Vascular access: Femoral, radial and large-bore alternative access.

Vascular access for coronary, peripheral, and structural interventions has changed significantly over the past two decades. The evolving demand for both large-bore access for valvular interventions and mechanical support devices, and for safer access for coronary interventions, in patients with comorbidities have driven progress in these areas. This review will provide an overview of the techniques of arterial access in the femoral, forearm (radial and ulnar), and alternative (transcarotid, transaxillary, and transcaval) locations based on the latest evidence and experience.

Angiography-Derived Fractional Flow Reserve: Newer Data and Future Directions.

Several novel software systems have been developed for the reconstruction of the coronary artery tree and the calculation of fractional flow reserve (FFR) from coronary artery angiography images without coronary artery instrumentation: FFR, Computational pressure-flow dynamics derived FFR, quantitative flow ratio (QFR), and vessel FFR. In this report, we review the current evidence on each software, their contemporary use, and future directions.

Ultrasound-Guided Transfemoral Access for Coronary Procedures: A Pooled Learning Curve Analysis From the FAUST and UNIVERSAL Trials.

Background: The learning curve for new operators performing ultrasound-guided transfemoral access (TFA) remains uncertain.

Methods: We performed a pooled analysis of the FAUST (Femoral Arterial Access With Ultrasound Trial) and UNIVERSAL (Routine Ultrasound Guidance for Vascular Access for Cardiac Procedures) trials, both multicenter randomized controlled trials of 1:1 ultrasound-guided versus non-ultrasound-guided TFA for coronary procedures. Outcomes included the composite of major bleeding or vascular complications and successful common femoral artery cannulation.

Association of Cardiopulmonary Hemodynamics and Mortality in Veterans With Liver Cirrhosis: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Portopulmonary hypertension (PoPH), associated with increased mortality, can limit treatment options for liver diseases. Data on the continuum of clinical risk related to cardiopulmonary hemodynamics in PoPH are lacking.

Methods And Results: As part of the United States national Veterans Affairs Clinical Assessment, Reporting, and Tracking database, we performed a retrospective cohort study of adults with cirrhosis undergoing right heart catheterization between October 1, 2017, and September 30, 2022.

Changes in post-PCI physiology based on anatomical vessel location: a DEFINE PCI substudy.

Background: Anatomical vessel location affects post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) physiology.

Aims: We aimed to compare the post-PCI instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) in left anterior descending (LAD) versus non-LAD vessels and to identify the factors associated with a suboptimal post-PCI iFR.

Methods: DEFINE PCI was a multicentre, prospective, observational study in which a blinded post-PCI iFR pullback was used to assess residual ischaemia following angiographically successful PCI.

Is Coronary Physiology Assessment Valid in Special Circumstances?: Aortic Stenosis, Atrial Fibrillation, Left Ventricular Hypertrophy, and Other.

Fractional flow reserve (FFR) and nonhyperemic pressure ratios (NHPRs) provide an important clinical tool to evaluate the hemodynamic significance of coronary lesions. However, these indices have major limitations. As these indices are meant to be surrogates of coronary flow, clinical scenarios such as aortic stenosis (with increased end-systolic and end-diastolic pressures) or atrial fibrillation (with significant beat-to-beat cardiac output variability) can have significant effect on the accuracy and reliability of these hemodynamic indices.

Ultrasound guidance for transfemoral access in coronary procedures: an individual participant-level data metaanalysis from the femoral ultrasound trialist collaboration.

Background: Randomised controlled trials of ultrasound (US)-guided transfemoral access (TFA) for coronary procedures have shown mixed results.

Aims: We aimed to compare US-guided versus non-US-guided TFA from randomised data in an individual participant-level data (IPD) meta-analysis.

Methods: We completed a systematic review and an IPD meta-analysis of all randomised controlled trials comparing US-guided versus non-US-guided TFA for coronary procedures.