Invasive physiologic assessment of coronary artery stenosis by resting full-cycle ratio and fractional flow reserve: a prospective observational study.

Resting full-cycle ratio (RFR), an alternative to fractional flow reserve (FFR) for evaluating intermediate coronary artery stenosis, helps reduce patients' time, cost, and discomfort. However, the validation data for RFR and FFR are lacking. We aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of RFR and FFR and evaluate effective decision-making for revascularization using their values. Patients subjected to an invasive physiological study for intermediate coronary artery stenosis in Yongin Severance hospital between October 2020 and April 2022 were prospectively and consecutively recruited. We evaluated the correlation between RFR and FFR measurements and the diagnostic performance of RFR (≤ 0.89) versus FFR (≤ 0.80). In all, 474 intermediate coronary stenosis lesions from 400 patients were evaluated using RFR and FFR values. There was a strong linear relationship between RFR and FFR (r = 0.75, 95% CI 0.70-0.78, p < 0.01). Comparing diagnostic performance between RFR and FFR, RFR demonstrated diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of 85.0%, 80.0%, 86.7%, 67.1%, and 92.7%, respectively. We analyzed the RFR value in the hyperemia zone (0.86-0.93) according to positive (RFR: 0.86-0.89) and negative (RFR: 0.90-0.93) areas. PPV in positive area is 47.8% (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 33.8% to 62.0%) and NPV in negative area is 87.7% (95% CI: 80.3% to 93.1%). Excellent correlation exists between RFR and FFR and the diagnostic value of RFR without hyperemia compared with FFR in establishing the accurate functional significance of coronary artery stenosis was shown. RFR alone could evaluate the functional significance of coronary artery stenosis without unnecessary hyperemia, except in the positive area.Trial registration: URL: http://trialsearch.who.int ; Unique identifier: KCT0005255.

Impacto del uso de ultrasonido intravascular en pacientes con infarto agudo de miocardio y alto riesgo isquémico / Impact of intravascular ultrasound in acute myocardial infarction patients at high ischemic risk

Introducción y objetivos: Hay falta de evidencia científica sobre el papel de la ecocardiografía intravascular intravascular (IVUS) para guiar procedimientos de intervencionismo coronario percutáneo (PCI) en pacientes con infarto agudo de miocardio (IAM) y alto riesgo isquémico. El objetivo de este trabajo fue investigar el impacto clínico a largo plazo de la PCI guiada por IVUS en pacientes con IAM y alto riesgo isquémico. Métodos: Se seleccionó una población de 8.890 pacientes sometidos con éxito a PCI con stent recubierto de segunda generación entre un total de 13.104 pacientes con IAM incluidos en el registro Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry-National Institutes of Health. Los pacientes se clasificaron en 2 grupos según la presencia o no de alto riesgo isquémico, definido como la presencia de alguna de las siguientes condiciones: implante ≥ 3 stents, tratamiento ≥ 3 vasos, longitud total de stent> 60mm, PCI en el tronco, diabetes o enfermedad renal crónica. El objetivo primario fue el fracaso a 3 años de la lesión diana revascularizada, incluida muerte cardiaca, infarto de miocardio en el vaso objetivo y revascularización por isquemia relacionada con la lesión objetivo. Resultados: En 4.070 pacientes con IAM y alto riesgo isquémico, la PCI guiada por IVUS se asoció a un riesgo significativamente menor de fracaso a 3 años de la lesión objetivo revascularizada comparado con la PCI guiada por angiografía (6,7 frente a 12,0%; HR=0,54; intervalo de confianza del 95%, 0,41-0,72; p <0,001). Los resultados se mantuvieron tras el ajuste por posibles factores de confusión, ponderación de probabilidad inversa y emparejamiento por puntuación de propensión. Conclusiones: La PCI guiada por IVUS se asocia a una reducción significativa del fracaso a 3 años de la lesión objetivo revascularizada en pacientes con IAM y alto riesgo isquémico en los que se utilizó stent recubierto de segunda generación.(AU)

