms, the American Heart Association says you should not do a stress test,” Besser said, “since the value of opening that artery is to relieve the symptoms.”
Cleveland Clinic cardiologist Dr. Steve Nissen agreed in his interview with USA Today. Bush, he said, likely “got the classical thing that happens to VIP patients, when they get so-called executive physicals and they get a lot of tests that aren’t indicated. This is American medicine at its worst.”
Two physicians wrote in an Washington Post op-ed column titled “President Bush’s unnecessary surgery” that they worry that the media coverage of Bush’s stent will lead “patients to pressure their own doctors for unwarranted and excessive care.”
But none of these doctors actually treated Bush or examined his medical records, so I’m a little surprised they’re making such firm calls.
Bush, an avid biker who recently completed a 100-kilometer ride, probably shouldn’t have had the exercise stress test if he wasn’t having any heart symptoms. “Routine stress testing used to be done 20 years ago, but isn’t recommended any longer since it doesn’t have any benefit,” said Brigham and Women’s cardiologist Dr. Christopher Cannon.
But Bush’s spokesman insisted the stent was necessary after followup heart imaging via a CT angiogram “confirmed a blockage that required opening.”
Cannon said Bush’s doctors may have seen signs that blood flow wasn’t getting to a significant part of the heart muscle, a condition known as ischemia. Researchers have found that those with moderate to severe ischemia appear to experience a reduction in fatal heart attacks when they have a stent placement along with medical therapy, rather than just taking medications alone. (Larger studies, though, are needed to confirm this finding.)
“If a blockage occurs at the very start of the artery and it’s extensive—95 percent blocked—then chances are it will cause significant ischemia,” Cannon said. While severe ischemia usually causes light-headedness or dizziness during exercise, Bush may have had more moderate ischemia that didn’t cause such symptoms.
It’s impossible to know for certain, he added, without seeing his medical records firsthand.
President Bush’s unnecessary heart surgery
Vinay Prasad is chief fellow of medical oncology at the National Cancer Institute and the National Institutes of Health. Adam Cifu is a professor of medicine at the University of Chicago.
Former president George W. Bush, widely regarded as a model of physical fitness, received a coronary artery stent on Tuesday. Few facts are known about the case, but what is known suggests the procedure was unnecessary.
Before he underwent his annual physical, Mr. Bush reportedly had no symptoms. Quite the opposite: His exercise tolerance was astonishing for his age, 67. He rode more than 30 miles in the heat on a bike ride for veterans injured in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Instead, George W. Bush will have to take two blood thinners, aspirin and Plavix, for at least a month and probably a year. (The amount of time a blood thinner is needed depends on the type of stent placed). While he takes these medications, he will have a higher risk of bleeding complications with no real benefit.
Although this may seem like an issue important only to the former president, consider the following: Although the price of excessive screening of so-called VIPs is usually paid for privately, follow-up tests, only “necessary” because of the initial unnecessary screening test, are usually paid for by Medicare, further stressing our health-care system. The media coverage of interventions like Mr. Bush’s also leads patients to pressure their own doctors for unwarranted and excessive care.