Early and long-term results of the endovascular treatment of patients with isolated infrarenal aortic stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to report our results of patients' characteristics, procedural complications, and long-term patency in treatment of isolated infrarenal aortic stenosis (IIAS). METHODS: Forty symptomatic patients (28 female, 12 male; median age, 60 years [54.8-68 years]) with IIAS who underwent endovascular intervention between 2001 and 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Patient, lesion, procedure, and balloon/stent characteristics were assessed. Follow-up included clinical status evaluation and color Doppler ultrasound examination. RESULTS: The cause of IIAS was atherosclerosis in all patients. Twenty percent of the patients were younger than 50 years; 85% had hypertension, 80% were smokers, 38% had hyperlipidemia, 23% had diabetes mellitus, 15% were obese (body mass index ≥30 kg/m2), and 8% had chronic kidney disease. The median stenosis grade was 80% (70%-80%), and the median lesion length was 19.9 mm (13-29.4 mm). Severe calcification was present in 8% of the patients. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty was performed in four cases (10%), whereas stenting was performed in 36 (90%). One complication, an aortic rupture requiring surgical repair, occurred. The median follow-up was 61 months (17-101 months). The primary patency rate was 100% at 6 months, 97% at 12 and 24 months, and 88% at 60 and 96 months. Restenosis developed in three patients (8%); reintervention was carried out in two cases (5%). CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular therapy for IIAS provides a safe and effective long-term treatment strategy.

The presence of long and heavily calcified lesions predisposes for fracture in patients undergoing stenting of the first part of the subclavian artery.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and risk factors of subclavian artery stent fractures and to investigate their impact on in-stent restenosis development. METHODS: One hundred eight patients (65 females; median age, 58.3 years [interquartile range, 53.4-65.5 years]) with steno-occlusive disease of the first part of the subclavian artery who underwent stenting (N = 108 stents; balloon-expandable, 83.3%; self-expandable, 16.7%) between 2005 and 2015 and returned for a fluoroscopic examination of the implanted stents in 2017 were included in our study. Fractures were type I (single strut fracture), type II (multiple strut fractures without deformation), type III (multiple strut fractures with deformation), type IV (multiple strut fractures with acquired transection but without gap), or type V (multiple strut fractures with acquired transection with gap in the stent body). Stent patency was monitored by duplex ultrasound imaging. The Mann-Whitney U and Fisher's exact tests; Kaplan-Meier, receiver operating characteristic, and logistic regression analyses; as well as a log-rank test were used as statistical methods. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 73.8 months (interquartile range, 35.6-104.2 months). Thirty-eight fractures (35.2%) were detected; fractures were type I in 13, type II in 12, type III in 6, type IV in 4, and type V in 3 cases. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed the presence of long (≥20 mm) lesions (odds ratio, 3.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-8.4; P = .012) and heavy calcification (odds ratio, 4.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.7-12.7; P = .002) to be significant independent predictors of stent fracture. The primary patency rates were significantly worse (P = .035) in patients with stent fracture compared with those without stent fracture. CONCLUSIONS: Stent fractures frequently occur. Patients with long and/or heavily calcified lesions require closer follow-up.

Multidetector CT angiography of the Circle of Willis: association of its variants with carotid artery disease and brain ischemia.

