Transradial versus tibiopedal access approach for endovascular intervention of superficial femoral artery chronic total occlusion.

BACKGROUND: Improved equipment and techniques have resulted in transition from surgical bypass to endovascular intervention to treat superficial femoral artery (SFA) chronic total occlusions (CTO). A change in access site to radial (TRA) or tibiopedal (TPA) artery for the treatment of these SFA CTO has been reported. The feasibility, efficacy and safety of these two access sites for treatment of SFA CTO have not been reported. METHODS: We performed an as treated analysis of 184 SFA CTO interventions in 161 patients from 01/2014 to 09/2016 using either primary TRA or TPA (operator discretion) at two institutions. Primary end point was 30 day major adverse event (MAE) - death, amputation or target vessel revascularization, secondary endpoint was success of procedure. RESULTS: Primary TRA was used in 46 patients with 47 CTO lesions .Primary TPA was used in 115 patients with 137 CTO lesions. Primary crossing success rate was higher with TRA compared to TPA (74% vs 54%, P = 0.01). Dual TRA-TPA was required in 72 prior uncrossed lesions resulting in a crossing and procedural success of 99% and 96% respectively. The overall crossing and procedural success rate using either of these approaches was 99% and 98% respectively. The 30 day MAE was 5% in TRA arm, 0% in TPA arm and 2% in dual TRA-TPA arm, P = 0.08. All access sites were patent, confirmed by ultrasound. CONCLUSION: The treatment of SFA CTO is feasible and safe using both TRA or TPA approach providing high success rates and no access site complications.

Innovative use of a guideliner catheter to assist in snare retrieval of an entrapped kinked guide catheter during transradial coronary intervention.

Rescue techniques that enable removal of severe intravascular catheter kinking are always worthwhile. We herein demonstrate the novel employment of a GuideLiner support catheter to assist in the removal of a kinked and entrapped guide catheter within the radial artery during coronary intervention. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Transradial access for peripheral vascular interventions.

Transradial access for coronary interventions has grown substantially in the last few years. Currently, there is an increased interest in applying this approach to peripheral vascular interventions. This report reviews the current status of transradial peripheral interventions, and offers advice in terms of feasibility, equipment use, and technical challenges.

Noninvasive assessment of HIV-related coronary artery disease.

Highly active antiretroviral therapy has led to significant declines in infection-related mortality in HIV-infected patients. Cardiovascular disease has emerged as a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in this population, and is likely related to both an increased prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and HIV-specific factors associated with antiretroviral therapy, chronic inflammation, and direct viral effects. Accurate clinical assessment of cardiovascular risk in HIV-infected patients is a critical challenge now facing practitioners. Multiple modes of noninvasive vascular imaging are available to enhance the ability to identify patients at high cardiovascular risk, and may ultimately assist in targeting use of intensive medical therapy to reduce cardiac events in this population. This review will examine several of these noninvasive tests and is intended to aid practitioners making cardiovascular risk assessments in HIV patients.

Transradial peripheral vascular interventions.

Recently the importance of post procedure bleeding contributing to both short-term and long-term mortality has lead to a renewed interest in transradial coronary interventions in the United States. It has been long known that the incidence of access site bleeding is dramatically decreased by transradial access but the procedure is only used in 1% of coronary interventions in the United States, far below the rest of the world. In India, Japan and some European centers 50% of interventions are transradial. To extend this benefit of lower incidence of access site complications, we started using a transradial approach for peripheral interventions for the lower extremities, renal and subclavian arteries. By experience, we realized that in many cases the radial approach makes the procedure actually simpler. Also, in many instances, the transradial approach allows discharge of the patient on the same day. In this paper, we describe our approach to lower extremity, renal and subclavian interventional procedures.

N-Acetylcysteine added to volume expansion with sodium bicarbonate does not further prevent contrast-induced nephropathy: results from the cardiac angiography in renally impaired patients study.

