Rendezvous-PIERCE technique: establishing a channel through severe calcification in infrainguinal arterial lesions using needle rendezvous.

BACKGROUND: Severe calcification often prevents device passage and balloon expansion in cases of lower extremity artery disease. To address this limitation, we introduced a novel calcium modification technique called Rendezvous-PIERCE (R-PIERCE). METHODS: A needle was inserted in a retrograde manner and advanced to touch the tip of an antegrade guidewire within the lesion. Then, the guidewire was advanced into the lumen of the needle to achieve partial guidewire externalization, also known as needle rendezvous. The needle was then introduced over the externalized guidewire under wire tension and repeatedly rotated and advanced across the lesion to modify calcified intimal plaques. Notably, this technique can be applied in the opposite direction. RESULTS: Case 1 involved a 68-year-old male with a calcified occlusion of the anterior tibial artery. An antegrade guidewire reached the midpoint of the occlusion; however, microcatheters and balloons could not pass through the proximal calcification. Therefore, R-PIERCE was used to modify uncrossable lesions. An antegrade 2.5-mm balloon crossed and dilated the lesion, achieving hemostasis at the needle insertion site. The antegrade guidewire successfully crossed the entire lesion and was dilated by the 2.5-mm balloon. Final angiography demonstrated successful flow. In Case 2, an 80-year-old male had a calcified femoropopliteal occlusion. An antegrade guidewire was advanced into the distal superficial femoral artery (SFA); however, no device could follow it. R-PIERCE was performed to modify the calcification from the distal to the medial SFA. The antegrade balloon successfully crossed and dilated obstructed lesions. Furthermore, the antegrade guidewire crossed the entire lesion, and the antegrade balloon was dilated. Final angiography revealed a successful flow without complications. CONCLUSIONS: R-PIERCE is useful for modifying complex calcified lesions during the wiring of occlusive lesions.

Successful transvenous retrieval of an electrode ring dislodged from a novel visualized steerable sheath by inflation of a balloon inside the ring.

The VIZIGO sheath (Biosense Webster, Irvine, CA, USA) is used for catheter ablation (CA) of atrial arrhythmia. In this case report, we describe a complication associated with the VIZIGO sheath and present a successful bailout method. An 82-year-old woman with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial tachycardia (AT) was referred to our hospital after experiencing palpitations for 6 months. She underwent CA using the VIZIGO sheath and a fixed Swartz sheath (St. Jude Inc., St. Paul, MN, USA). Pulmonary vein isolation and left atrial posterior wall isolation were performed to address AF and AT. Following ablation, the Swartz sheath was removed; however, the VIZIGO sheath showed resistance to removal. A wire was inserted into the VIZIGO sheath for removal, but the distal electrode ring detached in the vessel. To retrieve the electrode ring, a Mustang over-the-wire angioplasty balloon was dilated inside the ring and withdrawn with the ring. After venography and confirmation of a hemostatic seal, the ablation procedure was completed. The patient experienced postoperative anemia, which was resolved by erythrocyte transfusion. No further paroxysmal AF or AT occurred during the 1-year follow-up. In conclusion, the VIZIGO sheath's distal electrode ring may become detached during CA, and the detached ring can be successfully retrieved using our original bailout technique. Learning objective: This case report highlights the unique complication of electrode ring detachment associated with the novel visualized steerable sheath (VIZIGO; Biosense Webster, Irvine, CA, USA) during catheter ablation procedures and presents the successful technique as a bailout method for retrieving the dislodged ring. The technique involves dilating a non-compliant over-the-wire angioplasty balloon inside the ring and withdrawing it along with the detached ring.