PURPOSE: (1) to estimate the prevalence of Circle of Willis (CoW) variants in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy, (2) to correlate these variants to controls and (3) cerebral ischemia depicted by computed tomography (CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: After Institutional Review Board approval, data of 544 carotid endarterectomy patients (331 males, mean age 69±8 years) and 196 controls (117 males, mean age 66±11 years) who underwent brain CT and carotid CT angiography (CTA) were retrospectively analysed. Two observers independently classified each CoW segment as normal, hypoplastic (diameter <0.8 mm) or non-visualized. Four groups of CoW variants based on the number of hypoplastic/non-visualized segments were correlated with clinical data (ANOVA, χ2 and multivariate logistic regression analysis). Intra- and inter-observer agreement was estimated using Cohen κ statistics. RESULTS: High prevalence of CoW variants (97%) and compromised CoW (81%) was observed in the study group and significant difference was found in the distribution of CoW variants compared to controls (p<0.001), internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis being the only independent predictor of CoW morphology (p<0.001). Significant correlation was found between CoW configuration and brain ischemia in the study group (p=0.002). ICA stenosis of ≥90% was associated to higher rate of ipsilateral A1 hypoplasia/non-visualization (p<0.001). Intra- and inter-observer agreement was from substantial to almost perfect (Cohen κ=0.75-1.0). CONCLUSION: Highly variable CoW morphology was demonstrated in patients undergoing endarterectomy compared to controls. Likely compromised CoW in relation to cerebral ischemia was observed in a large cohort of carotid endarterectomy subjects. KEY POINTS: • CoW variant distribution significantly differed in the study and control groups (p<0.001). • ICA stenosis was the only independent predictor of CoW morphology (p<0.001). • Severely compromised CoW configuration showed significant association with brain ischemia (p=0.002).

Stent Protrusion >20 mm Into the Aorta: A New Predictor for Restenosis After Kissing Stent Reconstruction of the Aortoiliac Bifurcation.

PURPOSE: To determine the long-term patency of aortoiliac kissing stents and to identify predisposing factors for the development of in-stent restenosis (ISR). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted of 105 patients (median age 60.9 years; 64 women) with symptomatic aortoiliac occlusive disease who had kissing stents implanted between 2001 and 2015. The indication for kissing stents was severe claudication in 91 (86.7%) patients and critical limb ischemia in 14 (13.3%). Lesions were TASC A in 52 (49.5%), B in 29 (27.6%), C in 4 (3.8%), and D in 20 (19%) patients. Twenty-five (23.8%) patients had heavily calcified lesions. In all, 210 stents were deployed [180 (85.7%) self-expanding and 30 (14.3%) balloon-expandable]. Follow-up included clinical evaluation, ankle-brachial index measurement, and duplex ultrasonography. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 45 months. The primary patency rates were 93%, 86%, and 77% at 12, 24, and 60 months, respectively. Significant ISR developed in 23 (21.9%) patients (12 unilateral and 11 bilateral). Univariate Cox regression analysis revealed older age [hazard ratio (HR) 0.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.31 to 0.81, p=0.004] and larger aortic diameter (HR 0.42, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.7, p<0.001) to be variables favoring long-term patency, while a longer aortic stent segment (HR 1.56, 95% CI 1.16 to 2.09, p=0.003) and a larger discrepancy between the summed stent diameters and the aortic diameter (HR 1.64, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.65, p=0.043) were associated with ISR development. Multivariate analysis showed a longer aortic stent segment to be the only significant determinant of ISR (HR 1.44, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.01, p=0.035). CONCLUSION: The kissing stent technique can be performed with good long-term patency. Patients whose iliac stents protrude too far into the aorta need closer follow-up.

Combined Transradial and Transpedal Approach for Femoral Artery Interventions.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the acute success and complication rates of combined transradial and transpedal access for femoral artery intervention. BACKGROUND: Improved equipment and techniques have resulted in transition from transfemoral to transradial access for intervention of superficial femoral artery. METHODS: Between 2014 and 2016, clinical and angiographic data from 145 consecutive patients with symptomatic superficial femoral stenosis, treated via primary radial access using the 6-F SheathLess Eaucath PV guiding catheter were evaluated in a pilot study. Secondary access was achieved through the pedal or popliteal artery. The primary endpoints were major adverse events, target lesion revascularization, and rates of major and minor access-site complications. Secondary endpoints included angiographic outcome, procedural factors, crossover rate to femoral access site, and duration of hospitalization. RESULTS: Technical success was achieved in 138 patients (95.2%). Combined radial and pedal access was obtained in 22 patients (15.1%). The crossover rate to a femoral access site was 2%. Stent implantation was necessary in 23.4% of patients. Chronic total occlusion recanalization was performed in 63 patients, with a 90.4% technical success rate. The mean contrast consumption, radiation dose, and procedure time were 112.9 ml (101.8 to 123.9 ml), 21.84 Gy/cm2 (9.95 to 33.72 Gy/cm2), and 34.9 min (31.02 to 38.77 min), respectively. The cumulative rate of access-site complications was 4.8% (0% major, 4.8% minor). The cumulative incidence rates of major adverse events at 3 and 12 months follow-up was 8.3% and 19.2%. The cumulative incidence rates of death at 3- and 12-month follow-up were 2.8% and 5.6%. CONCLUSIONS: Femoral artery intervention can be safely and effectively performed using radial and pedal access with acceptable morbidity and a high technical success rate.