We reviewed data from the multicenter CARE (Cardiac Angiography in Renally Impaired Patients) study to see if benefit could be shown for N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in patients undergoing cardiac angiography who all received intravenous bicarbonate fluid expansion. Four hundred fourteen patients with moderate-to-severe chronic kidney disease were randomized to receive intra-arterial administration of iopamidol-370 or iodixanol-320. All patients were prehydrated with isotonic sodium bicarbonate solution. Each site chose whether or not to administer NAC 1,200 mg twice daily to all patients. Serum creatinine (SCr) levels and estimated glomerular filtration rate were assessed at baseline and 2-5 days after receiving contrast. The primary outcome was a postdose SCr increase 0.5 mg/dL (44.2 mumol/L) over baseline. Secondary outcomes were a postdose SCr increase 25% and the mean peak change in SCr. The NAC group received significantly less hydration (892 +/- 236 mL vs. 1016 +/- 328 mL; P < 0.001) and more contrast volume (146 +/- 74 mL vs. 127 +/- 71 mL; P = 0.009) compared with no-NAC group. SCr increases 0.5 mg/dL occurred in 4.2% (7 of 168 patients) in NAC group and 6.5% (16 of 246 patients) in no-NAC group (P = 0.38); rates of SCr increases 25% were 11.9% and 10.6%, respectively (P = 0.75); mean post-SCr increases were 0.07 mg/dL in NAC group versus 0.11 mg/dL in no-NAC group (P = 0.14). In conclusion, addition of NAC to fluid expansion with sodium bicarbonate failed to reduce the rate of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) after the intra-arterial administration of iopamidol or iodixanol to high-risk patients with chronic kidney disease.

Pioglitazone increases adiponectin levels in nondiabetic patients with coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVES: Hypoadiponectinemia is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). Pioglitazone has been shown to increase levels of adiponectin in diabetic patients. We sought to assess whether administration of pioglitazone to patients with CAD and without diabetes would affect plasma adiponectin levels and endothelial function. METHODS: Seventeen patients with stable CAD and without evidence of diabetes were treated for 12 weeks with pioglitazone hydrochloride 30 mg daily. Adiponectin levels and endothelium-dependent flow-mediated vasodilation (ED-FMD) measurements were obtained pretreatment, posttreatment, and after a 12-week washout period. RESULTS: Treatment with pioglitazone increased adiponectin levels from an average of 10.6 to 21.1 microg/ml (P=0.001) and improved ED-FMD from 4.45 to 8.43% (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: Treatment with pioglitazone increased plasma adiponectin levels and improved ED-FMD in patients with stable CAD and no evidence of diabetes or insulin resistance.

Comparison of Clinical and Electrocardiographic Predictors of Ischemic and Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy During the Initial Evaluation of Patients With Reduced (≤40%) Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction.

Invasive coronary angiography is routinely performed during the initial evaluation of patients with suspected cardiomyopathy with reduced left ventricular function. Clinical and electrocardiographic (ECG) data may accurately predict ischemic cardiomyopathy (IC). Medical records of adults referred for coronary angiography for evaluation of left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40% from 2010 to 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with myocardial infarction (MI), previous coronary revascularization, cardiac surgery, or left-sided valvular disease were excluded. IC was defined as ≥70% diameter stenosis of the left main, proximal left anterior descending, or involvement of ≥2 epicardial coronary arteries. A risk model was developed from logistic regression coefficients, with a dichotomous cut-point based on the maximal Youden's index from the receiver-operating characteristic curve. A total of 273 patients met study inclusion criteria. Mean age was 56.8 ± 11.6 and 68.1% were men. IC was identified in 41 patients (15%). Patients with IC were more likely to have ECG evidence of Q-wave MI (34% vs 13%, p <0.001) and less likely to have left bundle branch block (2% vs 15%, p = 0.03) than non-IC. A model including age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, tobacco use, ECG evidence of ST or T-wave abnormalities concerning for ischemia, and previous Q-wave MI, yielded a 95% negative predictive value for IC. In conclusion, at an urban referral hospital, the prevalence of IC was low. Left bundle branch block on electrocardiography was rarely associated with IC. A risk score incorporating clinical and ECG abnormalities identified patients at a low likelihood for IC.

