Retrograde balloon hemostasis.

Despite improvements in current devices and techniques for complex chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), procedural complications, including coronary perforation, still occur and could be life-threatening. A patient with a history of multivessel coronary artery disease and a CTO of the right coronary artery (RCA) underwent successful retrograde crossing of an RCA CTO. After wiring the CTO body and lesion dilatation, a drug-eluting stent was implanted in the distal RCA toward the posterior descending artery. A large Ellis type III perforation occurred at the distal edge of the stent. Septal crossing with a balloon and tamponade of the perforation site through the retrograde collaterals followed, as the RCA was not suitable to accommodate easily both the covered stent and the balloon simultaneously. This case report presents a novel approach the "septal retrograde ping-pong" technique, which demonstrates successful treatment of coronary perforations by utilizing a retrograde approach through a septal collateral. This technique proves to be effective in situations where the conventional antegrade balloon or covered stent delivery methods are not feasible or unsuccessful. This innovative approach offers a promising alternative for managing challenging cases of coronary perforations, providing new insights and potential solutions for interventional cardiologists.

Safety and efficacy of an ultra low dose fluoroscopic protocol for chronic total occlusion recanalization.

BACKGROUND: Chronic total occlusion (CTO) revascularization is a major source of radiation for both patients and physicians. Therefore, efforts to minimize radiation during CTO percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are highly encouraged. AIMS: To evaluate the impact of an Ultra Low fluoroscopic Dose Protocol (ULDP), based on 3.75 frames per second for the fluoroscopy and 7.5 frames per second for the cine acquisition, during CTO PCI. METHODS: One hundred fifty consecutive patients who underwent CTO PCI were retrospectively enrolled. Eighty-five underwent standard dose protocol (SDP) and 65 ULDP. Radiation exposure and acute clinical outcomes were compared between groups. Results were stratified according to lesion complexity. RESULTS: Patients undergoing ULDP, as compared to those undergoing SDP, showed a significant reduction of kerma area product, both for simple lesions (6861.0 vs. 13236.0 mGy × cm2 ; p = 0.014) and complex lesions (CL) (8865.0 vs. 16618.0 mGy × cm2 ; p < 0.001). Similarly, Air Kerma (AK) was lower when ULDP was used (1222.5 vs. 2015.0 cGy in SL, p = 0.134; 1499.0 vs. 2794.0 cGy in CL, p < 0.001). No significant differences were reported regarding procedural success and in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events between groups. Notably, there was not any crossover from ULDO to SDP due to poor quality images. Interestingly, fluoroscopy time, procedural time and contrast volume was significantly lower in patients undergoing ULDP only for CLs. CONCLUSIONS: ULDP significantly reduces radiation exposure in the setting of high complexity procedures such as CTO PCI. This reduction seemed to be greater with increased procedural complexity and did not impact acute success or adverse clinical events.

Coils embolization use for coronary procedures: Basics, indications, and techniques.

The use of coils is fundamental in interventional cardiology and can be lifesaving in selected settings. Coils are classified by their materials into bare metal, fiber coated, and hydrogel coated, or by the deliverability method into, pushable or detachable coils. Coils are delivered through microcatheters and the choice of coil size is important to ensure compatibility with the inner diameter of the delivery catheter, firstly to be able to deliver and secondly to prevent the coil from being stuck and damaged. Clinically, coils are used in either acute or in elective setting. The most important acute indication is typically the sealing coronary perforation. In the elective settings, coils can be used for the treatment of certain congenital cardiac abnormalities, aneurysms, fistulas or in the treatment of arterial side branch steal syndrome after CABG. Coils must always be delivered under fluoroscopy guidance. There are some associated complications with coils that can be acute or chronic, that nictitates regular followed-up. There is a need for education, training and regular workshops with hands-on to build the experience to use coils in situations that are infrequently encountered.