Intraosseous venous malformation of the zygomatico-orbital complex. Case report and literature review with focus on confusions in vascular lesion terms.

Intraosseous vascular malformations (VascM) of the facial skeleton are rare entities, raising difficulties even today in their treatment. We present a case for zygomatic intraosseous venous malformation of traumatic etiology with growth dynamics presentation and a multidisciplinary treatment approach, with intravascular embolization surgical ablation and primary reconstructruction using a titanium patient-specific implant (PSI), and a review of the literature for intraosseous vascular lesions of the facial skeleton focusing on the diagnostic syntagms used by the involved medical personnel, to shed light on the confusions over these terms.

Fractional flow reserve in below the knee arteries with critical limb ischemia and validation against gold-standard morphologic, functional measures and long term clinical outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to assess the applicability of fractional flow reserve measurement (FFR) in below-the-knee (BTK) arteries and to evaluate its correlation with non-invasive functional parameters before and after angioplasty. METHODS: We enrolled 39 patients with severe BTK arterial lesions. Inclusion criteria were critical limb ischemia (Rutherford 4-6) and angiographically proven arterial stenosis of the distal lower limb (percent diameter stenosis ≥70%). Exclusion criteria were chronic total occlusion, diabetic foot syndrome and non-viable distal lower limb. The transstenotic distal/proximal pressure ratio was measured under resting (Pd/Pa) and hyperemic (FFR) conditions induced by 40mg intra-arterial Papaverin and was compared with quantitative angiography-, laser Doppler- and duplex ultrasound-derived measurements before and after percutaneous angioplasty (PTA). RESULTS: Comparing measurements before and after PTA, we found significant improvements in the resting Pd/Pa values (0.79 [0.67-0.90] vs 0.90 [0.85-0.97]; p<0.001) and FFR values (0.60±0.19 vs 0.76±0.15; p<0.001), respectively. At baseline, Pd/Pa ratio and FFR were significantly albeit weakly correlated with % area stenosis (r:-0.31, p=0.05 and r:-0.31, p=0.05, respectively). After PTA, neither Pd/Pa nor FFR remained correlated with % area stenosis. Similarly, prior PTA, Pd/Pa ratio and FFR were significantly correlated with TcO2% and perfusion unit change (r:0.48, p<0.01 and r:0.34, p<0.05, respectively), but after intervention, these significant correlations vanished. Pd/Pa and FFR values did not show correlation with duplex ultrasound-derived measurements. At 1year, major adverse events (MAEs) and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular (MACCEs) were observed in 7 (17.9%) and in 9 (23.1%) patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: CLI due to severe BTK arterial disease was associated with several impediments of baseline pressure measurements which were significantly improved after successful PTA and stenting. Significant relationships between pressure data and functional and imaging parameters existed prior intervention but vanished after. Further studies are required to determine the clinical value of pre- and post-PTA pressure measurements in BTK arterial disease.