Repeat drug-coated balloon angioplasty for femoropopliteal lesions: 12-month results from a retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: The clinical implications of restenosis after drug-coated balloon (DCB) treatment remain unclear. We compared the clinical outcomes between DCB angioplasty for restenosis and de novo femoropopliteal artery lesions. This single-center retrospective study included 571 patients (737 limbs) who underwent either repeat (54 patients, 64 limbs) or de novo DCB (517 patients, 673 limbs) without bailout stenting. After propensity score matching, 49 matched pairs were analyzed. The primary endpoint was the 1-year primary patency, with secondary endpoints including the freedom from target lesion revascularization (TLR), major adverse limb events (MALE), and early restenosis. Predictors of restenosis were identified using multivariable Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: The repeat-DCB group displayed significantly lower rates of 1-year primary patency and freedom from TLR compared to those of the de novo-DCB group (50.1% vs. 77.4%, p = 0.029 and 54.9% vs. 83.6%, p = 0.0.44, respectively). No significant differences were observed in early restenosis or MALE (10.7% vs. 5.9%, p = 0.455 and 48.3% vs. 73.4%, p = 0.055, respectively). Restenosis after DCB angioplasty was associated with repeat DCB (hazard ratio [HR], 5.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.43-18.4; p = 0.012) and small vessel size of < 4.5 mm (HR, 6.25; 95% CI, 1.17-33.4; p = 0.032). Furthermore, restenosis after repeat DCB angioplasty was associated with the Peripheral Artery Calcification Scoring System (PACSS) grade 4 (HR, 4.20; 95% CI, 1.08-16.3; p = 0.038), small vessel size of < 4.5 mm (HR, 9.44; 95% CI, 1.21-73.7; p = 0.032), and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) use (HR, 0.05; 95% CI, 0.01-0.44; p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: The 1-year primary patency rate following repeat DCB angioplasty for femoropopliteal lesions was notably lower than that of DCB treatment for de novo lesions. Repeat DCB strategy was associated with an increased risk of patency loss. Regarding repeat restenosis after DCB treatments, PACSS grade 4 calcification and small vessel diameter of < 4.5 mm were associated with an increased risk of restenosis, whereas IVUS use correlated with a decreased risk of restenosis.

Outcomes of non-flow-limiting spiral dissection after drug-coated balloon angioplasty for de novo femoropopliteal lesions.

BACKGROUND: Whether drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty would be effective in spiral dissection (SD) lesions with no flow impairment has been thoroughly investigated. AIMS: The present study sought to assess the clinical outcomes of non-flow-limiting SD after DCB angioplasty for de novo femoropopliteal lesions in patients with symptomatic lower extremity artery disease. METHOD: This single-center retrospective study enrolled 497 patients with non-flow-limiting SD (n = 92) or non-SD (n = 405) without bailout stenting. The primary endpoint was 1-year primary patency, with the secondary endpoints including freedom from target lesion revascularization (TLR), major adverse limb event (MALE), all-cause death, and 30-day restenosis. RESULTS: The 1-year primary patency and freedom from TLR were significantly lower in the SD group than in the non-SD group (69.8% vs. 83.3%, p = 0.004; 78.7% vs. 93.0%, p = 0.007, respectively). The SD group had a higher incidence of MALE and 30-day restenosis than the non-SD group (24.6% vs. 11.9%, p = 0.001; 4.3% vs. 0.5%, p = 0.002, respectively). All-cause death was comparable. One-year restenosis after SD was associated with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) (hazard ratio, 3.36 [95% confidence interval, 1.21-9.36]; p = 0.020), TASC Ⅱ D (hazard ratio, 3.97 [95% confidence interval, 1.02-15.52]; p = 0.047), and residual stenosis ≥50% (hazard ratio, 4.92 [95% confidence interval, 1.01-23.94]; p = 0.048). The incidence of restenosis after SD increased with the number of these risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Despite normal antegrade flow, the 1-year primary patency rate after DCB angioplasty for de novo femoropopliteal lesions was significantly lower in lesions with SD than those without SD. CLTI, TASC II D, and residual stenosis ≥50% were risk factors associated with 1-year restenosis after DCB angioplasty for non-flow-limiting SD lesions.

Burr entrapment in a percutaneous coronary intervention during rotational atherectomy: An experience with 3195 cases.