Introduction and objectives: Evidence for the role of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients at high ischemic risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is lacking. This study aimed to investigate the long-term clinical impact of IVUS-guided PCI in patients at high ischemic risk of AMI. Methods: Among 13 104 patients with AMI enrolled in the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry-National Institutes of Health, we selected 8890 patients who underwent successful PCI with second-generation drug-eluting stent implantation and classified them into 2 groups based on whether or not they were at high ischemic risk or not, defined as any of the following: number of stents implanted ≥ 3, 3 vessels treated, ≥ 3 lesions treated, total stent length> 60mm, left main PCI, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease. The primary outcome was target lesion failure including cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, and ischemia-driven target lesion revascularization at 3 years. Results: In 4070 AMI patients at high ischemic risk, IVUS-guided PCI (21.6%) was associated with a significantly lower risk of target lesion failure at 3 years (6.7% vs 12.0%; HR, 0.54; 95%CI, 0.41-0.72; P <.001) than angiography-guided PCI. The results were consistent after confounder adjustment, inversed probability weighting, and propensity score matching. Conclusions: In patients at high ischemic risk of AMI who underwent PCI with second-generation drug-eluting stent implantation, use of IVUS guidance was associated with a significant reduction in 3-year target lesion failure.(AU)

Impact of Intravascular Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction and Chronic Kidney Disease.

BACKGROUND: In the setting of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), there are no data regarding the benefits of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.Methods and Results: This study used data from the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry, a large, multicenter prospective cohort. We evaluated 1,759 patients with AMI and CKD, defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m2, and patients were classified into 2 groups: with and without IVUS. The primary outcome was target lesion failure (TLF) at 3 years. The hazard ratio (HR) of TLF according to eGFR was also analyzed. A total of 1,759 patients with AMI and CKD who underwent IVUS-guided PCI (19.2%) had a significantly lower risk of TLF at 3 years (8.9% vs. 15.3%; HR 0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.38 to 0.81; P=0.002) than those who underwent angiography-guided PCI, regardless of their eGFR and the presence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The results were consistent after confounder adjustment and inversed probability weighting. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with CKD and AMI who underwent PCI with 2nd-generation DES implantation, the use of IVUS guidance was associated with a significant reduction in 3-year TLF and showed consistently favorable outcomes regardless of eGFR and ESRD.

Comparison of spasmolytic regimen for prevention of radial artery spasm during the distal radial approach: A single-center, randomized study.

Background: The distal radial approach (DRA) for coronary catheterization is increasingly being used worldwide yet the optimal medication regimen to prevent radial artery spasm (RAS), an important factor for the success of the procedure, remains unclear. The aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness of medication for preventing RAS via the DRA. Methods: This was a prospective, comparative randomized study including 400 patients who underwent coronary catheterization via DRA in single center by three experienced DRA operators. Patients were randomized to either nitroglycerin (NTG) injection (N = 200) or NTG plus verapamil (N = 200) to compare the effectiveness and safety of these regimens. Results: There were no differences between the groups in the changes in radial artery diameter at most spastic area (0.34 ± 0.20 in the NTG group, 0.35 ± 0.20 in the NTG plus verapamil group; P = 0.73). There was no difference between the groups in the ratio of patients without arm pain during the procedure (95.0% in the NTG group, 93.5% in the NTG plus verapamil group; P = 0.67). However, there was a greater reduction in diastolic blood pressure in the NTG plus verapamil group (-8.3 ± 7.9 mmHg) than in the NTG group (-6.6 ± 7.6 mmHg) (P = 0.03). Conclusion: Intra-arterial injection of NTG as a single agent is effective and safe in the prevention of RAS during coronary catheterization via the DRA compared with a cocktail regimen of NTG plus verapamil. Clinical trial registration: https://cris.nih.go.kr, identifier KCT0005177.

Impact of intravascular ultrasound in acute myocardial infarction patients at high ischemic risk.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Evidence for the role of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients at high ischemic risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is lacking. This study aimed to investigate the long-term clinical impact of IVUS-guided PCI in patients at high ischemic risk of AMI. METHODS: Among 13 104 patients with AMI enrolled in the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry-National Institutes of Health, we selected 8890 patients who underwent successful PCI with second-generation drug-eluting stent implantation and classified them into 2 groups based on whether or not they were at high ischemic risk or not, defined as any of the following: number of stents implanted ≥ 3, 3 vessels treated, ≥ 3 lesions treated, total stent length> 60mm, left main PCI, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease. The primary outcome was target lesion failure including cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, and ischemia-driven target lesion revascularization at 3 years. RESULTS: In 4070 AMI patients at high ischemic risk, IVUS-guided PCI (21.6%) was associated with a significantly lower risk of target lesion failure at 3 years (6.7% vs 12.0%; HR, 0.54; 95%CI, 0.41-0.72; P <.001) than angiography-guided PCI. The results were consistent after confounder adjustment, inversed probability weighting, and propensity score matching. CONCLUSIONS: In patients at high ischemic risk of AMI who underwent PCI with second-generation drug-eluting stent implantation, use of IVUS guidance was associated with a significant reduction in 3-year target lesion failure. iCreaT study No. C110016.

