Non-culprit lesions detected during primary PCI: treat invasively or follow the guidelines?
Evidence regarding the optimal treatment of non-culprit lesions detected during primary PCI is lacking. Our aim was to investigate whether early invasive treatment improves left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) and prevents major adverse cardiac events (MACE).



Of 121 patients with at least one non-culprit lesion, 80 were randomised to early FFRguided PCI (invasive group), and 41 to medical treatment (conservative group). Primary endpoint was EF at six months, secondary endpoints included MACE. In the invasive group, early angiography was performed 7.5 days (5-20) after primary PCI. Forty percent of the non-culprit lesions did not show haemodynamic significance (FFR > 0.75). Subsequent PCI of at least one non-culprit lesion was performed in 52%, PCI without preceding FFR was performed in 8% and elective CABG was done in 4%. No in-hospital events occurred in the conservative group. After six months, EF was comparable (59+/-9% vs. 57+/-9%, p=0.362), and there was no difference in MACE between invasively and conservatively treated patients (21 vs. 22%, p=0.929).



An invasive strategy towards non-culprit lesions does not lead to an increase in EF or a reduction in MACE. The functional stenosis severity of non-culprit lesions is frequently overestimated.
Dambrink
Jan-Henk E
JH
Department of Cardiology, Isala klinieken, Zwolle, The Netherlands. v.r.c.derks@isala.nl <v.r.c.derks@isala.nl>
Debrauwere
Jan P
JP
van 't Hof
Arnoud W J
AW
Ottervanger
Jan-Paul
JP
Gosselink
A T Marcel
AT
Hoorntje
Jan C A
JC
de Boer
Menko-Jan
MJ
Suryapranata
Harry
H
D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D004452:Echocardiography; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D053805:Fractional Flow Reserve, Myocardial; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009426:Netherlands; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015635:Radionuclide Ventriculography; D020127:Recovery of Function; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013318:Stroke Volume; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left