Influence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Seropositive Status on the In-Hospital Management and Outcomes of Patients Presenting With Acute Myocardial Infarction.

OBJECTIVES: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositive individuals are predisposed to acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We sought to evaluate management strategies and outcomes of AMI in patients with HIV in the contemporary era. METHODS: We analyzed data from the National Inpatient Sample from 2002 to 2011 for patients admitted with AMI with or without HIV. Propensity-score matching was used to identify HIV seropositive AMI patients with similar characteristics who were managed invasively (cardiac catheterization, percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI], or coronary artery bypass graft surgery [CABG]) or conservatively. The primary outcome was in-hospital all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Among 1,363,570 patients admitted with AMI, 3788 (0.28%) were HIV seropositive. The frequency of HIV diagnosis among AMI patients increased over time (0.20% in 2002 to 0.35% in 2011; P for trend <.001). Patients with HIV had lower odds of invasive management (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.55-0.65) and were less likely to undergo CABG (OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.57-0.76) or receive drug-eluting stents (OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.76-0.92) than HIV-seronegative patients. Patients with HIV had higher in-hospital mortality (adjusted OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.13-1.64) than those without HIV. In a propensity-matched cohort of 1608 patients with HIV treated for AMI with invasive vs conservative management, invasive management was associated with lower in-hospital mortality (3.0% vs 8.2%; P<.001; OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.21-0.56). CONCLUSIONS: Disparities exist in management of AMI by HIV status. HIV seropositive patients were less likely to receive invasive management, CABG, and drug-eluting stents, and had higher in-hospital mortality vs patients without HIV.

Sirolimus- and taxol-eluting stents differ towards intimal hyperplasia and re-endothelialization.

Restenosis is a direct result of vessel injury, local inflammation, and remodeling following balloon angioplasty and coronary stenting resulting in luminal narrowing. The process involves a complex interplay of released growth factors that stimulate smooth muscle cells (SMCs) to migrate and proliferate, as well as activating endothelial cells (ECs) at injury sites. The latter re-establishes the luminal endothelial monolayer that keeps a barrier to circulating cells from underlying extracellular matrix and SMCs. Understanding the cellular mechanisms of intimal hyperplasia and re-endothelialization is important in that uncontrolled cellular processes account for coronary luminal narrowing, leading to the recurrence of clinical symptoms, hospitalizations, and repeat interventions. The evolution of drug-eluting stents that inhibit intimal hyperplasia has revolutionized percutaneous coronary interventions in that potential late luminal narrowing is attenuated. Sirolimus and paclitaxel are two medications utilized for their efficacy at inhibiting intimal hyperplasia and subsequent clinical events. The effects of these drugs on EC biology have not been well investigated. This article discusses basic cellular processes of vessel repair after balloon angioplasty and stenting, and focuses on the differential molecular mechanisms of sirolimus and paclitaxel towards proliferation and migration. These drugs inhibit both SMC and EC proliferation, but by different mechanisms, and paclitaxel inhibits EC migration, whereas sirolimus does not. Their discriminating effects towards re-endothelialization may clinically differentiate these two drugs. Inhibiting re-endothelialization may translate into more adverse clinical events.

Delayed occurrence of radial artery pseudoaneurysm following transradial percutaneous coronary intervention.

Radial artery pseudoaneurysm is rare following transradial catheterization procedures. In this article, we report a 5-month delay in the occurrence of this vascular complication following the completion of transradial coronary intervention in a subject without any underlying vasculitis, representing the longest time lag thus far described. .

