A possible mechanism and predictors of forming looped guidewire between the right subclavian and brachiocephalic artery during coronary angiography with right radial artery access: An original paper.

OBJECTIVES: Guidewire occasionally creates a loop-like appearance between the right subclavian artery and brachiocephalic artery when performing coronary angiography (CAG) with right radial artery (RtRA) access. We called this occurrence a looped guidewire at the brachiocephalic artery (looped GW at BA). It is associated with difficulties in catheter manipulation. This study aimed to assess the predictors of forming a looped GW at the BA. METHODS: We examined 175 (mean age, 71.3 ± 9.5 years; 74.9% men) consecutive patients who underwent elective CAG with the RtRA access. Looped GW at the BA was defined as a loop-like appearance of the 0.035-inch GW between the right subclavian and brachiocephalic artery on a frontal view or left anterior oblique. To identify the predictors of looped GW at BA, patient characteristics and examination data obtained before CAG were compared between patients with and without looped GW at the BA. RESULTS: The prevalence of looped GW at BA was 10.9%. The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), which reflects arterial stiffness, was significantly different in patients with or without looped GW at BA (9.8 ± 1.0 vs. 8.9 ± 1.5, p = 0.0092). The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of CAVI to predict looped GW at BA was 0.745, with 0.94 sensitivity and 0.57 specificity in a cutoff point of CAVI ≥9.0. CONCLUSIONS: Looped GW at BA can be ruled out by CAVI and is associated with high arterial stiffness.

Prevalence and risk factors of subclinical coronary artery disease in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is closely associated with carotid artery stenosis in the context of systemic arteriosclerosis, and it is a known perioperative risk factor for carotid endarterectomy (CEA). We aimed to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of subclinical CAD in patients without known CAD undergoing CEA. METHODS: This was a single-center, retrospective, observational study conducted between January 2013 and December 2016. Among the patients scheduled for elective CEA, 69 with no medical history of CAD and no clinical symptoms (mean age, 76.4±7.8 years; 71.0% men) underwent coronary computed tomography (CT). Coronary angiography (CAG) and subsequent fractional flow reserve (FFR) estimation were performed if necessary. Subclinical CAD was defined as newly found significant coronary lesions after coronary CT screening. Significant coronary lesions were defined as lesions that showed total or subtotal occlusion on coronary CT, had ≥75% stenosis on CAG, or had FFR≤0.80 in major coronary arteries. RESULTS: The prevalence of subclinical CAD was 17.4% (12 of 69 patients). Among the patient characteristics assessed, only high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were significantly different between patients with and those without subclinical CAD (45.8±10.1 vs. 59.7±16.7 mg/dL, P=0.0072). A multivariate analysis revealed that low HDL-C levels were independent risk factors for subclinical CAD after adjusting for possible confounders (adjusted odds ratio: 0.91, 95% confidence interval: 0.84-0.98, P=0.0099). CONCLUSIONS: Subclinical CAD is a common finding and is associated with low HDL-C in patients without known CAD undergoing CEA.

Early administration of tolvaptan preserves renal function in elderly patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Loop diuretics used in the treatment of heart failure often induce renal impairment. This study was conducted in order to evaluate the renal protective effect of adding tolvaptan (TLV), compared to increasing the furosemide (FRM) dose, for the treatment of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) in a real-world elderly patient population. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial enrolled 52 consecutive hospitalized patients (age 83.4±9.6 years) with ADHF. The patients were assigned alternately to either the TLV group (TLV plus conventional treatment, n=26) or the FRM group (increasing the dose of FRM, n=26). TLV was administered within 24h from admission. RESULTS: The incidence of worsening renal function (WRF) within 7 days from admission was significantly lower in the TLV group (26.9% vs. 57.7%, p=0.025). Furthermore, the rates of occurrence of persistent and late-onset (≥5 days from admission) WRF were significantly lower in the TLV group. Persistent and late-onset WRF were significantly associated with a higher incidence of cardiac death or readmission for worsening heart failure in the 90 days following discharge, compared to transient and early-onset WRF, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Early administration of TLV, compared to increased FRM dosage, reduces the incidence of WRF in real-world elderly ADHF patients. In addition, it reduces the occurrence of 'worse' WRF-persistent and late-onset WRF-which are associated with increased rates of cardiac death or readmission for worsening heart failure in the 90 days after discharge.

Percutaneous treatment of a free-floating thrombus in the right atrium of a patient with pulmonary embolism and acute myocarditis.

Free-floating thrombi in the right atrium (RA) are extremely hazardous to patients with pulmonary thromboembolism, and optimal treatment methods remain unclear. We report a case of successful percutaneous intervention of a critical right atrial thrombus. The patient was a 50-year-old woman who had been under medication for acute myocarditis when she complained of sudden severe dyspnea. Echocardiography showed a mobile snake-like thrombus in the RA. The thrombus was pulled back to the distal inferior vena cava (IVC) using a catheter and an IVC filter was placed. Percutaneous treatment is useful for treating free-floating RA thrombi.