Incidence and Visual Outcomes of Endophthalmitis After Intravitreal Injection of Dexamethasone Implant vs Ranibizumab.

Purpose: To compare the incidence and visual outcomes of endophthalmitis after injection of an intravitreal dexamethasone implant and injection of intravitreal ranibizumab. Methods: This retrospective cohort study assessed endophthalmitis in eyes receiving an intravitreal injection of a 0.7 mg dexamethasone implant (DEX group), 0.5 mg ranibizumab (R5 group), or 0.3 mg ranibizumab (R3 group) between January 1, 2016, and May 31, 2018, at 2 large retina practices in the United States. Results: Suspected endophthalmitis occurred in 5 eyes after 4973 DEX injections, 43 eyes after 163 974 R5 injections, and 6 eyes after 18 954 R3 injections. Suspected endophthalmitis was significantly more common in the DEX group (1/995) than in the R5 group (1/3813) (P = .008) but not than in the R3 group (1/3159) (P = .10). Visual acuity outcomes were similar in the 3 groups. Conclusions: Suspected endophthalmitis might be more common after 0.7 mg dexamethasone injections than after 0.5 mg ranibizumab injections. Culture-positive endophthalmitis rates were similar across all 3 medications.

Systemic Immunosuppression and Risk of Endophthalmitis After Intravitreal Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Injections.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of systemic immunosuppressive therapy on the rates and outcomes of endophthalmitis following intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective, single-center, comparative cohort study examining eyes undergoing intravitreal anti-VEGF injections from January 2016 to September 2019. Cohorts were created based on concurrent immunosuppressive therapy at time of injection. RESULTS: Of 270,347 anti-VEGF injections administered, 1,300 injections (0.48%) were administered while on systemic immunosuppressive therapy. The odds of endophthalmitis occurring in the immunosuppression group was 9.86 (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.0-24.3; P < .001) times higher than the no-immunosuppression group. Symptom onset occurred 2.51 (95% CI, 0.15-4.870; P = .040) days earlier in the immunosuppression cohort; visual acuity at 6 months after treatment was similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients on systemic immunosuppressive medications undergoing intravitreal injections may be at increased risk for post-injection endophthalmitis and may have earlier symptom onset. However, visual outcomes were similar between the two groups. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2021;52:S17-S22.].

Resolution of Pseudophakic Cystoid Macular Edema: 2 mg Intravitreal Triamcinolone Acetonide versus 40 mg Posterior Sub-Tenon Triamcinolone Acetonide.

PURPOSE: To compare 2 mg intravitreal triamcinolone (IVT) versus 40 mg posterior sub-Tenon triamcinolone acetonide (STT) for the treatment of eyes with pseudophakic cystoid macular edema. METHODS: A retrospective, single-center review of eyes receiving 2 mg IVT between 3/1/2012-3/1/2017 and 40 mg STT between 1/1/2015-3/1/2017. Visual acuity (VA) and central macular thickness (CMT) were recorded at baseline, 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-up visits. RESULTS: Forty-five eyes were included in the IVT group and 50 eyes in the STT group. Change in VA from baseline to 1, 3, and 6 months was not significantly different between IVT and STT (6 months: 2.3 lines vs. 2.4 lines, p = .10). The IVT group achieved significantly better CMT improvement from baseline compared to STT at 1 month (255 µm vs. 187 µm; p = .03), but this difference was not present at month 3 (214 µm vs. 212 µm; p = .79) or month 6 (176 µm vs. 207 µm; p = .29). During the 6-month follow-up period, approximately 7% of eyes in the IVT group and 12% of eyes in the STT group developed ocular hypertension (p = .43), and all cases were successfully managed with topical anti-ocular hypertensive therapy or observation. CONCLUSIONS: 2 mg IVT and 40 mg STT both achieved significant improvement in vision and CMT with no significant difference between interventions at 3- and 6-month follow-up.

Endophthalmitis following Intravitreal Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Therapy: Changes in Incidence and Outcomes over a 9-Year Period.