Frequency of and outcome of acute coronary syndromes in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Fifty-one patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection and acute coronary syndromes were identified. Nearly all patients (98%) had traditional coronary risk factors. Revascularization procedures were performed safely with low in-hospital mortality.

Transradial approach to lower extremity interventions.

Percutaneous interventions of the coronary and peripheral vessels have historically been performed using a femoral artery approach. There has been increasing recognition of post-procedural bleeding complications and its impact on short- and long-term mortality. Because of its now recognized safety, the transradial approach has recently emerged as a preferred method compared to the transfemoral approach. The limitations associated with the distance from the puncture site to the lesion location are being addressed as new tools are developed for the endovascular treatment of peripheral arterial disease. In this review, we discuss the many facets of the transradial approach to lower extremity endovascular interventions, highlighting its safety and efficacy. Approaches to special populations including individuals with prior surgical bypass, Leriche's syndrome, and those committed to chronic anticoagulation are also reviewed.

A novel approach to left atrial appendage exclusion: the WATCHMAN device.

Atrial fibrillation (AF), a very common cardiac arrhythmia, is a well-recognized predisposing factor for embolic stroke. While warfarin remains the cornerstone of anticoagulant treatment in patients with AF, it is often underutilized because of increased bleeding complications and frequent monitoring requirements. It has been documented that the left atrial appendage (LAA) is the main source of left atrial thrombus that causes strokes in AF patients. Thus, closure of the LAA may be an effective strategy in stroke reduction. Several devices have been used in closure of the LAA. The WATCHMAN device appears to be a safe and efficacious device for closure of the LAA as recently demonstrated in the PROTECT AF trial.

Human immunodeficiency virus and atherosclerosis.

The advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy has led to a significant decline in the incidence of mortality and progression to AIDS in HIV-infection. With increased life expectancy, HIV-infected individuals are being affected by cardiovascular disease. Research studies have identified an increased prevalence of traditional coronary risk factors in HIV-infected patients. Additional investigations suggest that the virus itself may independently result in atherosclerosis. Further studies have linked the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy to the atherosclerotic processes. These findings suggest the need to reconsider HIV as one of the traditionally accepted risk factors for coronary artery disease, with treatment aimed at prevention of myocardial infarction.

Transradial cardiac catheterization and percutaneous coronary intervention: a review.

Campeau in 1989 and subsequently Kiemeneij and Laarman in 1993 successfully attempted diagnostic cardiac catheterization and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), respectively, using the radial artery. Since then, the technique has evolved significantly with improvement in catheters and operators gaining experience in transradial (TR) procedures. Short recovery time, less bleeding complications, and enhanced patient satisfaction made the TR approach a preferred route to perform cardiac catheterization and PCIs in an increasing number of countries. As operators become more comfortable with this approach, they are using it to perform increasingly complex procedures such as rotational atherectomy and opening chronic total occlusions. Despite its increasing acceptance due to the advantages it offers, TR access was used only in about 1.32% of patients who underwent PCI in the US in a report by Rao et al. In this review, we summarize the advantages and disadvantages of the TR approach trying to identify the possible causes of it not being adopted in US.

Histopathologic changes of the radial artery wall secondary to transradial catheterization.

OBJECTIVE: The immediate effects of transradial access on the radial artery wall are unknown. In this study we sought to assess the histological changes induced by catheterization on the radial artery. METHODS: Thirty-four patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) had radial arteries harvested to serve as bypass conduits. The proximal and distal ends of the radial artery conduits were sectioned and embedded in paraffin. Both ends of all specimens were evaluated by a blinded pathologist for intimal hyperplasia, medial inflammation, medial calcification, periarterial tissue or fat necrosis, adventitial inflammation, adventitial necrosis, and adventitial neovascularization. Fisher's exact test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Fifteen previously catheterized radial arteries (TRA group) were compared with 19 noncatheterized arteries (NCA group). The distal ends of the TRA group showed significantly more intimal hyperplasia (73.3% vs 21.1%; p = 0.03), periarterial tissue or fat necrosis (26% vs 0%; p = 0.02), and more adventitial inflammation (33.3% vs 0%; p = 0.01) than the distal ends of the NCA group. The distal ends of the TRA group also showed significantly more intimal hyperplasia (73.3% vs 26.6%; p = 0.03) and adventitial inflammation (33.3% vs 0%; p = 0.01) than the proximal ends of the same arteries. There were no histological differences in the proximal ends of the two groups. CONCLUSION: Transradial catheterization induces significant histological changes suggestive of radial artery injury limited to the puncture site in the form of intimal hyperplasia, medial inflammation, and tissue necrosis. Both the proximal and distal ends of the radial artery show a spectrum of atherosclerotic changes independent of its use for transradial catheterization.

