Prospective comparison of palpation versus ultrasound-guided radial access for cardiac catheterization.

Background: Radial access is increasingly used for both diagnostic and interventional cardiac procedures. Prospective data comparing ultrasound- versus palpation-guided radial catheterization are largely lacking.

Methods: In this prospective, single-center study, a total of 183 consecutive patients scheduled for transradial cardiac catheterization by an experienced interventionalist were assigned 1:1 to either palpation- or ultrasound-guided radial access.

Endovascular treatment of descending thoracic aortic disease: single-center, 15-year experience.

Purpose: To report the experience with thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) in a single center over a 15-year period.

Materials And Methods: All patients undergoing TEVAR during the period 1994-2009 were retrospectively evaluated.

Results: The study comprised 133 patients (96 men, age 69.

Racial differences in women's prodromal and acute symptoms of myocardial infarction.

Background: Minority women, especially black and Hispanic women, have higher rates of coronary heart disease and resulting disability and death than do white women. A lack of knowledge of minority women's symptoms of coronary heart disease may contribute to these disparities.

Objective: To compare black, Hispanic, and white women's prodromal and acute symptoms of myocardial infarction.

The risks of celiac artery coverage during endoluminal repair of thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms.

The risks of purposeful celiac artery coverage during endovascular thoracic aortic aneurysm repair (TEVAR) to obtain an adequate distal landing zone have received scant scientific attention. Patients undergoing TEVAR at 6 tertiary centers from January 2000 to June 2007 were identified (n = 434); cases requiring celiac artery exclusion (n = 19; 4.4% of the total) were analyzed.

Influence of stent type on hemodynamic depression after carotid artery stent placement.

Purpose: To assess the effect of stent type on hypotension and bradycardia after carotid artery stent placement.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis on a prospectively maintained database was conducted in 256 patients (126 men; mean age, 71.8 years +/- 8.

Anemia is associated with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) size and decreased long-term survival after endovascular AAA repair.

Objective: Anemia is a common comorbid condition in various inflammatory states and an established predictor of mortality in patients with chronic heart failure, ischemic heart disease, and end-stage renal disease. The present study of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) undergoing endovascular repair (EVAR) assessed the relationships between baseline hemoglobin concentration and AAA size, as well as anemia and long-term survival.

Methods: Between March 1994 and November 2006, 711 patients (65 women, mean age 75.

Bivalirudin as an anticoagulation agent: safety and efficacy in peripheral interventions.

Purpose: Traditionally, unfractionated heparin is used to prevent thrombotic complications in peripheral interventions. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of bivalirudin as the anticoagulant agent for peripheral interventions.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis of 108 patients who underwent 110 peripheral interventions between January 2002 and January 2004 and received bivalirudin as the sole anticoagulation agent was conducted at Baptist Cardiac and Vascular Institute.