Aims: To evaluate whether the incidence, microbial spectrum, and visual outcomes of endophthalmitis following intravitreal injections have changed over time.Methods: Retrospective cohort study of endophthalmitis in eyes receiving intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor between 2009-2012 and 2016-2017 at a single, large retina practice.Results: A total of 283,315 injections resulted in 96 suspected infectious endophthalmitis cases. Comparing 2009-2012 and 2016-2017, the rate of suspected endophthalmitis changed from 1 in 2,663 injections to 1 in 3,195 injections (p = .37). Visual outcomes 6 months after endophthalmitis were significantly better during the latter period (p = .04), with an average loss of 6.3 lines of VA in 2009-2012 compared to a loss of 3.6 lines in 2016-2017. In multivariate analysis, a "no-talking" policy during injections resulted in a trend towards a decrease in endophthalmitis incidence (p = .08). Cessation of post-injection topical antibiotic use did not independently decrease endophthalmitis incidence (p = .24) when the effect of a "no-talking" policy was taken into account. A lower rate of endophthalmitis was seen after prefilled vs. conventionally prepared ranibizumab syringe use for injection (0.014% vs. 0.035%, respectively), though this difference did not meet statistical significance (p = .16).Conclusion: The incidence of endophthalmitis after intravitreal injection decreased and visual outcomes improved between the periods of 2009-2012 and 2016-2017. A "no-talking" policy during injections was associated with a trend toward a decrease in endophthalmitis rate.

THE EFFECT OF ENDOPHTHALMITIS ON RECURRENCE OF MACULAR EDEMA IN EYES RECEIVING INTRAVITREAL ANTI-VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR.

PURPOSE: Visual outcomes after postinjection endophthalmitis have been well-studied, but the effect of endophthalmitis on the underlying exudative disease process remains unclear. We investigate the need for continued anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections after endophthalmitis. METHODS: Eyes that developed endophthalmitis after intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor between January 1, 2016, and May 31, 2018, at a single academic retina practice were identified. Retrospective chart review was performed to determine 1) the proportion of eyes without recurrence of macular edema or subretinal fluid after endophthalmitis and 2) the proportion achieving a 12-week or greater interval between anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections or exudation after endophthalmitis compared with internal controls before endophthalmitis. RESULTS: Of 50 eyes with endophthalmitis, seven (14.0%) had no fluid recurrence at a mean of 98.1 week. Of 43 eyes with recurrence, 48.0% achieved a >12-week recurrence-free interval after endophthalmitis (vs. 8.3% before endophthalmitis; P < 0.0001). Eyes with compared to those without choroidal neovascularization were more likely to achieve this interval (60.5% vs. 8.3%, respectively; P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Endophthalmitis after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injection is associated with relative stability of the underlying exudation. Further research is necessary to elucidate the mechanism, which may be useful in developing strategies and targets for the treatment of exudative macular diseases.

Endophthalmitis after Cataract Surgery: Changes in Management Based on Microbiologic Cultures.

PURPOSE: To assess the utility of microbiologic culture data for the management of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery. DESIGN: Retrospective, single-center, cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: All patients treated for endophthalmitis after cataract surgery between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2017, at a single institution. METHODS: Endophthalmitis cases were determined from billing records and confirmed with chart review. A change in clinical management was defined as additional intravitreal antibiotic injections or pars plana vitrectomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A change in clinical management within 2 weeks of initial endophthalmitis culture and treatment; visual acuity (VA). RESULTS: A total of 111 eyes of 111 patients were treated for endophthalmitis after cataract surgery, of which 57 (51%) were culture-positive. After initial treatment of endophthalmitis, a change in clinical management after vitreous culture occurred in 9 of 111 eyes (8%), including 6 of 57 (11%) culture-positive eyes compared with 3 of 54 (6%) culture-negative eyes (P = 0.49). Change in clinical management for culture-positive eyes was based on declining vision (3 eyes), worsening clinical examination results (2 eyes), and retinal detachment (1 case). Change in clinical management for culture-negative endophthalmitis eyes was based on worsening clinical examination results (2 eyes) and declining vision (1 eye). No additional interventions were initiated on the basis of positive culture results. At final follow-up, mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) VA was 1.09 (∼20/250) for the culture-positive eyes compared with 0.59 (∼20/80) for culture-negative eyes (adjusted difference, 0.394; 95% confidence interval, 0.02-0.77, P = 0.03). Rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRDs) or retinal tears occurred in 19 of 111 eyes (17%) after developing endophthalmitis, and culture-positive eyes developed a secondary RRD in 11 of 57 eyes (19%) compared with 3 of 54 (6%) culture-negative eyes (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: After endophthalmitis related to cataract surgery, vitreous cultures may have prognostic value for final visual outcomes but have a limited effect on clinical management.

Ocular hypertension following 40 mg sub-Tenon triamcinolone versus 0.7 mg dexamethasone implant versus 2 mg intravitreal triamcinolone.

OBJECTIVE: To compare rates of ocular hypertension (OHT) in eyes receiving 40 mg sub-Tenon triamcinolone (STT), 0.7 mg dexamethasone implant (DEX), and 2 mg intravitreal triamcinolone (IVT). METHODS: This study is a single-centre, retrospective case series. All patients receiving STT and DEX between 4/1/2014 and 3/1/2017 and IVT between 3/1/2012 and 3/1/2017 with a minimum of 3 months' follow-up were included. OHT was defined as an intraocular pressure (IOP) >24 mm Hg. Patients receiving any other form of topical, oral, or intravitreal steroid were excluded. RESULTS: 113 eyes from 104 patients in the STT group, 122 eyes from 109 patients in the DEX group, and 109 eyes from 103 patients in the IVT group were included. The mean number of injections for each eye was 1.7 in the STT group, 2.6 for the DEX group, and 2.8 for the IVT group (p < 0.001). Twenty eyes (17.7%) developed OHT in the STT group, 19 eyes (15.6%) developed OHT in the DEX group, and 14 eyes (12.8%) developed OHT in the IVT group (p = 0.60). IOP was controlled in all eyes with observation, topical IOP-lowering medication, or surgical intervention. The rate of incisional glaucoma surgery was 1.7% in the STT group, 1.6% in the DEX group, and 0% in the IVT group (p = 0.55). CONCLUSIONS: The rate of OHT was similar across treatment groups. The proportion of OHT in patients with a history of glaucoma was no different from that in patients without a history of glaucoma. All cases were successfully managed with observation, medical treatment, or incisional surgery.

Ocular Hypertension Following Intravitreal Injection of 0.7mg Dexamethasone Implant versus 2mg Triamcinolone.

Background: To compare the incidence and outcomes of ocular hypertension (OHT) after intravitreal injection of 0.7 mg dexamethasone (DEX) and 2 mg triamcinolone acetonide (IVT).Methods: In a single-center, retrospective comparative case series, all patients with at least 3 months follow-up receiving 2 mg IVT 3/1/2012 - 3/1/2017 or 0.7 mg dexamethasone 10/1/2014 - 3/1/2017 were included. Ocular hypertension was defined as an intraocular pressure (IOP) ≥ 25 mmHg. Patients with a minimum of 3 months follow-up were included. Patients receiving any other form of topical, oral, or intravitreal steroid were excluded.Results: 106 eyes in 100 patients receiving IVT and 114 eyes in 102 patients receiving DEX were included. The mean number of injections was 2.9 for patients receiving IVT and 2.4 for patients receiving DEX (p = .11). Fourteen eyes (13.2%) in 14 patients receiving IVT developed OHT compared to 17 eyes (15.1%) in 15 patients receiving DEX (p = .85). All cases of OHT were managed with IOP lowering drops or observation alone.Conclusions: Rates of ocular hypertension following 2 mg IVT and DEX are similar. All patients developing OHT were successfully managed without surgical intervention.

Treatment of Eyes With Diabetic Macular Edema That Had a Suboptimal Response to Antivascular Endothelial Growth Factor Therapy: 2-mg Intravitreal Triamcinolone Acetonide vs 0.7-mg Dexamethasone Implant.