[Long term results after invasive treatment of critical limb ischemia]. / A krónikus kritikus végtagischaemia invazív kezelésének hosszú távú eredményei.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Surgical tibial bypass for critical limb ischemia is associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and graft failure, whereas percutaneous angioplasty and stenting has promising results. The objective of this study was the investigation of the long term results of below-knee percutaneous angioplasty for restoring straight inline arterial flow in patients with critical limb ischemia. METHOD: The clinical and angiographic data of 281 consecutive patients with critical limb ischemia treated by PTA between 2008 and 2011 was evaluated in a prospective register. The aim of the revascularization was to achieve a straight inline flow to the wound with balloon angioplasty. Stent implantation was done in the case of recoil and flow limiting dissection. Primary end points were clinical success (relief of resting pain, healing of ulceration, limb survival) and major adverse events (death, myocardial infarction, major unplanned amputation, need for surgical revascularization, or major bleeding). Secondary end points were the angiographic result of the intervention, procedural data and consumption of angioplasty equipment. The impact of diabetic leg syndrome and the result of the angioplasty on the limb salvage was also investigated. We have analysed the impact of major amputation on long term mortality. RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 72.5 ± 10.6 years and the follow-up period was 40.8 ± 9.7 months. Technical success was reached in 255 (90.7%) of the patient's: 255 limbs straight inline flow with good angiographic result was restored to at least one tibial vessel. Balloon angioplasty, stent implantation and rotational atherectomy was performed in 278 (98.9%), 74 (26.3%) and 2 patients (0.7%). From clinical end points the rest pain was ceased in 56.6%, the ulcer and the gangrena was healed in 73.5% and 46.5%. The long term limb survival was 73.5%; 65.8% in diabetic and 89.6% in non-diabetic leg syndrome (p = 0.001). The major adverse events at long-term follow-up occured in 122 (43.8%) patients. Death occured in 57 (20.3%) of the patients during the long-term follow-up: 38 (13.5%) vs. 19 (6.8%) in diabetic vs. non-diabetic leg subgroup, respectively (p = 0.932). Long-term limb saving occured in 72.3% vs. 84.6% of the patients dependening the procedure was successful or unsuccessful (p = 0.225). CONCLUSION: Below-knee stent angioplasty for critical limb ischemia results in good clinical outcome, but the major adverse event rate is high. Diabetes mellitus is associated with a high rate of mortality and amputation. Orv. Hetil., 2017, 158(11), 418-425.

[Endovascular treatment of acute iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis - our results with catheter-directed thrombolysis and AngioJet]. / Az akut proximális mélyvénás thrombosis endovascularis kezelése ­ a lokális katéteres lysissel és az AngioJet-tel szerzett tapasztalataink.

INTRODUCTION: Most of the patients with iliofemoral thrombosis treated with anticoagulants only are affected with postthrombotic syndrome (PTS) that worsens the patients' quality of life. In the acute phase of proximal deep venous thrombosis (DVT) catheter-directed (CDT) and pharmacomechanical thrombolysis may be a reasonable alternative therapeutic method. Our aim was to summarize our results using these methods. METHODS: Since 2009 twenty-four patients with iliofemoral DVT were treated with these endovascular procedures and with stenting at our Institution. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 35.83 ± 15.9 years, the female: male ratio was approximately 2:1. The mean time between the onset of the symptoms and the procedures was eleven days. CDT alone was performed in 8 patients, thrombus aspiration in addition to CDT using AngioJet device in 16 patients; in 19 cases the procedure was completed with venous stenting. During the follow-up we performed US examinations and estimated the severity of PTS by Villalta-scale. The total recanalization-rate was more than 50%, which even improved during the follow-up. The total lysis time and the amount of used recombinant tissue plasminogen activator decreased significantly by applying the AngioJet. We did not find any severe PTS among our patients during the follow-up visits. CONCLUSION: Our data suggests that these methods can be used efficiently and safely in the treatment of acute iliofemoral DVT.

Thoracic Aortic Strain is Irrelevant Regarding Endograft Sizing in Most Young Patients.

