The aim of this study is to establish anatomical landmarks for the trajectory of the large septal artery. Thirty hearts were dissected, 20 of which had no cardiac pathology and the remaining with different cardiac conditions. One large septal artery was located in 27 of these hearts, two large septal arteries in 2 and three large septal arteries in 1. For all cases there existed one large septal artery in the lower border of the anterior limb of the septomarginal trabecula. When more than one large septal artery was encountered, the first was located within the subendocardial outflow tract of the left ventricle, the second was in the lower border of the anterior limb of the septomarginal trabecula and the third 1.5 cm below the second.
Background
ESC guidelines for non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS) recommend against P2Y12 pre-treatment receptor inhibitors (P2Y12i) in patients undergoing early invasive management (< 24 h). The rationale is, in part, to prevent bleeding complications and the delay of coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) in patients with suitable anatomy. This study aims to analyze the impact of P2Y12i pre-treatment on delay to CABG surgery in a real-world population with NSTE-ACS.
Methods
Single-centre retrospective cohort of consecutive patients with NSTE-ACS undergoing invasive evaluation in 2019. Those with previous CABG (n = 31) or non-obstructive coronary disease (n = 57) were excluded.
Results
Total cohort included 262 patients (mean age 68 ± 12 years, 69% male, 15% with unstable angina and mean GRACE score 134 ± 35). Median time from first medical contact to angiography was 2 (1–4) days. Overall, 168 (64%) patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention, 47 (18%) were proposed for CABG and the remainder received conservative management. All patients considered for CABG received pre-treatment with P2Y12i, either clopidogrel or ticagrelor. Median time from angiography to CABG was 12 (7–15) days. Six patients experienced recurrent angina (13%) and 2 (4%) died before surgery due to refractory ventricular fibrillation. Those who underwent CABG under P2Y12i effect were more likely to receive blood and platelets transfusions (64.7% vs. 28.6%, P = 0.017 and 82.4% vs. 21.4%, P < 0.001, respectively), although there were no differences regarding major bleeding.
Conclusion
Pre-treatment with P2Y12i was a potential driver of CABG delay in our cohort. In the real-world, adopting the new recommendations of withholding pre-treatment might decrease this delay.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.