Distal Radial and Ulnar Arteries: the Alternative Forearm Access.

Purpose Of Review: Radial artery access for catheter-based procedures has demonstrated improved margins of safety and patient comfort without a loss of efficacy compared with femoral access. Unfortunately, radial access is not always available, so a review of the alternatives such as the ulnar artery and distal radial artery has been completed to understand alternative access sites that may preserve the benefits of distal forearm access without losing the efficacy of traditional transradial access.

Recent Findings: Several different trials have demonstrated the utility of ulnar access as a possible workhorse access point.

The pulseless radial artery in transradial catheterization: challenges and solutions.

: An absent radial pulse prior to cardiac catheterization is an ominous finding as it portends the need for higher-risk arterial access. Solutions exist that can avoid the use of more hazardous access. Given the benefits of the radial artery access, it is essential to prevent radial artery occlusion, to diagnose acute occlusion at the time of hemostasis so it can be treated, and understand alternatives for access that exists in the lower forearms if the radial occlusion is recalcitrant.

One down, one to go: coronary anomaly dual LAD blood supply with worsening chronic stable angina and 100% occluded left short LAD type IV variant.

Although rare, usually asymptomatic, and without concurrent disease, dual left anterior descending arteries (LAD) poses great challenges. We describe a 55-year-old male with no history of coronary disease, who presented with worsening substernal chest pain with exertion, and was ruled out for myocardial infarction. On left heart catheterization and subsequent computed tomography angiogram, he was determined to have a dual LAD with a long LAD emerging from the right coronary artery.

Dynamic Course of Pulmonic Valve Endocarditis Resulting in Submassive PE and Valve Replacement.

This report illustrates a case of a 42-year-old male with a history of intravenous drug abuse who presented with septic shock. Diagnostic studies, including a transthoracic echocardiogram, chest computed tomography angiography, transesophageal echocardiogram, and blood cultures ultimately revealed pulmonic valve infective endocarditis that was treated with intravenous antibiotics. In addition to the rare form of endocarditis and bacterium involved, this case brings into awareness the dynamic nature of the hospital course that requires vigilance in responding to hypotensive episodes for consideration of pulmonary embolism.

Spontaneous Left Main and Right Coronary Artery Spasm in a Patient With Vasospastic Angina.

Coronary spasm is a well-documented, though rare, condition that can mimic myocardial infarction and is usually found in only a single vessel during an event. We describe the case of a 43-year-old male with past medical history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, tobacco abuse, and with no known coronary disease. The patient developed chest pain 3 days postadmission for primary diagnosis of psychiatric disorder.

Heart failure performance measures: do they have an impact on 30-day readmission rates?

Congestive heart failure (CHF) accounts for more health care costs than any other diagnosis. Readmissions contribute to this expenditure. The authors evaluated the relationship between adherence to performance metrics and 30-day readmissions.

Comparison of the 2006 and 2010 cardiac CT appropriateness criteria in a real-world setting.

Background: Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) is a relatively new technique whose role has yet to be fully defined. The initial appropriateness criteria (AC) guidelines published in 2006 have already been revised. There is paucity of data on the effect of the AC on the use of CCTA at academic centers and none for the private sector.