Cutting balloon to optimize predilation for stent implantation: The COPS randomized trial.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to investigate the use of cutting balloon (CB) inflated at high pressure compared with noncompliant balloon (NCB) for the treatment of calcified coronary lesions. BACKGROUND: No data are available regarding the safety and efficacy of CB inflated at high pressure in coronary artery calcifications. METHODS: Patients with calcified lesions (more than 100° of calcium demonstrated at baseline intravascular ultrasound) were randomized. Primary endpoint of the study was the final minimal stent area (MSA) and stent symmetry in the calcific segment. Secondary endpoints included rate of device failure and the 1-year rate of target lesion revascularization, target vessel revascularization, and major adverse cardiovascular events. RESULTS: From September 2019 to June 2021, a total of 100 patients were included and randomized; 13 patients were excluded for major protocol deviations. Lesions were complex (type B2/C n = 61 [71.2%]) with a mean arch of calcium of 266 ± 84°, a calcium length of 12 ± 6.6 mm. CB was inflated at comparable atmospheres when compared with NCB (18.3 ± 5 vs. 19 ± 4.5, p = 0.46). In the per-protocol population, the final MSA at the level of the calcium site was significantly higher in the CB group (8.1 ± 2 vs. 7.3 ± 2.1, p = 0.035) with a higher eccentricity index achieved in the CB group (0.84 ± 0.07 vs. 0.8 ± 0.08, p = 0.013). Three device failure occurred in the CB group. One-year follow-up outcomes were comparable. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of calcified lesions with high-pressure CB has a good safety profile and is associated with a larger MSA and higher eccentricity of the stent at the level of the calcium site compared with NCB.

Wire-based antegrade dissection re-entry technique for coronary chronic total occlusions percutaneous revascularization: Experience from the ERCTO Registry.

BACKGROUND: The recent development and widespread adoption of antegrade dissection re-entry (ADR) techniques have been underlined as one of the antegrade strategies in all worldwide CTO consensus documents. However, historical wire-based ADR experience has suffered from disappointing long-term outcomes. AIMS: Compare technical success, procedural success, and long-term outcome of patients who underwent wire-based ADR technique versus antegrade wiring (AW). METHODS: One thousand seven hundred and ten patients, from the prospective European Registry of Chronic Total Occlusions (ERCTO), underwent 1806 CTO procedures between January 2018 and December 2021, at 13 high-volume ADR centers. Among all 1806 lesions attempted by the antegrade approach, 72% were approached with AW techniques and 28% with wire-based ADR techniques. RESULTS: Technical and procedural success rates were lower in wire-based ADR than in AW (90.3% vs. 96.4%, p < 0.001; 87.7% vs. 95.4%, p < 0.001, respectively); however, wire-based ADR was used successfully more often in complex lesions as compared to AW (p = 0.017). Wire-based ADR was used in most cases (85%) after failure of AW or retrograde procedures. At a mean clinical follow-up of 21 ± 15 months, major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) did not differ between AW and wire-based ADR (12% vs. 15.1%, p = 0.106); both AW and wire-based ADR procedures were associated with significant symptom improvements. CONCLUSIONS: As compared to AW, wire-based ADR is a reliable and effective strategy successfully used in more complex lesions and often after the failure of other techniques. At long-term follow-up, patient's MACCEs and symptoms improvement were similar in both antegrade techniques.

Clinical and procedural outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention for de novo lesions involving the ostial left circumflex coronary artery.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous treatment for ostial left circumflex artery (LCx) lesions is known to be associated with suboptimal results. AIMS: The present study aims to assess the procedural and long-term clinical outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for de novo ostial LCx lesions overall and according to the coronary revascularization strategy. METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing PCI with second generation drug eluting stents or drug coated balloons for de novo ostial LCx lesions in three high-volume Italian centers between 2012 and 2021 were retrospectively evaluated. The primary endpoint was target-vessel revascularization (TVR) at 2 years. Secondary endpoints included major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), target lesion revascularization, myocardial infarction, stroke, all-cause death, and repeat revascularization. RESULTS: A total of 366 patients were included in the analysis with a median follow-up of 901 (IQR: 450-1728) days. 79.5% of the patients were male, 33.6% were diabetic, 49.7% had a previous PCI, and 23.1% a prior surgical revascularization. Very ostial LCx stenting was performed in 34.1%, crossover from left main to LCx in 17.3%, and a two-stent strategy in 48.6% of cases, respectively. In the overall population, the incidence of TVR at 2 years was 19.0% while MACCE rate was 25.7%. No major differences in clinical outcomes were found according to the stenting strategy. Use of intracoronary imaging was associated with fewer MACCE (HR: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.25-1.13, p = 0.01), while the diameter of the stent implanted in the ostial LCx was associated with less TVR (HR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.25-0.75, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous revascularization of the ostial LCx is associated with a high rate of TVR, regardless of the stenting strategy. Intracoronary imaging and proper stent sizing may reduce the failure rates.