Purpose: This article compares 2-mg intravitreal triamcinolone (IVT) and 0.7-mg dexamethasone (DEX) implant for the treatment of diabetic macular edema in eyes that had a suboptimal response to antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy. Methods: A single-center, retrospective review was conducted of patients receiving either IVT between January 1, 2013, and January 1, 2018, or patients receiving DEX between October 1, 2015, and January 1, 2018. Visual acuity and central macular thickness (CMT) were recorded at visit of first injection and all subsequent visits. Results: Twenty-five eyes were included in the DEX group and 32 eyes were included in the IVT group. Change in vision from baseline was similar between DEX and IVT at 6-month follow-up (1.1 lines vs 2.3 lines, respectively; P = .24). Mean decrease in CMT from baseline was not different at 6-month follow-up (DEX: 120 µm vs IVT: 185 µm; P = .17). Conclusions: DEX and 2-mg IVT both achieved improvement in vision and CMT with no significant differences between treatment groups at 6-month follow-up.

OCULAR HYPERTENSION AFTER INTRAVITREAL INJECTION OF 2-MG TRIAMCINOLONE.

PURPOSE: To report the incidence and course of ocular hypertension after intravitreal injection of 2-mg triamcinolone acetonide (IVT). METHODS: In a retrospective, consecutive series, all patients receiving 2-mg IVT at a single institution between March 1, 2012, and March 1, 2017, with a minimum of 3-month follow-up were reviewed. Ocular hypertension was defined as an intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement over 24 mmHg at any follow-up visit after IVT. Patients receiving topical, periocular, or intravitreal corticosteroid other than 2-mg IVT were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 106 eyes in 100 patients receiving at least one injection of 2-mg IVT were included. Eyes received an average of 2.9 injections (range 1-17), and average patient follow-up was 15.1 months (range 3.0-52.5 months). A total of 14 eyes (13.2%) in 14 patients developed ocular hypertension after a median of 1.5 injections (range 1-9) with an average peak IOP of 29 mmHg (range 25-38 mmHg). Overall, a total of 11 eyes (10.4%) had an IOP elevation ≥10 mmHg above baseline at any point after first IVT. In all cases of ocular hypertension, IOP was successfully managed with observation or topical IOP-lowering medication alone; no patients required surgical intervention. CONCLUSION: Ocular hypertension developed in 13.2% of eyes receiving intravitreal injection of 2-mg triamcinolone acetonide. Incidence of ocular hypertension after 2-mg IVT compares favorably with other intravitreally administered corticosteroids.

Changes in Management Based on Vitreous Culture in Endophthalmitis After Intravitreal Anti-vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Injection.

PURPOSE: To assess whether vitreous culture results affect the clinical management of patients with acute endophthalmitis after intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injection. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: Setting: Single-center. STUDY POPULATION: Patients who developed endophthalmitis after intravitreal injection of aflibercept, bevacizumab, or ranibizumab between January 1, 2016, and May 31, 2018. OBSERVATION: A change in clinical management was defined as additional intravitreal antibiotic injections or pars plana vitrectomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A change in clinical management within 2 weeks of initial endophthalmitis culture and treatment; visual acuity. RESULTS: Of 204,986 intravitreal anti-VEGF injections performed, 60 cases (0.0293%) of endophthalmitis were identified, 18 of which were culture-positive. Six of 60 eyes (10%) had a change in clinical management. A change in clinical management was initiated in 3 of 18 (17%) culture-positive cases compared to 3 of 42 (7%) culture-negative cases (P = .357). Changes in management for culture-positive cases were performed based on declining vision (2 cases) and worsening clinical examination (1 case). Changes in management for culture-negative endophthalmitis cases were performed based on declining vision (1 case) and worsening clinical examination (2 cases). No additional interventions were initiated based on positive-culture results. Comparing vision loss from baseline by culture result, at final follow-up, oral flora-associated culture-positive cases lost 17.5 lines, non-oral flora-associated culture-positive cases lost 9.1 lines, and culture-negative cases lost 2.5 lines of vision (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Following endophthalmitis from intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF agents, vitreous culture data may help prognosticate visual outcomes but appear to have a limited effect on clinical management.

Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment after Intravitreal Injection of Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor.

