Hybrid metal/scaffold-jacket versus full-metal jackets in left anterior descending coronary artery diffuse disease: Differences in radiation exposure and fluoroscopic/procedural times.

Background/purpose: Bioabsorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) are made from a radiolucent material. Their multiple implantations on a single long diffused segment requires a specific technique with imaging magnification, which could cause an increase in dose delivered during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedure. We aimed to identify differences in radiation dose, fluoroscopy and procedural times in Hybrid DES+ multiple BVS (Absorb, Abbott Inc.

Impact of Operators' Height on Individual Radiation Exposure Measurements During Catheter-Based Cardiovascular Interventions.

Aim: This study is aimed to evaluate the impact of an operators' height on personal radiation exposure measurements during cardiovascular interventional procedures. Based upon both clinical data and phantom simulation, a new approach for monitoring an individual's exposure is proposed.

Methods: The clinical component of this study was composed of the operators and staff in a single center full service cardiovascular laboratory being divided into 2 groups based upon their height: group A included all individuals whose height was <165 cm; group B included the individuals >165 cm.

Education, and obtaining of informed consent, using multimedia before adults with congenitally malformed hearts are submitted to transcatheter interventions.

Background: Multimedia programmes relating to education and consents may be useful for decreasing anxiety during catheter-based repair in patients with congenitally malformed hearts.

Objective: Our study was aimed at evaluating the impact of multimedia protocols for education of a population of consecutive patients with congenitally malformed hearts prior to transcatheter repair.

Methods: Between September, 2006, and May, 2008, we enrolled 100 consecutive patients, with a mean age of 45 +/- 19 years, of whom 69 were female, for catheter-based repair of their congenitally malformed hearts.

Impact of intracardiac echocardiography on radiation exposure during adult congenital heart disease catheter-based interventions.

Background: Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) is a widespread approach in many cardiovascular procedures in which it has the potential to reduce the fluoroscopy time and patients radiation exposure. We sought to assess the patient radiation exposure during transcatheter closure of interatrial communications with and without ICE-guidance.

Methods: In a prospective consecutive series of 25 consecutive patients who underwent transcatheter closure of interatrial communications between May and October 2005 with (15 patients) and without (10 patients) ICE-guidance in a single secondary care referral centre, we measured the dose-area product (DAP), the fluoroscopy dose-area product (FDAP), the total dose-area product (TDAP), and the mean procedural time.

An improved technique for gaining radial artery access in endovascular interventions.

We present a simple technique to avoid time loss and potential dangerous maneuvers for catheterization of the radial artery in endovascular interventions. If any difficulties are encountered when advancing the guide wire after the arterial puncture using standard transradial kits, we found it useful to routinely use a 60-mm polyethylene radial pressure line catheter like the Leader Cath (Vygon, Ecquen, France), which is more flexible and less traumatic than short catheters and are usually available in the standard hydrophilic transradial kit. With the 20-gauge needle within the arterial lumen, it is sufficient to advance the guide wire 3 or 4 cm, followed by the insertion of the radial pressure line catheter for administering a vasodilator cocktail.

Evidence against the widespread use of angiography of noncoronary arteries during coronary artery angiography and cardiac catheterization.

Purpose: Although the most widely used screening techniques for extracardiac atherosclerotic distributions are noninvasive, in patients undergoing coronary arteriography, the question as to whether angiography of extracardiac arteries at the time of cardiac catheterization is really effective or if it should be considered malpractice is still open. We sought to determine the safety and real usefulness of angiography of extracardiac arteries performed by trained invasive cardiologists during cardiac catheterization.

Methods: Medical records of all patients undergoing combined coronary and noncoronary angiography between May 1998 and December 2002 were retrospectively reviewed.

Concomitant peripheral vascular and coronary artery disease: a new dimension for the global endovascular specialist?

Background: Early and accurate diagnosis of peripheral atherosclerosis is of paramount importance for global ma agement of patients with known coronary artery disease (CAD).

Hypothesis: We sought to evaluate retrospectively the prevalence and clinical relevance of significant abdominal vessel stenosis or aneurysm (AVA) in patients undergoing coronary angiography.

Methods: Medical records of consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiography at two public institutions over a 12-month period were evaluated.

Angiographic characteristics of renal arterial disease over the spectrum of coronary artery disease.

Background/aim: The angiographic characteristics of renal artery stenoses (RAS) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) have not been yet fully investigated. We sought to evaluate the angiographic characteristics of RAS in patients with CAD.

Methods: The medical records of consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiography in a single public institution over a 12-month period were evaluated.