BACKGROUND: The introduction of electrocardiogram gating in computed tomography (CT) angiography imaging of aortic disease raised questions whether diameters measured on diastolic images can lead to the undersizing of aortic endografts. As previous studies suggested that young patients may have the highest risk of an unintended undersize, the aim of our study was to analyze the strain of the thoracic aorta in a young patient cohort. METHODS: We assessed the descending aorta of 52 patients (35 men, mean age 41.1 ± 7.3 years) who underwent coronary CT angiography (CCTA) with suspected coronary artery disease. To reduce radiation dose, native calcium score scans triggered on late systole were compared with diastolic phase CCTA images. Cross-section areas were measured, and effective diameters were derived at 3 levels of the visible segment of the descending aorta (P1, P2, and P3) in systole and diastole. Aortic pulsatility (mm, dsystolic-ddiastolic) and strain (%, [dsystolic-ddiastolic]/ddiastolic) were calculated at each level. All measurements were performed 3 times by 2 independent readers to evaluate interreader and intrareader reproducibility. RESULTS: A total of 936 measurements were performed. Significant differences were found between systolic and diastolic diameters at each location (all P < 0.001). Average aortic pulsatility was 1.5 ± 0.6 mm at P1, 1.6 ± 0.7 mm at P2, and 1.7 ± 0.7 mm at P3, with a corresponding aortic strain of 6.7 ± 3.1% at P1, 7.4 ± 3.5% at P2, and 8.1 ± 3.6% at P3. The differences between the strain of the measurement levels were not significant (P = 0.344). Aortic strain and pulsatility did not show significant correlation with pulse pressure (P = 0.693), patient age (P = 0.649), or other anamnestic data. Intraclass correlation coefficient was in the range of 0.95-0.96 for interobserver and in the range of 0.95-0.97 for intraobserver analysis. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that descending aortic strain can be measured precisely and reliably on images of routine CCTA examinations with native scans acquired during systole. We demonstrated that young adults have an aortic strain of 6.7-8.1%. As the average thoracic aortic strain was still lower than the recommended prosthesis oversize of 10%, routine use of systolic phase imaging cannot be recommended: it has no clinical benefit for the vast majority of the patients but increases the risk of motion artefacts. We also demonstrated that large interindividual differences are present in the scale of thoracic aortic strain, a phenomenon that needs further investigations to be fully understood.

Fracture and Lung Penetration of a Left Ventricular Lead Stabilized by Retained Stylet.

During cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) pacemaker implantation in a 54-year-old female patient, removing the stylet resulted in repeated left ventricular (LV) lead dislodgment. Lead stability was achieved by retaining the stylet within the lead lumen. Two years after cardiac resynchronization therapy, a LV lead fracture near the connector pin occurred. The proximal lead segment was removed, and a new connector pin was attached. Two years after that, the same lead fractured in the right atrium with the stylet penetrating the lung. The LV lead and retained stylet were successfully extracted. LV lead dislodgment is a limitation of CRT, but using the retained stylet technique to achieve lead stability is potentially dangerous and is not recommended.

Thoracic aortic strain can affect endograft sizing in young patients.

OBJECTIVE: Aortic computed tomography angiography (CTA) examination with electrocardiography gating is becoming the clinical routine image acquisition protocol for diagnosis and intervention planning. To minimize motion artifact, the images are reconstructed in the diastolic phase of the cardiac cycle. The aim of our study was to quantify aortic strain in an elderly nonaneurysmatic patient cohort and to identify the phases of the R-R cycle that correspond to the minimal and maximal aortic diameters. The quantification of aortic strain may enable the improvement of intervention planning and the introduction of more effective dose-saving protocols for CTA scans. METHODS: We assessed CTA images of 28 patients (14 men; mean age, 74 years). Aortic calcium score was calculated on native images. Angiography images were reconstructed in equally spaced 10 phases of the R-R cycle. After semiautomatic centerline analysis, we measured the cross-sectional areas in each of the 10 phases at 9 specific segments between the ascending aorta and the common iliac bifurcation representing the attachment sites of thoracic and abdominal stent grafts. Area-derived effective diameter, pulsatility (Amax - Amin), and strain [(Amax - Amin)/Amin] were calculated. Repeated measurements were taken to evaluate inter-reader and intrareader reproducibility (10-10 patients each). RESULTS: A total of 4320 measurements were performed. We found significant difference between diastolic and systolic diameters (DD,Z0 = 33.2, DS,Z0 = 34.4; P < .001). Pulsatility values of the vessel diameters were 1.0 to 1.1 mm in the thoracic aorta, 0.7 to 0.9 mm in the abdominal aorta, and 0.5 to 0.6 mm in the common iliac arteries. Negative, moderate correlations were found between aortic strain and age (r = -0.586; P = .001), aortic strain and plaque area (r = -0.429; P = .026), and age and body mass index (r = -0.412; P = .029). We found positive, moderate correlation between age and plaque area (r = 0.594; P = .001). The aortic pulsatility curve has a positive extreme at 30% and a negative extreme at 90% of the R-R cycle throughout the aorta. Lin concordance coefficients were 0.987 for inter-reader and 0.994 for intrareader correlations. CONCLUSIONS: Aortic strain can be reliably quantified on electrocardiography-gated CTA images. Pulsatility of the aorta can be substantial in the thoracic aortic segments of young patients; therefore, the routine use of systolic images is not recommended. In addition, we demonstrated that images at 30% of the heart cycle correspond to the largest diameter of the aorta.