PURPOSE: To report the rate, risk factors, and outcomes of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) after intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor medications. DESIGN: Single-center, retrospective, consecutive review. PARTICIPANTS: All patients receiving ranibizumab, bevacizumab, or aflibercept for neovascular age-related macular degeneration or retinal vein occlusion between October 1, 2014, and October 1, 2017. METHODS: The total number of eyes and injections were determined from billing codes. Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment patients were determined from billing records and confirmed with chart review. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rate of retinal detachment and visual acuity outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 180 671 intravitreal injections in 12 718 unique patients were included. An RRD occurred in 24 patients within 3 months after injection, giving a rate of 1 RRD per 7532 intravitreal injections (0.013%) and 1 RRD per 530 patients (0.19%). No association was found between RRD risk after injection and diagnosis (P = 0.54), physician experience (P = 0.23), injection site (P = 0.41), caliper use (P = 0.75), or 31- versus 30-gauge needle use (P = 0.18). A retinal tear was found located in the quadrant of the injection site (within 1.5 clock hours of the injection) in 15 of 24 patients (62.5%; P < 0.0001). At the time of RRD diagnosis, the macula was attached in 9 patients (37.5%). Interventions for RRD repair included pars plana vitrectomy (PPV; 15 patients), combined scleral buckle and PPV (4 patients), pneumatic retinopexy (3 patients), and laser or cryotherapy alone (2 patients). Single-surgery success rate was 54.2%, with 54.5% of recurrent detachments caused by proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Average loss from visual acuity recorded at the visit before diagnosis of RRD was 1.0 line for macula-on detachments versus 6.8 lines for macula-off detachments (P = 0.027) at final follow-up (average, 16.3 months). CONCLUSIONS: Retinal detachment after intravitreal injection is uncommon, with a rate of approximately 1 in 7500 injections. Macular status at the time of RRD diagnosis significantly affects visual outcomes.

The Impact of Prefilled Syringes on Endophthalmitis Following Intravitreal Injection of Ranibizumab.

PURPOSE: To compare the rates of infectious endophthalmitis following intravitreal injection of ranibizumab using prefilled syringes vs conventional preparation. DESIGN: Multicenter retrospective cohort study. METHODS: All eyes receiving intravitreal injection of 0.5 mg ranibizumab for retinal vascular diseases at 10 retina practices across the United States (2016 to 2017) and Japan (2009 to 2017) were included. The total numbers of eyes and injections were determined from billing codes. Endophthalmitis cases were determined from billing records and evaluated with chart review. Primary outcome was the rate of postinjection acute endophthalmitis. Secondary outcomes were visual acuity and microbial spectrum. RESULTS: A total of 243 754 intravitreal 0.5 mg ranibizumab injections (165 347 conventional and 78 407 prefilled) were administered to 43 132 unique patients during the study period. In the conventional ranibizumab group, a total of 43 cases of suspected endophthalmitis occurred (0.026%; 1 in 3845 injections) and 22 cases of culture-positive endophthalmitis occurred (0.013%; 1 in 7516 injections). In the prefilled ranibizumab group, 12 cases of suspected endophthalmitis occurred (0.015%; 1 in 6534 injections) and 2 cases of culture-positive endophthalmitis occurred (0.0026%; 1 in 39 204 injections). Prefilled syringes were associated with a trend toward decreased risk of suspected endophthalmitis (odds ratio 0.59; 95% confidence interval 0.31-1.12; P = .10) and a statistically significant decreased risk of culture-positive endophthalmitis (odds ratio 0.19; 95% confidence interval 0.045-0.82; P = .025). Average logMAR vision loss at final follow-up was significantly worse for eyes that developed endophthalmitis from the conventional ranibizumab preparation compared to the prefilled syringe group (4.45 lines lost from baseline acuity vs 0.38 lines lost; P = .0062). Oral-associated flora was found in 27.3% (6/22) of conventional ranibizumab culture-positive endophthalmitis cases (3 cases of Streptococcus viridans, 3 cases of Enterococcus faecalis) compared to 0 cases in the prefilled ranibizumab group. CONCLUSION: In a large, multicenter, retrospective study the use of prefilled syringes during intravitreal injection of ranibizumab was associated with a reduced rate of culture-positive endophthalmitis, including from oral flora, as well as with improved visual acuity outcomes.

