Clinical Research
Coronary Revascularization
The Negative Impact of Incomplete Angiographic Revascularization on Clinical Outcomes and Its Association With Total Occlusions: The SYNTAX (Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery) Trial

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2012.10.017Get rights and content
Under an Elsevier user license
open archive

Objectives

The study sought to evaluate the clinical impact of angiographic complete (CR) and incomplete (ICR) revascularization and its association with the presence of total occlusions (TO), after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in the “all-comers” SYNTAX (Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery) trial.

Background

In patients with complex coronary artery disease undergoing PCI or CABG, the long-term prognostic implications of CR versus ICR is unsettled.

Methods

In this post hoc study, consisting of randomized (n = 1,800) and nested PCI (n = 198) and CABG (n = 649) registries, 4-year clinical outcomes were compared in groups, with and without angiographic CR, in the PCI and CABG arms. Clinical outcomes were analyzed with Kaplan-Meier estimates, log-rank comparisons, and Cox regression analyses. Multivariate predictors of ICR were determined. Similar analyses were undertaken in the TO and non-TO treated groups of both study arms.

Results

Angiographic CR was achieved in 52.8% of the PCI arm and 66.9% of the CABG arm. Within the PCI and CABG arms, ICR (compared with CR) seemed to be a surrogate marker of a greater burden of anatomical coronary complexity and clinical comorbidity and was associated with significantly higher frequencies of 4-year mortality, all-cause revascularization, stent thrombosis (PCI arm), and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events. The presence of a TO was the strongest independent predictor of ICR after PCI (hazard ratio: 2.70, 95% confidence interval: 1.98 to 3.67, p < 0.001). Eight hundred and forty patients (PCI: 26.3%, CABG: 36.4%, p < 0.001) were identified to have 1,007 TOs, with 68.1% of TOs located in the proximal-mid coronary vasculature. The findings associating ICR (compared with CR) with higher frequencies of 4-year mortality and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events remained consistent in the TO-treated groups in the PCI and CABG arms.

Conclusions

Within the PCI and CABG arms of the all-comers SYNTAX trial, angiographically determined ICR has a detrimental impact on long-term clinical outcomes, including mortality. This effect remained consistent in patients with and without TOs.

Key Words

angiographic incomplete revascularization
coronary artery bypass graft surgery
percutaneous coronary intervention
SYNTAX
total occlusion

Abbreviations and Acronyms

CABG
coronary artery bypass graft surgery
CI
confidence interval
CR
complete revascularization
CTO
chronic total occlusion
CVA
cerebrovascular accident
HR
hazard ratio
ICR
incomplete revascularization
LVEF
left ventricular ejection fraction
MACCE
major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events
PCI
percutaneous coronary intervention
TO
total occlusion
ULMCA
unprotected left main coronary artery disease

Cited by (0)

The SYNTAX Trial was funded by Boston Scientific. Drs. Dawkins, Pereda, and Huang are all full-time employees in Boston Scientific. Dr. Dawkins holds stock in Boston Scientific. Dr. Mack has served on the Speakers' Bureau of Cordis and Medtronic and reports no financial disclosures. Dr. Feldman has received research grants and consulting fees from Abbott Vascular, Boston Scientific, and Edwards Lifesciences. Dr. Morice reported that her institution received a research grant from Boston Scientific. Dr. James has received institutional research grants from Medtronic, Inc., Vascular Solutions, Terumo, Inc., AstraZeneca, and Eli Lilly; and has served on the advisory board and received honoraria from AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, Abbott Vascular, Boston Scientific, and Medtronic. Dr. Kappetein served as a member of the steering committee for the SYNTAX trial, sponsored by Boston Scientific. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose.