Same day discharge after chronic total occlusion interventions: A single center experience.

Objectives: To assess the feasibility and safety of same day discharge (SDD) after chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Background: CTO PCI has been associated with higher complication rates and procedural and hospitalization costs. Shortening post-PCI hospitalization length not only increases the patients' comfort but at the same time it consists an important part of cost reduction policies.

Hospital attendance and admission trends for cardiac diseases during the COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown in Greece.

Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, along with implementation of lockdown and strict public movement restrictions, in Greece has affected hospital visits and admissions. We aimed to investigate trends of cardiac disease admissions during the outbreak of the pandemic and possible associations with the applied restrictive measures.

Study Design: This is a retrospective observational study.

Single Sheath for Dual Injection Prior to CTO Intervention.

To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a dual injection using a single sheath approach, in order to evaluate a CTO and plan a future intervention.

Parallel Stenting for Treatment of an In-stent Chronic Total Occlusion after Successful Dissection Reentry Technique.

Percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) for chronic total occlusions (CTO) are the most challenging type of procedure in interventional cardiology and are traditionally associated with increased complexity and reduced procedural success rates. New techniques, such as retrograde approach and dissection reentry technique, offer alternatives in case of traditional antegrade wiring failure. In this paper, we present a successful implantation of a stent parallel to other existing stent in an in-stent CTO (IS-CTO) using dissection reentry technique.

Distal Radial Access: A Review Article.

Transradial approach (TRA) for coronary angiography and interventions has been increasingly used over the last decades and has become the default strategy in the majority of catheterization laboratories worldwide. Recently, a novel transradial access site, the distal radial access (DRA), has been proposed as an alternative to traditional TRA. Several case reports and case series have been published on this new approach over the last year showing overall good success rates.

Comparison of Surgical Encounter Direct Costs for Three Methods of Cubital Tunnel Decompression.

Background: In situ decompression, subcutaneous transposition, and submuscular transposition for cubital tunnel syndrome have historically yielded similar outcomes. The authors' null hypothesis is that no differences exist in surgical encounter total direct costs for in situ decompression, subcutaneous transposition, and submuscular transposition.

Methods: Adult patients treated surgically for cubital tunnel syndrome by four fellowship-trained hand surgeons between August of 2011 and December of 2016 were identified by CPT code (64718) at their tertiary academic institution.

"Single Arm-Double Access" for CTO Intervention.

To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a dual-access approach for CTO intervention using transradial and ipsilateral transulnar access. Although retrograde CTO intervention is a challenging procedure, a single arm-double access approach seems to be a feasible alternative that may be useful in patients with limited access-site availability.

Right arm distal transradial (snuffbox) access for coronary catheterization: Initial experience.

Background: Distal transradial access (dTRA) by the snuffbox approach for coronary catheterization has emerged as an alternative to the classic forearm TRA with certain advantages and limitations.The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the dTRA exclusively from the right arm.

Methods: Forty-nine consecutive patients (31 males and 18 females, mean age 64 ± 12 years), who were candidates for coronary catheterization in two cath laboratory centers, regardless of the indication, were recruited.

Alternative access site choice after initial radial access site failure for coronary angiography and intervention.

Background: Transradial access for coronary catheterization is more technically challenging compared to the traditional transfemoral approach and radial access failure is quite common. The aim of this study is to describe the additional steps after initial radial access site failure in a high specialized forearm approach center.

Methods: A retrospective evaluation of all coronary catheterizations performed in our Department between January 2016 and December 2016 was performed, with focus on arterial access.

Distal Versus Traditional Radial Approach for Coronary Angiography.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of distal radial (DR) versus traditional radial (TR) approach during coronary angiography.

Methods: Two hundred patients scheduled to undergo transradial coronary angiography were randomized between the two approaches. Primary endpoint of the study was switching to another access site due to inability of successful target artery cannulation.

Strategies to increase the use of forearm approach during coronary angiography and interventions.

The aim of this article is to focus on the utilization of forearm approach for cardiac catheterization in challenging groups of patients. Radial and ulnar approaches have gained significant popularity among the majority of interventional cardiologists. Multiple studies have demonstrated the feasibility, safety and efficacy of forearm route for cardiac catheterization and have highlighted the significant reduction in bleeding complications by avoiding the puncture of the groin.

Hand Hematoma After Cardiac Catheterization Via Distal Radial Artery.

This is the first reported case of severe hand hematoma after cardiac catheterization through the distal radial artery, with the hematoma extending distally to the sheath insertion site. The distribution of the hematoma in our case is completely different compared to the hematomas observed after traditional radial catheterization, which used to extend to the forearm. Therefore, the traditional EASY classification may not apply to hematomas after catheterization through the distal radial artery.

Forearm Versus Femoral Approach for Cardiac Catheterization in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients.

Background: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is considered a relative contraindication for forearm (radial or ulnar) cardiac catheterization. However, in everyday practice, many ESRD patients are catheterized from the forearm. The aim of this study was to compare femoral and forearm approach for cardiac catheterization in ESRD patients.

Echocardiography and cardiac arrhythmias.

Cardiac arrhythmias refer to any abnormality or disturbance in the normal activation sequence of the myocardium and may be indicative of structural heart disease and the cause of significant cardiovascular complications and sudden cardiac death. The following review summarizes the current state-of-the-art knowledge on the role of echocardiography in the management of cardiac arrhythmias and focuses on atrial fibrillation and ventricular arrhythmias where echocardiography presents a particular diagnostic and prognostic interest. Moreover, a brief reference is made to the effect of cardiac arrhythmias and conduction abnormalities on echocardiographic examination.

"Ping-pong" technique for treating a balloon uncrossable chronic total occlusion.

Balloon uncrossable lesions are a well-known challenge during chronic total occlusion (CTO) interventions. The technique of using two different catheters into the same coronary artery, the so-called "ping-pong" technique, is a technique described for treating complications during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), like perforations or rotational atherectomy burr entrapment. We describe a case where the "ping-pong" technique was successfully used to facilitate treatment of a balloon uncrossable CTO lesion.

Radial artery occlusion after transradial coronary catheterization.

The transradial approach (TRA) for coronary angiography and interventions is increasingly utilized around the world. Radial artery occlusion (RAO) is the most common significant complication after transradial catheterization, with incidence varying between 1% and 10%. Although RAO is rarely accompanied by hand ischemia, it is an important complication because it prohibits future transradial access and radial artery utilization as a conduit for coronary artery bypass grafting or arteriovenous fistula formation.

Needle versus cannula over needle for radial artery cannulation during transradial coronary angiography and interventions.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of radial artery cannulation with needle versus cannula over needle during transradial coronary angiography and intervention.

Methods: Five hundred patients scheduled to undergo transradial catheterization were randomized between the two methods. Primary endpoint of the study was the combined endpoint of switching to another access site due to inability of successful sheath insertion or switching to another method of cannulation (from needle to cannula over needle and vice versa).

Feasibility and safety of same-day discharge after complex percutaneous coronary intervention using forearm approach.

Objectives: We sought to assess the feasibility and safety of same-day discharge (SDD) after complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using a forearm approach.

Background: SDD has been shown to be safe after elective, low-risk PCI. However, the feasibility and safety of SDD in more complex patients and lesions has received limited study.

Predictors of same day discharge after percutaneous coronary interventions.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to identify possible predictors for same day discharge (SDD) after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI).

Background: Same day discharge after PCI is becoming more and more appealing and patient's selection criteria are being formulated.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed in all PCI procedures from January 2013 until December 2015.

Transulnar approach for coronary catheterization in patients with a harvested ipsilateral radial artery: A case series.

Forearm approach for coronary catheterization is associated with better outcomes, compared to the femoral approach. However, the possibility of post catheterization forearm artery occlusion is a medical concern, which leads many patients to be treated transfemorally. We present a case series of patients who had a harvested radial artery and were successfully catheterized from ipsilateral ulnar artery without any complications recorded.

Transradial Approach for Cardiac Catheterization in Patients With Negative Allen's Test.

Aims: To assess the efficacy and safety of transradial approach regardless of the Allen's test results for coronary angiography and angioplasty.

Methods And Results: Prospective data collection of 1035 consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiography with or without ad hoc angioplasty through the radial approach was conducted. Baseline demographic and procedural data were recorded.

Myocardial protection provided by chronic skeletal muscle ischemia is not further enhanced by ischemic pre- or postconditioning: comparative effects on intracellular signaling.

Chronic skeletal muscle ischemia protects the ischemic heart by preserving coronary flow and inducing arterioangiogenesis. We sought to determine the effect and the underlying molecular mechanisms of preconditioning (PreC) and postconditioning (PostC), applied in a model of chronic skeletal muscle ischemia. Male rabbits were divided into 3 series.