Long-Term Clinical Outcomes of Iliac Artery Endovascular Therapy in the Korean Vascular Intervention Society Endovascular Therapy in Lower Limb Artery Diseases (K-VIS ELLA) Registry.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Limited data are available regarding long-term clinical outcomes of iliac artery endovascular therapy (EVT) in real-world practice. This study investigated long-term outcomes according to Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) classifications. METHODS: We analyzed data from 1,705 limbs of 1,364 patients from the retrospective cohort of the multicenter Korean Vascular Intervention Society Endovascular Therapy in Lower Limb Artery Disease registry. The primary endpoint was target lesion revascularization (TLR)-free survival. RESULTS: TASC A, B, C, and D lesions were present in 19.4%, 26.2%, 28.7%, and 25.7% of the treated limbs, respectively. The technical success rate was 96.2% and did not differ between TASC lesion types. Complications occurred in 6.8% of cases and more occurred in TASC D (11.8%). Iliac artery EVT showed a 5-year TLR-free survival of 89.2%. The TASC D group had the lowest TLR-free rate of 79.3%. TASC D (hazard ratio [HR], 1.75; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-2.73; p=0.014), plain old balloon angioplasty (HR, 4.25; 95% CI, 2.03-8.88; p<0.001), current smoker (HR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.26-2.83; p=0.002), previous bypass surgery (HR, 3.04; 95% CI, 1.28-7.19; p=0.011), combined femoropopliteal treatment (HR, 4.89; 95% CI, 3.19-7.50; p<0.001), combined below the knee treatment (HR, 2.20; 95% CI, 1.25-3.89; p=0.007), and complications (HR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.07-3.24; p=0.028) were predictors for TLR. CONCLUSIONS: Iliac artery EVT achieved excellent technical success and 5-year TLR-free survival. TASC D showed a favorable but lower 5-year TLR-free survival rate and higher complication rate compared with other TASC groups. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02748226.

Successful Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention without Stenting: Insight from Optimal Coherence Tomography.

For patients with acute myocardial infarction, current management guidelines recommend implantation of a drug-eluting stent, dual antiplatelet therapy (including potent P2Y12 inhibitors) for at least 1 year, and maintenance of life-long antiplatelet therapy. However, a pilot study showed favorable results with antithrombotic therapy without stent implantation when plaque erosion, not definite plaque rupture, was confirmed using optical coherence tomography (OCT), despite the patients having acute myocardial infarction. Here, we present a case where successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention was performed without stenting with the aid of OCT in a patient with ST-elevation myocardial infarction who developed thrombotic total occlusion of the right coronary artery.

Clinical Impact of Single and Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Beyond 12 Months on Ischemic Risk in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Background: There is ongoing debate regarding the optimal antiplatelet strategy beyond 12 months in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who undergo successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This study therefore aimed to investigate the clinical outcomes of single (SAPT) vs. dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) beyond 12 months in patients with stable AMI and second-generation drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. Methods: Of 13,104 patients from the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry-National Institutes of Health database, we selected 4,604 patients who underwent PCI with second-generation DES and exhibited no adverse clinical events within 12 months; they were classified into SAPT (aspirin or clopidogrel) or DAPT (aspirin and clopidogrel) groups. The primary endpoints were major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), including the composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke between 12 and 36 months. Results: The SAPT group (n = 1,862) was associated with a significantly lower risk of MACCE between 12 and 36 months [4.2 vs. 8.5%, hazard ratio (HR): 0.47, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.37-0.61; p < 0.001] than the DAPT group (n = 2,742). The results were consistent after adjusting for confounders through multivariable and propensity score matching analysis. Moreover, in patients with complex features (defined as an unprotected left main PCI, implanted stent length of ≥38 mm, multivessel PCI, or ≥3 stents per patients), the SAPT group (n = 678) also demonstrated a significantly lower risk of MACCE between 12 and 36 months (4.9 vs. 9.9%, HR: 0.46, CI: 0.31-0.68, p < 0.001) than the DAPT group (n = 1,167). Conclusions: In patients with AMI who underwent successful PCI with second-generation DES and exhibited no adverse clinical events within 12 months, the use of SAPT was associated with a significantly lower MACCE between 12 and 36 months compared with the use of DAPT.