OBJECTIVES: Burr entrapment is a potentially life-threatening complication of rotational atherectomy (RA). However, owing to its infrequency, there have been no major reports on burr entrapment. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence, treatment, and outcomes of burr entrapment. METHODS: This multicenter retrospective study analyzed patients who had undergone percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) and were treated by RA between May 2013 and March 2022. RESULTS: Of the 22 640 PCI procedures, RA was performed in 3195 patients (14.1%), among whom burr entrapment occurred in 22 patients (0.69%). The mean patient age was 78 ± 8.7 years; 64% were male, and 32% were on dialysis. The entrapped burr size was 1.7 ± 0.2 mm, and the burr/artery ratio was 0.6 ± 0.1. In 20 patients (91%), the burr was extracted by strong manual pullback. The other patients underwent balloon angioplasty at the site of the entrapped burr, which might have provided space for successful burr withdrawal. Major adverse cardiac events occurred in 23% of patients. Tamponade requiring pericardiocentesis occurred in two patients (9%). No patients required emergency surgery or suffered an in-hospital death. CONCLUSIONS: Burr entrapment occurred in 0.69% of patients who had undergone RA. Most burrs were extracted by a strong manual pullback. None required emergency surgery, and there were no in-hospital deaths. The results provide a treatment approach and prognosis for burr stuck in the use of RA.

Modified leopard-crawl technique using intravascular lithotripsy balloon in calcified coronary lesions.

Intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) has emerged as a novel therapy for the treatment of coronary calcification. Numerous studies have reported the safety and efficacy of IVL in calcified coronary lesions, while IVL balloon-uncrossable calcified coronary lesions are sometimes encountered in clinical practice. This case report represents a novel technique called "modified leopard-crawl" to advance the IVL balloon antegradely by creating significant calcium cracking forward when the enhanced stent visualization system reveals that the distal emitter seems adjacent to calcification. This technique might be a valuable alternative when conventional procedures fail and has the potential to enhance the clinical applicability of IVL in daily practice.

Lock and dock: Two-step transvenous retrieval of a fractured femoral sheath with a vascular snare via the right internal jugular vein.

An 86-year-old male with progressive palpitations and dyspnea was referred to our hospital for heart failure treatment. Catheter ablation was performed for atrial flutter as we suspected tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy as the cause of the patient's heart failure. Due to difficulty securing a peripheral venous route, a 6-Fr sheath was inserted via the right common femoral vein prior to administering general anesthesia. While attempting to insert a mapping catheter, the 6-Fr sheath became lodged and subsequently fractured during removal. Percutaneous transvenous retrieval using an 8-Fr sheath was unsuccessful, and a switch to a right internal jugular vein approach with a 16-Fr sheath was necessary for successful retrieval. The following two-step retrieval ("lock and dock") was then performed: 1) lock: a vascular snare was used to catch the remaining wire crossing into the fractured sheath lumen to prevent the risk of sheath migration to the right ventricle or the pulmonary artery, and 2) dock: the same snare was subsequently used to catch the fractured sheath. The planned catheter ablation was then successfully performed, without any complications. Learning objective: Our case presents, "lock and dock," a novel approach for percutaneous transvenous retrieval that involves two steps: a vascular snare is used to catch the wire and subsequently the fractured sheath. This use of a vascular snare and a large-diameter sheath through the right internal jugular vein effectively reduces the possibility of fractured sheath migration.

Oversensing caused by trapped air in the header of subcutaneous cardioverter-defibrillator generator.

In this study, we report two cases with oversensing due to air accumulation in the subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) device generator header. If trapped air in the header of the device is suspected, the re-connection procedure should be considered or the primary vector must be used, which might prevent oversensing.

Contralateral Hip Abductor Muscle Strength Associated with Comfort of Getting into and out of the Car after Total Hip Arthroplasty.

There are no studies that have investigated the characteristics of car use across THA patients, including those who do not drive. This study aimed to evaluate, in THA patients, (1) postoperative car usage, (2) comfort while entering and exiting a car, and (3) whether lower limb muscle strength affects action comfort. One hundred seventy-two post-THA patients completed the questionnaire in 2020, along with assessments of hip abductor and knee extensor muscle strength before surgery and at discharge. Patients whose overall comfort level was judged as comfortable were defined as the comfort group; others were placed in the discomfort group. Of the 172 patients, 161 reported car usage at a mean of 5.6 years after THA. Of these, 114 and 47 patients were placed in the comfort and discomfort groups, respectively. Patients in the discomfort group were three times more likely to experience discomfort using the contralateral side door than the surgical side door, and about twice as many patients experienced discomfort when entering as when exiting. Lower preoperative contralateral hip abductor muscle strength was the only independent predictor for discomfort. The take-home messages were that prevention of contralateral-side weakness may improve comfort during the action after THA.