Outcomes among patients with coronary bifurcation lesions undergoing Impella-supported high-risk percutaneous

Aneel S Maini1, Arsalan Abu-Much2, Björn Redfors3

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX; Cardiovascular Research Center, New York, NY.

PubMed

Insights

Impella support in high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for coronary bifurcation lesions (CBLs) did not increase complications. Patients with CBLs had similar 90-day major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) despite higher baseline complexity.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Interventional Cardiology
  • Medical Devices

Background:

  • Coronary bifurcation lesions (CBLs) are linked to poorer outcomes and increased repeat revascularization after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
  • Understanding the role of mechanical circulatory support, specifically Impella, in managing complex CBLs is crucial for improving patient care.
  • The PROTECT III study provides valuable data on high-risk PCI patients, including those with CBLs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of Impella support on outcomes in patients undergoing PCI for coronary bifurcation lesions (CBLs).
  • To compare the procedural success and 90-day adverse events between patients with and without true CBLs treated with Impella support.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of data from the FDA-audited, single-arm cVAD PROTECT III study (NCT04136392).
  • Patients with true CBLs (Medina classification 1.1.1, 1.0.1, or 0.1.1) were compared to those without true CBLs.
  • The primary endpoint was the 90-day rate of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), adjusted for confounders using Cox regression.

Main Results:

  • Out of 1,044 patients, 523 had true CBLs treated. Patients with CBLs were older and had higher pre-PCI SYNTAX scores, more complex disease (left main, triple vessel), and longer procedures.
  • No significant differences were observed in post-PCI SYNTAX scores, PCI-related complications, or angiographic success rates between groups.
  • After adjustment, patients with CBLs showed similar rates of 90-day MACCE compared to those without CBLs.

Conclusions:

  • High-risk PCI with Impella support for coronary bifurcation lesions is feasible, even in complex cases.
  • Despite increased baseline complexity, Impella-supported PCI for CBLs was associated with comparable rates of procedural complications and 90-day MACCE.
  • These findings suggest Impella support can be safely utilized in patients with complex coronary bifurcation lesions.
Abstract