Gender differences in percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusions from the ERCTO study.

BACKGROUND: Gender-specific data addressing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of chronic total occlusion (CTO) in female patients are scarce and based on small sample size studies. AIMS: We aimed to analyze gender-differences regarding in-hospital clinical outcomes after CTO-PCI. METHODS: Data from 35,449 patients enrolled in the prospective European Registry of CTOs were analyzed. The primary outcome was the comparison of procedural success rate in the two cohorts (women vs. men), defined as a final residual stenosis less than 20%, with Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction grade flow = 3. In-hospital major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) and procedural complications were deemed secondary outcomes. RESULTS: Women represented 15.2% of the entire study population. They were older and more likely to have hypertension, diabetes, and renal failure, with an overall lower J-CTO score. Women showed a higher procedural success rate (adjusted OR [aOR] = 1.115, confidence interval [CI]: 1.011-1.230, p = 0.030). Apart from previous myocardial infarction and surgical revascularization, no other significant gender differences were found among predictors of procedural success. Antegrade approach with true-to-true lumen techniques was more commonly used than retrograde approach in females. No gender differences were found regarding in-hospital MACCEs (0.9% vs. 0.9%, p = 0.766), although a higher rate of procedural complications was observed in women, such as coronary perforation (3.7% vs. 2.9%, p < 0.001) and vascular complications (1.0% vs. 0.6%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Women are understudied in contemporary CTO-PCI practice. Female sex is associated with higher procedural success after CTO-PCI, yet no sex differences were found in terms of in-hospital MACCEs. Female sex was associated with a higher rate of procedural complications.

SUOH 03 Guidewire for the Management of Coronary Artery Dissection: Insights from a Multicenter Registry.

Background: In the setting of coronary artery dissection, both spontaneous and iatrogenic, fixing the intimal tear, usually with stent implantation, can be extremely challenging if the distal wire position has been lost. Common complications are mainly related to the inadvertent subintimal tracking of the guidewire while attempting to gain the distal true lumen. Aims: To report the registry results of using the SUOH 0.3 guidewire for managing coronary artery dissection in a real-world multicenter setting. Methods: The study population in this retrospective, multicenter, international registry included 75 consecutive patients who underwent PCI and required an antegrade wiring of a dissected coronary artery. Results: Successful use of SUOH 0.3 was achieved in 69 (92%) patients. The use of a microcatheter was associated with a significantly higher rate of TIMI 3 flow at the end of the procedure (no microcatheter: n = 17, 81%; microcatheter: n = 52, 96.3%; p = 0.017). The first recanalization attempt was made with the SUOH 03 guidewire in 48 (64%) cases, and it was successful in 42 (87%). The overall PCI success rate was reported in 72 (96%) patients, with no significant differences among patients with different origins, mechanisms, and locations of dissection. Conclusions: In this setting, the SUOH 0.3 guidewire provides high procedural success without additional complex techniques.

Acute coronary complications in chronic total occlusion interventions.