Ranolazine improves endothelial function in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effect of ranolazine on endothelial-dependent vasodilatation (EDV), serum markers of endothelial dysfunction, and inflammation. BACKGROUND: Endothelial dysfunction has been shown to be independently associated with the occurrence of cardiovascular events. We sought to investigate whether ranolazine, a novel antianginal medication with no effect on heart rate or blood pressure, improves endothelial function in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with stable CAD were randomly assigned to either 1000 mg twice daily of ranolazine or to matching placebo for 6 weeks and then crossed over for an additional 6 weeks in a double-blind design. EDV was assessed using reactive hyperemia peripheral arterial tonometry (RH-PAT) at baseline, 6, and 12 weeks. Markers of endothelial dysfunction and inflammation were also evaluated. RESULTS: After 6 weeks, treatment with ranolazine significantly increased the EDV RH-PAT index as compared with baseline (1.85+/-0.42 vs. 2.08+/-0.57, P = 0.037). EDV RH-PAT did not change while on placebo (1.69+/-0.35 vs. 1.78+/-0.41, P = 0.29). In addition, there was a significant drop in asymmetric dimethylarginine levels with ranolazine treatment (0.66+/-0.12 vs. 0.60+/-0.11 micromol/l, P = 0.02) and a near significant decrease in C-reactive protein levels (0.40+/-0.80 vs. 0.30+/-0.61 mg/dl, P = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Ranolazine improves endothelial function, asymmetric dimethylarginine, and C-reactive protein levels in a group of patients with stable CAD. Our results suggest a novel mechanism of action of ranolazine.

Omega-3 fatty acids plus rosuvastatin improves endothelial function in South Asians with dyslipidemia.

BACKGROUND: The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of statins plus omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on endothelial function and lipid profile in South Asians with dyslipidemia and endothelial dysfunction, a population at high risk for premature coronary artery disease. METHODS: Thirty subjects were randomized to rosuvastatin 10 mg and omega-3-PUFAs 4 g or rosuvastatin 10 mg. After 4 weeks, omega-3-PUFAs were removed from the first group and added to subjects in the second group. All subjects underwent baseline, 4-, and 8-week assessment of endothelial function and lipid profile. RESULTS: Compared to baseline, omega-3-PUFAs plus rosuvastatin improved endothelial-dependent vasodilation (EDV: -1.42% to 11.36%, p = 0.001), and endothelial-independent vasodilation (EIV: 3.4% to 17.37%, p = 0.002). These effects were lost when omega-3-PUFAs were removed (EDV: 11.36% to 0.59%, p = 0.003). In the second group, rosuvastatin alone failed to improve both EDV and EIV compared to baseline. However, adding omega-3-PUFAs to rosuvastatin, significantly improved EDV (-0.66% to 14.73%, p = 0.001) and EIV (11.02% to 24.5%, p = 0.001). Addition of omega-3-PUFAs further improved the lipid profile (triglycerides 139 to 91 mg/dl, p = 0.006, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol 116 to 88 mg/dl, p = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Combined therapy with omega-3-PUFAs and rosuvastatin improves endothelial function in South Asian subjects with dyslipidemia and endothelial dysfunction.