P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy in complex percutaneous coronary intervention: A post-hoc analysis of SMART-CHOICE randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: It remains unclear whether P2Y12 monotherapy, especially clopidogrel, following short-duration dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is associated with favorable outcomes in patients undergoing complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Therefore, this study analyzed the efficacy and safety of P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy, mostly clopidogrel (78%), in complex PCI following short-term DAPT. METHODS: The post-hoc analysis of the SMART-CHOICE trial involving 2,993 patients included 498 cases of complex PCIs, defined by at least one of the following features: 3 vessels treated, ≥ 3 stents implanted, ≥ 3 lesions treated, bifurcation with ≥ 2 stents implanted, and a total stent length of ≥ 60 mm. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event (MACCE), defined as the composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, and stroke. The primary safety endpoint included bleeding, defined as Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) types 2 to 5. RESULTS: Complex PCI group had a higher risk of MACCE (4.0% vs. 2.3%, hazard ratio [HR] = 1.74, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-2.89, p = 0.033) and a similar risk of BARC types 2-5 bleeding (2.6% vs. 2.6%, HR = 1.02, 95% CI: 0.56-1.86, p = 0.939) compared with those without complex PCIs. Patients undergoing complex PCIs, followed by P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy and 12 months of DAPT exhibited similar rates of MACCE (3.8% vs. 4.2%, HR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.38-2.21, p = 0.853). CONCLUSIONS: P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy, mostly clopidogrel, following 3 months of DAPT did not increase ischemic events in patients with complex PCIs.

Comparison of Distal Radial, Proximal Radial, and Femoral Access in Patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Recent studies have indicated that distal radial access (DRA) is feasible in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The present study aimed to compare DRA, proximal radial access (PRA), and femoral access (FA) in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing PCI. Data were analyzed for 109 patients with STEMI treated via primary PCI from March 2020 to May 2021. The success rate of DRA was 83.3% (35/42), including seven cases of failed puncture (puncture failure = 5, severe radial artery spasm = 2). Primary PCI via the DRA was successful in all 35 patients. After classifying the patients requiring crossover into a separate group, the percentage of the puncture time in the door-to-wiring time was 2.7% [2.2-4.3], 3.3% [2.3-4.0], 2.6% [1.2-4.9], and 27.0% [13.5-29.3] in the DRA (n = 35), PRA (n = 24), FA (n = 26), and crossover (n = 9) groups, respectively (p < 0.01). Only two local hematomas (≤5 cm) occurred in the DRA group, while one patient in the FA group required surgical treatment and a transfusion for an access-site vascular injury. When performed by an experienced operator, DRA may represent a feasible alternative to other access routes in select patients with STEMI undergoing PCI, such as those with a high risk of bleeding.

Feasibility and Safety of the Left Distal Radial Approach in Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Bifurcation Lesions.

Recently, the left distal radial approach (DRA) for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been shown to be a feasible option, but there are limited data regarding the feasibility of performing bifurcation PCI via the left DRA. Therefore, this study aimed to describe our experience with the contemporary left DRA to perform PCI of bifurcation lesions. Between December 2017 and December 2019, we identified 106 patients treated with bifurcation PCI via the left DRA. We evaluated the success rate of PCI, access-site complications including major bleeding requiring surgery or transfusion, hematoma, distal and forearm radial artery occlusion, and 30-day mortality. Eleven patients (10.4%) treated with left main bifurcation and true bifurcations accounted for 39.6% of cases, with the left anterior descending artery/diagonal branch being the most frequent bifurcation site (57.5%, 61/106). PCI was performed using a 6-French guiding catheter in 101 (95.3%) cases. Successful PCI for bifurcation lesions via the left DRA was achieved in all 106 patients without access-site cross-over. There was no major bleeding, distal and forearm radial artery occlusion, forearm hematoma, or mortality at 30 days. The left DRA is a safe and feasible alternative access site for bifurcation PCI in selected patients.

The learning curve of the distal radial access for coronary intervention.