Chronic total occlusion (CTO) interventions are among the most complex procedures within the panorama of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Awareness of potential complications, adequate procedural planning in order to avoid them, and prompt recognition and management should any occur are at the cornerstone of a successful CTO programme. Complications can be acute or late after the procedure and can be cardiac or non-cardiac. Acute cardiac complications can occur directly at the coronary artery level or can have other strictly non-coronary manifestations, such as hypotension, myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, or tamponade. In this review, we focus on acute coronary complications of CTO PCI, in particular their causes, prevention, and management strategies.

Distal versus conventional radial access for coronary angiography and intervention: Design and rationale of DISCO RADIAL study.

BACKGROUND: Transradial access (TRA) has become the default access method for coronary diagnostic and interventional procedures. As compared to transfemoral access, TRA has been shown to be safer, cost-effective and more patient-friendly. Radial artery occlusion (RAO) represents the most frequent complication of TRA, and precludes future coronary procedures through the radial artery, the use of the radial artery as a conduit for coronary artery bypass grafting or as arteriovenous fistula for patients on hemodialysis. Recently, distal radial access (DRA) has emerged as a promising alternative to TRA, yielding potential for minimizing the risk of RAO. However, an international multicenter randomized comparison between DRA, and conventional TRA with respect to the rate of RAO is still lacking. TRIAL DESIGN: DISCO RADIAL is a prospective, multicenter, open-label, randomized, controlled, superiority trial. A total of 1300 eligible patients will be randomly allocated to undergo coronary angiography and/or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) through DRA or TRA using the 6 Fr Glidesheath Slender sheath introducer. Extended experience with both TRA and DRA is required for operators' eligibility and optimal evidence-based best practice to reduce RAO systematically implemented by protocol. The primary endpoint is the incidence of forearm RAO assessed by vascular ultrasound at discharge. Several important secondary endpoints will also be assessed, including access-site cross-over, hemostasis time, and access-site related complications. SUMMARY: The DISCO RADIAL trial will provide the first large-scale multicenter randomized evidence comparing DRA to TRA in patients scheduled for coronary angiography or PCI with respect to the incidence of RAO at discharge.

Radial artery occlusion after conventional and distal radial access: Impact of preserved flow and time-to-hemostasis in a propensity-score matching analysis of 1163 patients.

OBJECTIVES: To compare incidence of forearm radial artery occlusion (RAO) and hemostasis characteristics between distal and conventional transradial approach (DRA and TRA, respectively). BACKGROUND: DRA has the potential advantage of reducing RAO. DRA effectively reduces time-to-hemostasis, however its role on preserving flow in the radial artery (PF) during hemostasis and consequent impact on RAO remains speculative. METHODS: Eight hundred thirty-seven patients with TRA were previously enrolled in a prospective registry investigating the relationship of residual anticoagulation and RAO. Three hundred twenty-six additional patients with DRA were added to the cohort and matched to the original cohort by propensity score. The composite end-point of RAO at forearm and distal site of puncture (dRAO) was evaluated as secondary end-point. RESULTS: RAO occurred in 4.8% (41 of 837) of patients undergoing TRA and in 0% (0 of 326) of those undergoing DRA (p < 0.0001). DRA was associated with higher percentage of PF (97.2% vs. 78.5% in TRA group, p < 0.0001) and reduced time-to-hemostasis (147 ± 99 min vs. 285 ± 138 min, p < 0.0001). After matching, hemostasis characteristics were still significant different (PF 95.7% vs. 90.1%, p = 0.023, and 190 ± 92 vs. 323 ± 162 min, p < 0.0001) with reduction in the incidence of RAO (0 of 213, 0% vs. 7 of 213, 3.3%, p = 0.0015). dRAO occurred in one case (0.3% and 0.5% after matching, p < 0.0001 and p = 0.032 compared to TRA). CONCLUSIONS: DRA was associated with lower rates of RAO compared to TRA. This effect is potentially explained by reduced time-to-hemostasis and maintained flow at the wrist during hemostasis.

Device entrapment during percutaneous coronary intervention.