Effect of Access Site Choice on Acute Kidney Injury After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with worse outcomes. Consecutive patients undergoing PCI between 2005 and 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients undergoing PCI using transfemoral access (TFA) were categorized as the TFA Group, and those using transradial access (TRA) were categorized as the TRA Group. Post-PCI AKI was defined as an increase in serum creatinine >0.5 mg/dl or >25% increase from baseline 48 to 72 hours after the procedure. Independent predictors of post-PCI AKI were identified using inverse probability weighted multivariable analysis. There were 7,529 patients included in the analysis, 5,353 (71%) in the TFA Group and 2,176 (29%) in the TRA Group. Patients in the TRA Group were younger, more likely to be female, taller, heavier and have acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and were less likely to have previous coronary artery bypass graft surgery, cardiogenic shock, and intra-aortic balloon pump use and had shorter fluoroscopy time and less contrast use. Bleeding Academic Research Consortium type 3 or 5 was significantly less frequent in the TRA Group. The primary end point of post-PCI AKI was observed significantly less frequently in the TRA Group compared with the TFA Group (1.1% vs 2.4%, p = 0.001). TRA was independently associated with a lower incidence of post-PCI AKI (odds ratio 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.35 to 0.91, p = 0.018). In conclusion, access site choice is an independent predictor of post-PCI AKI with a significant risk reduction associated with TRA compared with TFA.

Association Between Health Insurance Status and In-Hospital Outcomes After ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Lack of health insurance is associated with adverse clinical outcomes; however, association between health insurance status and outcomes in patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is unclear. Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample data from 2003 to 2014, hospitalizations with STEMI in patients 18 years of age and older were extracted. Based on health insurance status, patients were categorized into insured and uninsured groups. The primary outcome measure was in-hospital mortality. Adjusted analysis using inverse probability weighting with multivariable regression was performed to identify independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. Of 2,710,375 patients included in the final analysis, 220,770 patients were uninsured. Unadjusted in-hospital mortality was lower in uninsured patients (5.1% vs 9.3%; p <0.001). Adjusted analysis showed that lack of health insurance was associated with the worst in-hospital mortality (odds ratio [OR] = 1.77, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.72 to 1.82; p <0.001). Other independent predictors of in-hospital mortality were low household income (OR = 1.08, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.09; p <0.001), acute stroke (OR = 2.87, 95% CI 2.80 to 2.95; p <0.001), acute kidney injury (OR = 2.60, 95% CI 2.57 to 2.64; p <0.001), cardiac arrest (OR = 8.88, 95% CI 8.77 to 8.99; p <0.001), cardiogenic shock (OR = 5.81, 95% CI 5.74 to 5.88; p <0.001), requirement of pericardiocentesis (OR = 10.54, 95% CI 9.64 to 11.52; p <0.001), gastrointestinal bleeding (OR = 1.41, 95% CI 1.38 to 1.54; p <0.001), and pneumonia (OR = 1.43, 95% CI 1.41 to 1.45; p <0.001). The multivariate model demonstrated good statistical discrimination (c-statistic = 0.89). In conclusion, lack of health insurance is independently associated with increased in-hospital mortality in patients presenting with STEMI.

Cardiogenic shock and access site choice.

Transradial access (TRA) has increased in utilization, although operators have been reluctant to use TRA in patients presenting with cardiogenic shock (CS). Experienced TRA operators have started using TRA in CS patients, although the literature is scant. Several datasets have included CS patients in their study population, while others have systematically excluded CS patients when comparing outcomes with TRA to transfemoral access (TFA). In this review, we have compiled the existing literature describing outcomes of patients presenting with CS who underwent PCI using TRA versus TFA. Each dataset has been described in detail and its study population, methodology and conclusions have been critically examined after obtaining all published and most non-published details pertaining to CS patients in these datasets. The contemporary literature consists of observational data comparing access-site related outcomes in CS patients undergoing PCI. Although the composite outcome appears to favor TRA over TFA, the high likelihood of selection bias, with the sickest CS patients getting triaged to TFA, makes an aggressive interpretation of the existing results rather difficult. Despite the operating biases, a few high-quality adjusted analyses clearly report better outcomes in CS patients undergoing PCI via TRA, highlighting an immediate necessity to perform an appropriately powered randomized evaluation of this important question.