Recently, coronary angiography (CAG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) via the distal radial access (DRA), are gaining attention owing to fewer complications. Despite the advantages of the DRA, there is difficulty to initiate this new vascular approach. The data from 1000 patients who underwent CAG and PCI via the DRA by a single experienced radial operator were retrospectively analyzed. The primary outcome was the success rate of the DRA per 100 cases. Moreover, the predictors of the failed DRA were analyzed. Overall, 952 (95.2%) of the total 1,000 patients underwent a successful DRA. After experiencing 200 cases, the DRA success rate was well maintained at > 94%, and there was no difference in success rate per 100 cases (Ptrend = 0.216). The predictors of failure were female sex [odds ratio (OR) 1.84, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-3.39, P = 0.049] and systolic blood pressure (SBP) of < 120 mmHg (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.04-3.36, P = 0.036). For achieving a stable DRA with the success rate of > 94%, 200 procedures would be needed. Moreover, this new approach could fail in women and patients with low SBP.Trial registration: https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/index/index.do (Unique identifier: KCT0005349).

Optimal hemostasis duration for percutaneous coronary intervention via the snuffbox approach: A prospective, multi-center, observational study (HEMOBOX).

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) via the distal radial access (DRA), called as snuffbox approach, recently has been increased worldwide due to fewer complications. Generally, since the diameter of distal radial artery is smaller than the radial artery, it is expected that the hemostasis duration can be shortened; however, there are no prospective studies. Furthermore, there is a lack of data about the feasibility of DRA for PCI. METHODS: We prospectively collected data from 250 patients who were performed PCI via the DRA by three multi-center operators between March 2019 and December 2019. The primary outcome was hemostasis duration. Secondary outcomes were success rate of PCI, cannulation time, and puncture site complications. RESULTS: Mean age of study population was 65.1 ± 10.3 years, success rate of PCI via the DRA was 99.2% (250/252) and 91.2% (228/250) patients was performed PCI via 6-French sheath. The cannulation time was 131 ± 98 s and the average hemostasis duration was 199 ± 50 min, and the median time was 180 [180-200] min. There are few minor hematomas (8.0%) and puncture site numbness (1.6%) with no radial artery occlusion. CONCLUSIONS: HEMOBOX trial first reported hemostasis duration for PCI using the DRA, approximately 3 h, with 99.2% success rate and few minor complications. TRIAL REGISTRATION: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03863652.

Ticagrelor vs. Clopidogrel in Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease After New-Generation Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation.

Background: The impact of ticagrelor-based dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) on acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains unclear. Methods: Data on a total of 1,067 ACS patients with CKD including end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who underwent new-generation drug-eluting stent implantation were extracted from a multicenter registry. This study aimed to compare outcomes of patients treated with ticagrelor- (n = 449) and those treated with clopidogrel-based (n = 618) DAPT. Outcomes of interest included major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) and bleeding (Bleeding Academic Research Consortium grade 3 or 5) at 12 months. Propensity-score matching (346 pairs) analysis was performed. Results: The patients with ESRD showed the highest MACCE and bleeding rates (P < 0.001). There was no difference in the rate of MACCEs between the treatment groups (7.8% vs. 8.4%; hazard ratio [HR] = 0.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.56-1.61, P = 0.855); however, a trend toward an increased bleeding rate was observed in the ticagrelor-based DAPT group (6.8% vs. 3.8%, HR = 1.84, 95% CI = 0.93-3.63, P = 0.079). Among patients with CKD stage III/IV but without ESRD (277 pairs), the ticagrelor-based DAPT group showed a reduced MACCE rate (3.6% vs. 8.7%, HR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.19-0.86, P = 0.018) and a similar bleeding rate (5.1% vs. 3.2%, HR = 1.61, 95% CI = 0.70-3.71, P = 0.267), compared with those of the clopidogrel-based DAPT group. Conclusion: The effects of ticagrelor-based DAPT on ischemic and bleeding outcomes of ACS patients with CKD varied according to CKD stage; in ACS patients with CKD without ESRD, ticagrelor-based DAPT reduced MACCE risk without increasing bleeding risks, relative to those observed with clopidogrel-based DAPT.

Comparison of 4-French versus 5-French sheaths for diagnostic coronary angiography via the snuffbox approach.

