Objectives This study sought to determine the efficacy of low rate fluoroscopy at 7.5 frames/s (FPS) versus conventional 15 FPS for reduction of operator and patient radiation dose during diagnostic ...coronary angiography (DCA) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) via the transradial approach (TRA). Background TRA for cardiac catheterization is potentially associated with increased radiation exposure. Low rate fluoroscopy has the potential to reduce radiation exposure. Methods Patients undergoing TRA diagnostic angiography ± ad-hoc PCI were randomized to fluoroscopy at 7.5 FPS versus 15 FPS prior to the procedure. Both 7.5 and 15 FPS fluoroscopy protocols were configured with a fixed dose per pulse of 40 nGy. Primary endpoints were operator radiation dose (measured with dosimeter attached to the left side of the thyroid shield in μSievert μSv), patient radiation dose (expressed as dose-area product in Gy·cm2 ), and fluoroscopy time. Results From October 1, 2012 to August 30, 2013, from a total of 363 patients, 184 underwent DCA and 179 underwent PCI. Overall, fluoroscopy at 7.5 FPS compared with 15 FPS was associated with a significant reduction in operator dose (30% relative reduction RR, p < 0.0001); and in patient's dose-area product (19% RR; p = 0.022). When stratified by procedure type, 7.5 FPS compared with 15 FPS was associated with significant reduction in operator dose during both DCA (40% RR; p < 0.0001) and PCI (28% RR; p = 0.0011). Fluoroscopy at 7.5 FPS, compared with 15 FPS, was also associated with substantial reduction in patients' dose-area product during DCA (26% RR; p = 0.0018) and during PCI (19% RR; p = 0.13). Fluoroscopy time was similar in 7.5 FPS and 15 FPS groups for DCA (3.4 ± 2.0 min vs. 4.0 ± 4.7 min; p = 0.42) and PCI (11.9 ± 8.4 min vs. 13.3 ± 9.7 min; p = 0.57), respectively. Conclusions Fluoroscopy at 7.5 FPS, compared with 15 FPS, is a simple and effective method in reducing operator and patient radiation dose during TRA DCA and PCI.
Objectives To study the causes of and to develop a risk score for failure of transradial approach (TRA) for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Background TRA-PCI failure has been reported in ...5% to 10% of cases. Methods TRA-PCI failure was categorized as primary (clinical reasons) or crossover failure. Multivariate analysis was performed to determine independent predictors of TRA-PCI failure, and an integer risk score was developed. Results From January to June 2010, TRA-PCI was attempted in 1,609 (97.3%) consecutive patients, whereas 45 (2.7%) had primary TRA-PCI failure. Crossover TRA-PCI failure occurred in 30 (1.8%) patients. Causes of primary TRA-PCI failure included chronic radial artery occlusion (11%), previous coronary artery bypass graft (27%), and cardiogenic shock (20%). Causes for crossover TRA-PCI failure included: inadequate puncture in 17 patients (57%); radial artery spasm in 5 (17%); radial loop in 4 (13%); subclavian tortuosity in 2 (7%); and inadequate guide catheter support in 2 (7%) patients. Female sex (odds ratio OR: 3.2; 95% confidence interval CI: 1.95 to 5.26, p < 0.0001), previous coronary artery bypass graft (OR: 6.1; 95% CI: 3.63 to 10.05, p < 0.0001), and cardiogenic shock (OR: 11.2; 95% CI: 2.78 to 41.2, p = 0.0011) were independent predictors of TRA-PCI failure. Risk score values from 0 to 7 predicted a TRA-PCI failure rate from 2% to 80%. Conclusions In a high-volume radial center, 2.7% of patients undergoing PCI are excluded from initial TRA on clinical grounds, whereas crossover to femoral approach is required in only 1.8% of the cases. A new simple clinical risk score is developed to predict TRA-PCI failure.
Background Although radial approach is increasingly used in percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) including in acute myocardial infarction (MI), patients with cardiogenic shock have been ...excluded from comparisons with femoral approach. The aim of our study was to compare clinical outcomes in patients undergoing primary PCI with cardiogenic shock by radial and femoral approach. Methods and Results From 2,663 patients presenting with ST-elevation MI in 2 large volume radial centers, we identified 197 patients (7.4%) with signs of cardiogenic shock immediately before undergoing primary PCI. Radial approach was used in 55% of cases when at least 1 radial artery was weakly palpable, either spontaneously or after intravenous noradrenaline bolus. Patients in the radial group were older (69 ± 12 vs 64 ± 12 years, P = .010), had less diabetes (13% vs 26%, P = .028), and required less often intubation prior PCI (42% vs 66%, P = .0006) or intraaortic balloon pump (36% vs 55%, P = .0096). Mortality at 1 year was 44% in the radial group and 64% in the femoral group ( P = .0044). Independent predictors of late mortality included radial approach (hazard ratio HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.42-0.98, P = .041), the use of glycoprotein IIb-IIIa receptor inhibitors (HR 0.63, 95% CI 0.40-0.96, P = .032), baseline creatinine ≥110 μmol/L (HR 3.34, 95% CI 2.20-5.12, P < .0001), initial glycemia >200 mg/dL (HR 2.02, 95% CI 1.34-3.11, P = .0008), and age >65 years (HR 1.80, 95% CI 1.18-2.79, P = .006). Conclusion Radial approach was safe and feasible in more than half of the patients with ST-elevation MI and cardiogenic shock treated by primary PCI. After adjustment for baseline and procedural characteristics, radial approach remained associated with better survival. However, prognosis of patients undergoing primary PCI in cardiogenic shock remains poor.