Fenesztrált stent-graft beültetés Magyarországon.

CASE REPORT: The first case was a 77-year-old man with 5.6 cm juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm who presented with multiple comorbidities. The patient had a single left kidney. A custom-made, single fenestrated stent graft was implanted successfully. The one-month follow-up showed a patent left renal fenestration without evidence of any endoleaks. Four months after the operation the patient was admitted with acute uremia. Imaging studies revealed an occluded left renal stent, which was successfully reopened. The second case was a 71-year-old man with 8.0 cm juxtarenal aneurysm. He presented with severe coronary artery disease among other multiple comorbidities in his medical history. He was successfully treated with a 3-vessel custom-made fenestrated stent graft to the renal and the superior mesenteric arteries. The one-month CT imaging revealed patent fenestrations without endoleaks. DISCUSSION: With the development of fenestrated endograft technology, complex aneurysms with visceral artery involvement can be treated with complete endovascular approaches. The first fenestrated endovascular case in Hungary was treated in the Heart and Vascular Center of Semmelweis University, Budapest. The short and middle-term results are offering improved clinical results when compared with conventional surgery, but the long-term outcomes are difficult to ascertain from the current published series.

Esmolol is noninferior to metoprolol in achieving a target heart rate of 65 beats/min in patients referred to coronary CT angiography: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Coronary CT angiography (CTA) is an established tool to rule out coronary artery disease. Performance of coronary CTA is highly dependent on patients' heart rates (HRs). Despite widespread use of ß-blockers for coronary CTA, few studies have compared various agents used to achieve adequate HR control. OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess if the ultrashort-acting ß-blocker intravenous esmolol is at least as efficacious as the standard of care intravenous metoprolol for HR control during coronary CTA. METHODS: Patients referred to coronary CTA with a HR >65 beats/min despite oral metoprolol premedication were enrolled in the study. We studied 412 patients (211 male; mean age, 57 ± 12 years). Two hundred four patients received intravenous esmolol, and 208 received intravenous metoprolol with a stepwise bolus administration protocol. HR and blood pressure were recorded at arrival, before, during, immediately after, and 30 minutes after the coronary CTA scan. RESULTS: Mean HRs of the esmolol and metoprolol groups were similar at arrival (78 ± 13 beats/min vs 77 ± 12 beats/min; P = .65) and before scan (68 ± 7 beats/min vs 69 ± 7 beats/min; P = .60). However, HR during scan was lower in the esmolol group vs the metoprolol group (58 ± 6 beats/min vs 61 ± 7 beats/min; P < .0001), whereas HRs immediately and 30 minutes after the scan were higher in the esmolol group vs the metoprolol group (68 ± 7 beats/min vs 66 ± 7 beats/min; P = .01 and 65 ± 8 beats/min vs 63 ± 8 beats/min; P < .0001; respectively). HR ≤ 65 beats/min was reached in 182 of 204 patients (89%) who received intravenous esmolol vs 162 of 208 of the patients (78%) who received intravenous metoprolol (P < .05). Of note, hypotension (systolic BP <100 mm Hg) was observed right after the scan in 19 patients (9.3%) in the esmolol group and in 8 patients (3.8%) in the metoprolol group (P < .05), whereas only 5 patients (2.5%) had hypotension 30 minutes after the scan in the esmolol group compared to 8 patients (3.8%) in the metoprolol group (P = .418). CONCLUSION: Intravenous esmolol with a stepwise bolus administration protocol is at least as efficacious as the standard of care intravenous metoprolol for HR control in patients who undergo coronary CTA.

