Intracoronary electrocardiogram recording with a bare-wire system: perioperative ST-segment elevation in the intracoronary electrocardiogram is associated with myocardial injury after elective coronary stent implantation.

OBJECTIVES

With an intracoronary electrocardiogram (IcECG) recording with insulated polymer-coated guidewire without balloon catheter, we sought to examine the association between ST-segment elevation in the IcECG after elective stenting and myocardial injury.

BACKGROUND

An IcECG is a sensitive method to detect local myocardial ischemia. Occasionally, persistent ST-segment elevation in the IcECG was recorded after successful coronary intervention. Conventionally IcECG was recorded with a guidewire and over-the-wire system.

METHODS

Patients who underwent elective stenting were enrolled (n = 339). The IcECG both at baseline and after procedure were obtained with a guidewire with an insulating coated shaft suitable for IcECG recording. The presence of chest pain after percutaneous coronary intervention was recorded. Cardiac biomarkers were examined 18 h after the procedure.

RESULTS

The ST-segment elevation in the IcECG after procedure was recorded in 65 patients, and no change was recorded in 274 patients. Troponin-T, creatine phosphokinase, and creatine kinase MB isoform after the procedure were significantly higher in patients with post-procedural ST-segment elevation in the IcECG than patients without ST-segment elevation. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that ST-segment elevation in the IcECG is an independent predictor of post-procedural myocardial injury. The incidence of ST-segment elevation in the IcECG was significantly higher in patients with post-procedural chest pain than patients without chest pain (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated a facile method to record IcECG with a guidewire with a polymer-coated shaft. The IcECG is a useful method for predicting post-procedural myocardial injuries.