Background Transradial approach (TRA) for cardiac catheterizations and interventions improves clinical outcomes compared with transfemoral access, and its use is increasing worldwide. However, there ...are limited data on successive use of same artery for repeat procedures. Methods Between May 2010 and May 2011, all consecutive patients undergoing a repeat TRA procedure (≥2) were retrospectively identified. Success rates and reasons for failure to use ipsilateral radial artery for repeat access were identified. Results A total of 519 patients underwent 1,420 procedures. In 480 patients (92%), right radial artery was used as initial access, and left radial artery, in 39 patients. All patients underwent ≥2 procedures; 218 patients, ≥3; 87 patients, ≥4; 39 patients, ≥5; 19 patients, ≥6; 11 patients, ≥7; and 5 patients, ≥8 procedures. Two patients had, respectively, 9 and 10 procedures. The success rate for second attempt was 93%, 81% for third, and declining to 60% for ≥8. Linear regression analysis estimated a 5% failure rate for each repeat attempt ( R2 = 0.87, P = .007). The main reason for failure was related to clinical radial artery occlusion (RAO) including absent or faint pulse, poor oximetry, and failed puncture. All patients with clinical RAO were asymptomatic. By multivariate analysis, female gender (odds ratio OR 3.08, 95% CI 1.78-5.39, P < .0001), prior coronary artery bypass graft (OR 5.26, 95% CI 2.67-10.42, P < .0001), and repeat radial access (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.70-2.76, P < .0001) were independent predictors of radial access failure. Conclusion Successive TRA is both feasible and safe in most cases for up to 10 procedures. However, failure rate for TRA increases with successive procedures, primarily due to clinical RAO. Strategies to minimize the risks of chronic clinical RAO and allow repeat use of ipsilateral radial artery need to be further defined.
Background The association between cardiogenic shock and 1 or >1 chronic total occlusion (CTO) in unselected patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (MI) (STEMI) has not been ...characterized. Methods Patients with STEMI referred with or without cardiogenic shock were categorized into no CTO, 1 CTO, and >1 CTO. The primary end point was the 30-day mortality. Results Between 2006 and 2011, 2,020 consecutive patients were included. A total of 141 patients (7%) presented with cardiogenic shock on admission. The prevalence of 1 CTO and >1 CTO in a non–infarct-related artery was 23% and 5%, respectively, among patients with shock compared with 6% and 0.5% in patients without shock ( P < .0001). Independent predictors of cardiogenic shock included left main–related MI (odds ratio OR 6.55, 95% CI 1.39-26.82, P = .019), CTO (OR 4.20, 95% CI 2.64-6.57, P < .001), creatinine clearance <60 mL/min (OR 3.41, 95% CI 2.32-4.99, P < .0001), and left anterior descending–related MI (OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.51-3.23, P < .0001). Thirty-day mortality was 100% in shock patients with >1 CTO, 65.6% with 1 CTO, and 40.2% in patients without CTO ( P < .0001). After adjustment for left ventricular ejection fraction and renal function, CTO remained an independent predictor for 30-day mortality (hazard ratio HR 1.83; 95% CI 1.10-3.01, P = .02). Conclusion In patients with STEMI, CTO was strongly associated with cardiogenic shock on admission. In this setting, mortality was substantially higher in patients with 1 CTO and exceedingly high in those with >1 CTO. The presence of CTO was an independent predictor of early mortality.