Role of stent selection in the incidence of persisting hemodynamic depression after carotid artery stenting.

PURPOSE: To investigate the possible role of stent selection and procedure-related vessel diameter changes in the development of persisting hemodynamic depression (PHD) and to demonstrate the effectiveness and safety of permanent pacemaker implantation in patients with refractory PHD. METHODS: Data from 584 procedures performed in 542 patients (398 men; mean age 67.3 years) between 2008 and 2011 using Wallstent, Precise, and Xact stents in a nonrandomized fashion were analyzed retrospectively. Cardiovascular risk factors and lesion, stent, and balloon characteristics were collected, and the pre- and postprocedure diameters of the common carotid artery (CCA) and internal carotid artery were measured. PHD was defined as any episode of hypotension (systolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg) and/or bradycardia (heart rate <60/min) lasting >6 hours. Risk factors for PHD were sought using logistic regression analyses; the results are presented as the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: The incidence of PHD was 37.0% (216/584). Refractory PHD was encountered in 9 patients; among these, 6 were successfully treated with pacemaker implantation. A history of prior ipsilateral carotid endarterectomy (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.87, p=0.019) and the presence of a contralateral high-grade stenosis (OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.95, p=0.045) were independent protective factors, while calcification (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.03 to 2.18, p=0.034), involvement of the carotid bulb (OR 2.56, 95% 1.62 to 4.03, p<0.001), and implantation of a nitinol stent (adjusted OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.12 to 2.34, p=0.011) were independent risk factors for developing PHD after carotid artery stenting. The ratio of the post-/preprocedure CCA diameter (p=0.002), the stent to CCA diameter ratio (p=0.009), and the presence of residual stenosis (p=0.009) were significantly higher in the PHD group. CONCLUSION: Stent selection and procedure-related changes in vessel diameter may have an influence on the development of PHD. Permanent pacemaker implantation is an effective treatment option in patients with refractory PHD.

Transradial access for renal artery intervention.

INTRODUCTION: Percutaneous interventional procedures in the renal arteries are usually performed using a femoral or brachial vascular access. The transradial approach is becoming more popular for peripheral interventions, but limited data exists for renal artery angioplasty and stenting. METHODS: We have analyzed the clinical, angiographic and technical results of renal artery stenting performed from radial artery access between 2012 and 2013. The radial artery anatomy was identified with aortography using 100 cm pig tail catheter. After engagement of the renal artery ostium with a 6F Multipurpose or 6F JR5 guiding catheter, the stenosis was passed with a 0.014" guidewire followed by angioplasty and stent implantation. RESULTS: In 27 patients (mean age: 65.4 ± 9.17) with hemodynamically relevant renal artery stenosis (mean diameter stenosis: 77.7 ± 10.6%; right, n = 7; left, n = 20), interventional treatment with angioplasty and stenting was performed using a left (n = 3) or right (n = 24) radial artery access. Direct stenting was successfully performed in 13 (48%) cases, and predilatations were required in ten cases 10 (37%). Primary technical success (residual stenosis <30%) could be achieved in all cases. The mean contrast consumption was 119 ± 65 ml and the mean procedure time was 30 ± 8.2 min. There were no major periprocedural vascular complications and in one patient transient creatinine level elevation was observed (3.7%). In one patient asymptomatic radial artery occlusion was detected (3.7%). CONCLUSION: Transradial renal artery angioplasty and stenting is technically feasible and safe procedure.

A randomised comparison of transradial and transfemoral approach for carotid artery stenting: RADCAR (RADial access for CARotid artery stenting) study.