INTRODUCTION: Device entrapment is a life-threatening complication during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, the success for its management is predominantly based on operator experience with limited available guidance in the published literature. METHODS: A systematic review was performed on December 2021; we searched PubMed for articles on device entrapment during PCI. In addition, backward snowballing (i.e., review of references from identified articles and pertinent reviews) was employed. RESULTS: A total of 4209 articles were retrieved, of which 150 studies were included in the synthesis of the data. A methodical algorithmic approach to prevention and management of device entrapment can help to optimize outcomes. The recommended sequence of steps are as follows: (a) pulling, (b) trapping, (c) snaring, (d) plaque modification, (e) telescoping, and (f) surgery. CONCLUSIONS: In-depth knowledge of the techniques and necessary tools can help optimize the likelihood of successful equipment retrieval and minimization of complications.

Long term follow-up after balloon expandable covered stents implantation for management of transcatheter aortic valve replacement related vascular access complications.

OBJECTIVES: To report the experience of a high-volume center with balloon-expandable (BE) stents implantation to manage vascular complications after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). BACKGROUND: Despite increased operator experience and better devices, vascular complications after TAVR are still a major issue and covered stent implantation is often required. METHODS: We retrospectively collected baseline and procedural data about 78 consecutive patients who underwent BE stent implantation to manage a vascular complication after transfemoral TAVR. Primary endpoints were technical success, incidence of new-onset claudication and need for vascular interventions during long-term follow-up. Secondary endpoints included length of hospitalization, in-hospital and 30-day mortality, and major postoperative complications. RESULTS: BE stents implantation to manage vascular complications after TAVR was successfully performed in 96.2% of the cases, with bailout surgery required in two cases. One patient suffered in-hospital death. Predischarge Doppler Ultrasound revealed no cases of in-stent occlusion or fracture. At a median follow-up of 429 days (interquartile range, 89-994 days), no cases of symptomatic leg ischemia were reported and only one patient experienced new-onset claudication. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience showed good periprocedural and long-term results of BE covered stent implantation to manage vascular complication after TAVR. Their great radial outward force may guarantee effective hemostasis without necessarily being associated with stent deformation/fracture resulting in restenosis or further interventions. More research is needed to define the role of BE covered stents in this setting.

Management and outcomes of coronary artery perforations treated with the block and deliver technique.

OBJECTIVES AND BACKGROUND: Coronary artery perforation (CAP) is a potentially life-threatening complication during percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) and the best strategy for its management is yet to be proved. We aimed to analyze the safety, efficacy, and long-term clinical outcomes of the block and deliver (BAD) technique, as only anecdotal cases are reported in literature. METHODS: From January 2016 to January 2020, all consecutive patients treated with the BAD technique at five high-volume centers in Italy were retrospectively identified. RESULTS: 25 CAPs treated with the BAD technique were included. The most frequently perforated artery was the left anterior descending artery (32%) and spring-coil wires with a hydrophilic coating were the most common culprit wires (68%). Mean sealing time was 46.9 ± 60.1 min, with no significant differences between CTO-PCIs and non-CTO PCIs (p = .921). Acute successful sealing of the CAP was achieved in 96% of the cases. Immediate cardiac tamponade occurred in 28% of patients, four during CTO PCI and three during non-CTO PCI (p = .55). Two patients required pericardiocentesis during hospitalization, one patient developed acute kidney injury, and one patient underwent cardiac surgery due to severe mitral regurgitation. At 1-year follow-up no significant differences were observed between groups in terms of POCE (25 vs 25%, p = .628) and its individual components. CONCLUSION: The BAD technique proved to be effective for the management of CAP, showing high successful sealing rates. Rates of in-hospital events and at 1-year follow-up did not significantly differ between patients suffering CAP during CTO revascularization or during non-CTO PCI.

An algorithmic approach to balloon-uncrossable coronary lesions.

Balloon uncrossable coronary lesions are lesions that cannot be crossed with a balloon after successful guidewire crossing. The strategies used to facilitate the treatment of such lesions can be classified into strategies that provide lesion modification and strategies that increase support. We describe a systematic, algorithmic approach to treat balloon uncrossable lesions, starting with use of small balloons, followed by increase in guide catheter support, use of microcatheters, wire cutting or puncture techniques, laser, atherectomy, and subintimal modification techniques. Sequential and simultaneous application of the aforementioned techniques can result in successful treatment of these challenging lesions.