BACKGROUND: Although a shorter hemostasis duration would be expected when compared with the conventional radial approach as the diameter of the distal radial artery is smaller than that of the conventional radial artery, the optimal duration of hemostasis in diagnostic coronary angiography (CAG) via the distal radial approach, termed the snuffbox approach, has not been well investigated. METHODS: Data from 171 patients were retrospectively collected (55 and 116 patients in the 4-French [Fr] and 5-Fr sheath groups, respectively). The patients had suspected myocardial ischemia and were undergoing diagnostic CAG via the snuffbox approach at a single center between January 2019 and August 2019. RESULTS: The mean age of the study population was 67.6 ± 11.0 years, and 69% were male. The left snuffbox approach was performed in 146 (85.4%) patients. The mean snuffbox puncture time, defined as the time interval between local anesthesia and sheath cannulation, was 145.1 ± 120.8 s. The hemostasis duration was significantly shorter in the 4-Fr sheath group than in the 5-Fr sheath group (70 [62-90] vs. 120 [120-130] min; p < 0.001). There were local hematomas, defined as ≤ 5 cm in diameter, at the puncture site in 8 (4.7%) patients. Moreover, there were no conventional and distal radial artery occlusions, assessed by manual pulse, after hemostasis in the study population during hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Successful hemostasis was obtained within 2 h for diagnostic CAG via the snuffbox approach using the 4-Fr or 5-Fr sheaths.

Ischemic and Bleeding Events Associated with Thrombocytopenia and Thrombocytosis after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction.

The early and late ischemic and bleeding clinical outcomes according to baseline platelet count after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remain unclear. Overall, 10,667 patients from the Cardiovascular Risk and identification of potential high-risk population in AMI (COREA-AMI) I and II registries were classified according to the following universal criteria on baseline platelet counts: (1) moderate to severe thrombocytopenia (platelet < 100 K/µL, n = 101), (2) mild thrombocytopenia (platelet = 100~149 K/µL, n = 631), (3) normal reference (platelet = 150~450 K/µL, n = 9832), and (4) thrombocytosis (platelet > 450 K/µL, n = 103). The primary endpoint was the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). The secondary outcome was Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) 2, 3, and 5 bleeding. After adjusting for confounders, the moderate to severe thrombocytopenia (HR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.49-2.78); p < 0.001), mild thrombocytopenia (HR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.01-1.34; p = 0.045), and thrombocytosis groups (HR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.07-2.03; p = 0.019) showed higher 5-year MACE rates than the normal reference. In BARC 2, 3, and 5 bleeding outcomes, the bleedings rates were higher than the normal range in the moderate to severe thrombocytopenia (HR, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.36-3.49; p = 0.001) and mild thrombocytopenia (HR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.12-1.78; p = 0.004) groups. Patients with AMI had higher 5-year MACE rates after PCI if they had lower- or higher-than-normal platelet counts. Thrombocytopenia revealed higher early and late bleeding rates whereas thrombocytosis showed long-term bleeding trends, although these trends were not statistically significant.

Massive pulmonary thromboembolism combined with transient thyrotoxicosis in an 18 year old girl.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is thought to usually stem from deep vein thrombosis (DVT). However, evidence of DVT could not be found in many cases. Furthermore, transient thyrotoxicosis is a rare but potentially life-threatening emergency involving a systemic hypercoagulable state. We report on an 18 year-old-girl with transient thyrotoxicosis with massive PTE without DVT. CASE PRESENTATION: An 18-year-old girl was admitted to the hospital with syncope. Patient had no history of trauma, any known underlying disease or oral contraceptives use. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed massive PTE in both central pulmonary arteries and diffuse goiter. However, a low extremity Doppler sonogram did not detect DVT. To manage the PTE, we administered low molecular weight heparin. On the other hands, thyroid function test indicated a state of thyrotoxicosis. In addition, patient had a partial protein S deficiency but no other immunologic abnormality. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with massive PTE, thyrotoxicosis, and partial protein S deficiency. Patient was discharged with oral warfarin and methimazole. A follow-up echocardiogram obtained 3 months after anticoagulation therapy demonstrated normal dimensions and systolic function. After thyrotoxicosis was treated with methimazole for a month, a euthyroid state was achieved and the goiter decreased to a normal size. The methimazole was gradually tapered off and stopped at 4 months. At a 6-month follow up visit, PTE and pulmonary hypertension had disappeared but the patient still had a partial protein S deficiency. We decided to stop all medication with careful monitoring. During a 4-year follow-up period after the episode, she was asymptomatic without any evidence of recurrent systemic thromboembolism or hyperthyroidism. CONCLUSIONS: Early recognition and appropriate treatment of PTE combined with transient thyrotoxicosis were vital to preventing other complications.