AIMS: Limited data exist on radial access in carotid artery stenting. This multicentre prospective randomised study was performed to compare the outcome and complication rates of transradial and transfemoral carotid artery stenting. METHODS AND RESULTS: The clinical and angiographic data of 260 consecutive patients with high risk for carotid endarterectomy, treated between 2010 and 2012 by carotid stenting with cerebral protection, were evaluated. Patients were randomised to transradial (n=130) or transfemoral (n=130) groups and several parameters were evaluated. Primary combined endpoint: major adverse cardiac and cerebral events, rate of access-site complications. Secondary endpoints: angiographic outcome of the procedure, fluoroscopy time and X-ray dose, procedural time, crossover rate to another puncture site and hospitalisation in days. Procedural success was achieved in all 260 patients (100%), the crossover rate was 10% in the TR and 1.5% in the TF group (p<0.05). A major access-site complication was encountered in one patient (0.9%) in the TR group and in one patient (0.8%) in the TF group (p=ns). The incidence of major adverse cardiac and cerebral events was 0.9% in the TR and 0.8% in the TF group (p=ns). Procedure time (1,620 [1,230-2,100] vs. 1,500 [1,080-2,100] sec, p=ns) and fluoroscopy time (540 [411-735] vs. 501 [378-702] sec, p=ns) were not significantly different, but the radiation dose was significantly higher in the TR group (195 [129-274] vs. 148 [102-237] Gy*cm2, p<0.05) by per-protocol analysis. Hospitalisation days were significantly lower in the TR group (1.17±0.40 vs. 1.25±0.45, p<0.05). By intention-to-treat analysis there was a significantly higher radiation dose in the TR group (195 [130-288] vs. 150 [104-241], p<0.05), but no difference in major events (0.9 vs. 0.8, p=ns) and length of hospitalisation in days (1.4±2.6 vs. 1.25±0.45, p=ns). CONCLUSIONS: The transradial approach for carotid artery stenting is safe and efficacious; however, the crossover rate is higher with transradial access. There are no differences in the total procedure duration and fluoroscopy time between the two approaches but the radiation dose is significantly higher in the radial group, and the hospitalisation is shorter with the use of transradial access by per-protocol analysis. By evaluating the patient data according to intention-to-treat analysis we found no difference in major adverse events and hospitalisation. In both groups, vascular complications rarely occurred.

Transpedal access after failed anterograde recanalization of complex below-the-knee and femoropoliteal occlusions in critical limb ischemia.

BACKGROUND: Successful angioplasty is one of the main factor of limb salvage during critical limb ischemia. In complex femoropopliteal to infrapopliteal occlusions, an anterograde recanalization attempt can fail in up to 20% of the cases. The purpose of this dual center pilot study was to evaluate the acute success and clinical impact of retrograde transpedal access for retrograde below-the-knee and femoropopliteal chronic total occlusions after failed anterograde attempt and to access the late complications at the puncture site. METHODS: The clinical and angiographic data of 51 consecutive patients with CLI treated by retrograde transpedal recanalization between 2010 and 2011 were evaluated in a pilot study. We have examined the 2-month and 1 year major adverse events (MAEs) and clinical success. In all cases after failure of the anterograde recanalization of occluded below-the-knee segments due to unsuccessful penetration or failed re-entry, the anterior tibial or posterior tibial artery was punctured under fluoroscopic guidance and retrograde recanalization was performed. Direct revascularization was tried firstly following the angiographic zones, but in failed cases indirect revascularization was carried out with increasing the collateral flow to the wound. RESULTS: Successful direct retrograde revascularization was achieved successfully in 40 patients (78.4%) and indirect revascularization was done in 10 patients (19.6%). Revascularization was failed in one patient (2%). MAE at 2 and 12 months follow-up was 6 (11.7%) and 11 (24%). Limb salvage at 2 and 12 months was 93% and 82.3%, respectively. Balloon angioplasty was performed in all interventions and provisional stenting was done in 34 patients (66.7%). One major and three minor vascular complications occurred after the procedure. The mean basal and control creatinine level was 120.9 ± 133.4 and 123.8 ± 131.3 µmol/L (P = 0.83) after the procedure. CONCLUSION: Failed antegrade attempts to recanalize CTO-s of femoropopliteal and infrapopliteal vessels can be salvaged using a retrograde transpedal access, with a low acute and late complication rate. This technique could be valuable for patients with critical limb ischemia due to femoropopliteal and infrapopliteal occlusions.