Effectiveness of the "new rope coil" composite core Suoh 0.3 guidewire in the management of coronary artery dissections.

Coronary artery dissection is a well-known complication of percutaneous coronary interventions. In this setting, coronary artery dissection is caused by mechanical injury of the arterial wall. However, dissection may also occur spontaneously. In both situations, an intimal tear or dissection allows blood entering and separating the layers of the coronary arterial wall. Despite percutaneous approach is still the preferred and the quickest way to restore coronary flow, it remains challenging. One of the main reasons for procedural failure is due to the difficult advancement of a guidewire into the true lumen. In such situation, the ideal wire should have a soft tip, high torque control, and excellent flexibility. Assuming that, the "new rope coil" composite core Suoh 0.3 guidewire, with its unique combination of characteristics, could allow better orientation insight into a dissected coronary artery increasing the chance of procedural success. We collected a case series of nine consecutive patients in which the Suoh 0.3 guidewire was able to gain the true lumen distally to a dissected segment.

The trap and occlude technique for retrograde wire externalization during chronic total occlusion revascularization.

Different strategies of retrograde approach were introduced in recent years to improve the success rate of percutaneous coronary intervention for coronary chronic total occlusions. The aim of this report is to describe a new technique, called "Trap and Occlude Technique," for retrograde wire externalization during CTO percutaneous revascularization. This technique may save time and reduce radiation exposure and procedure-related bleeding.

Self-apposing stent-assisted coil embolization for the treatment of coronary artery aneurysm.

Coronary artery aneurysms (CAA) represent an uncommon disease with yet unclear standards of treatment. Clinical and anatomic characteristics determine choice of treatment. Stent-assisted coil embolization has been described as a valuable option for management of patients with wide-neck coronary aneurysms. Choice of appropriate stent sizing can be challenging particularly when there is a large difference between proximal and distal diameters. We report a case of stent-assisted coil embolization of a coronary aneurysm using a self-expandable stent. This type of stent can be helpful to treat CAA involving coronary sites where marked tapering of vessel diameter is often present.

The Balloon-Microcatheter technique for treatment of coronary artery perforations.

Coronary perforation (CP) is a rare but potentially lethal complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Management of CP is mainly conditioned by the extension of coronary rupture and location of the perforation. Successful treatment is highly affected by the operator's familiarity with tools and dedicated techniques to achieve prompt sealing of the disruption. We describe a "Balloon-Microcatheter" technique that may allow fast, safe, and effective management of CP with a single ≥ 6 Fr guiding catheter. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Bone computed tomography mineral content evaluation in chickens: effects of substances in homeopathic concentration.

METHODS: Ninety-six cobb race chickens were equally divided in 4 groups and randomly assigned to receive a standard treatment feed + homeopathic concentrations of Symphytum (S.) officinalis (9CH), or standard treatment feed + homeopathic concentrations of Tricalcarea (4CH), or standard treatment feed + homeopathic concentrations of Calcarea (C.) carbonica (30CH) or a placebo (the same feed but without any homeopathic compound) in order to assess the ability of the homeopathic compounds to increase the concentration of calcium hydroxyapatite in the sternal spongy bone tissue. We measured the concentration of calcium hydroxyapatite in the sternal spongy bone tissue of all chickens by means of a computed tomography (CT). RESULTS: 30%, 36% and 63% increase of sternum spongy-bone mineralization was observed after a 2 years period in the treatment groups with S. officinalis (9CH), Tricalcarea (4CH) (*P < 0.05) and C. carbonica (30CH) (***P < 0.001) respectively. CONCLUSION: Bone mineralization is usually low in battery chickens reared in commercial poultry-sheds, creating a weakness of the whole animal supporting apparatus. Homeopathic preparations with bone-tissue tropism may improve their health quality.