Door-to-balloon (DTB) time is an important metric in primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction to optimize clinical outcomes. The aim of ...this study was to compare the impact of immediate PCI on culprit lesions in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions versus diagnostic angiography followed by PCI on DTB times and procedural data at a high-volume tertiary care radial center. All patients who underwent primary PCI <12 hours after symptom onset were studied. Procedural data and all-cause mortality were assessed in all patients. The primary outcome was DTB time. From January 2006 to June 2011, 1,900 patients were included and divided into 2 groups: 562 patients (30%) underwent primary PCI followed by contralateral diagnostic angiography, and 1,338 patients (70%) underwent diagnostic angiography before primary PCI. No significant differences were observed in baseline characteristics. Left anterior descending coronary artery–related ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions were more often found in patients who underwent PCI first (54% vs 34%, p <0.0001). Overall, there was a reduction of 8 minutes in DTB time between patients who underwent PCI first and those who underwent angiography first (32 minutes interquartile range 24 to 52 vs 40 minutes interquartile range 30 to 69, respectively, p <0.0001). After adjustment, immediate PCI remained an independent predictor of DTB time ≤90 minutes (odds ratio 2.42, 95% confidence interval 1.70 to 3.52, p <0.0001). There were no differences in early and late clinical outcomes. In conclusion, a strategy of transradial direct PCI of the infarct-related artery in selected patients before complete coronary angiography was associated with a benefit of 8 minutes in DTB time. Further study is required to determine whether this strategy can favorably affect clinical outcomes.
Chronic total occlusion (CTO) in a non-infarct-related artery and chronic kidney failure (CKD) are associated with worse outcomes after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The aim of ...this study was to investigate the interaction of CTO and CKD in patients who underwent primary PCI for acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Patients with STEMIs with or without CKD, defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 ml/min/1.73 m2 , were categorized into those with single-vessel disease and those with multivessel disease with or without CTO. The primary outcomes were the incidence of 30-day and 1-year mortality. Among 1,873 consecutive patients with STEMIs included between 2006 and 2011, 336 (18%) had CKD. The prevalence of CTO in a non-infarct-related artery was 13% in patients with CKD compared with 7% in those without CKD (p = 0.0003). There was a significant interaction between CKD and CTO on 30-day mortality (p = 0.018) and 1-year mortality (p = 0.013). Independent predictors of late mortality in patients with CKD were previous myocardial infarction (hazard ratio HR 1.71, 95% confidence interval CI 1.01 to 2.79), age >75 years (HR 1.86, 95% CI 1.19 to 2.95), a left ventricular ejection fraction after primary PCI <40% (HR 2.20, 95% CI 1.36 to 3.63), left main culprit artery (HR 4.46, 95% CI 1.64 to 10.25), and shock (HR 7.44, 95% CI 4.56 to 12.31), but multivessel disease with CTO was not a predictor. In contrast, multivessel disease with CTO was an independent predictor of mortality in patients without CKD (HR 3.30, 95% CI 1.70 to 6.17). In conclusion, in patients with STEMIs who underwent primary PCI, with preexisting CKD, the prevalence of CTO in a non-infarct-related artery was twice as great. In these patients, the clinical impact of CTO seems to be overshadowed by the presence of CKD.
Bivalirudin, a direct thrombin inhibitor, has been shown to reduce major bleeding and provide a better safety profile compared to unfractionated heparin (UFH) in patients undergoing percutaneous ...coronary intervention (PCI) through transfemoral access. Data pertaining to the clinical benefit of bivalirudin compared to UFH monotherapy in patients undergoing transradial PCI are lacking. The present study sought to compare the in-hospital net clinical adverse events, including death, myocardial infarction, target vessel revascularization, and bleeding, for these 2 antithrombotic regimens for all patients at a tertiary care, high-volume radial center. From April 2009 to February 2011, all patients treated with bivalirudin were matched by access site to those receiving UFH. The patients in the bivalirudin group (n = 125) were older (72 ± 13 years vs 66 ± 11 years; p <0.0001), more often had chronic kidney disease (51% vs 30%; p = 0.0012), and more often underwent primary PCI (30% vs 14%, p <0.0037) than the UFH-treated patients (n = 125). A radial approach was used in 71% of both groups. The baseline bleeding risk according to Mehran's score was similar in both groups (14 ± 9 vs 15 ± 8, p = 0.48). In-hospital mortality was 2% in both groups (p = 1.00). No difference in net clinical adverse events or ischemic or bleeding complications was detected between the 2 groups. Bivalirudin reduced both ischemic and bleeding events in femoral-treated patients, but no such clinical benefit was observed in the radial-treated patients. In conclusion, as periprocedural PCI bleeding avoidance strategies have become paramount to optimize the clinical benefit, the interaction between bivalirudin and radial approach deserves additional investigation.
Including these studies does not conform to "best practice" for meta-analyses as described by the MOOSE (Meta-analysis Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) group (5). On their last page of ...discussion, they claim that their study has a "significant methodological difference from our study, which included patients not discharged as a post hoc 'control arm'."
Abstract We present the case of a patient with dilated ischemic cardiomyopathy and severe mitral regurgitation. Due to several comorbidities, he underwent percutaneous transvenous mitral ...annuloplasty. Postoperatively, he complained of atypical chest pain. He was treated for pericarditis and died suddenly 10 days after the procedure. Autopsy showed distal perforation of the anterior interventricular vein with migration of the device on the diaphragm.