Intra-arterial nicardipine versus verapamil during transradial access coronary catheterization.

Introduction: Intra-arterial (IA) vasodilators are recommended during transradial access (TRA) to prevent radial artery spasm (RAS). The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends either IA verapamil, diltiazem, nicardipine, or nitroglycerin to prevent RAS. To our knowledge, the efficacy of RAS prevention and patient tolerability of verapamil and nicardipine has not been directly compared in a randomized fashion.

Perception of Ridesharing Among Veterans With Cardiovascular Diseases in the Era of the MISSION Act.

The Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (MISSION) Act of 2018 expanded veteran's access to community care leading to increased utilization of non-Veterans Affairs (VA) care and prompting concerns about the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of this care model for the VA. This study seeks to explore veterans' attitudes toward ridesharing services as a means of accessing VA-based cardiovascular care. This cross-sectional, quality improvement study utilized a 7-question survey administered to patients in an urban VA Heart Center to assess transportation preferences and opinions on ridesharing.

Interventional cardiologist perceptions about PCI without surgical backup-Results of an international survey.

Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) without surgical backup is becoming increasingly common in the United States. Additionally, a recent SCAI expert consensus document has liberalized recommendations for performing PCI without cardiac surgery on site (SOS).

Aims: The current study sought to understand practice patterns and operator preferences with regard to performing PCI without SOS.

Team-Based Coaching Intervention to Improve Contrast-Associated Acute Kidney Injury: A Cluster-Randomized Trial.

Background: Up to 14% of patients in the United States undergoing cardiac catheterization each year experience AKI. Consistent use of risk minimization preventive strategies may improve outcomes. We hypothesized that team-based coaching in a Virtual Learning Collaborative (Collaborative) would reduce postprocedural AKI compared with Technical Assistance (Assistance), both with and without Automated Surveillance Reporting (Surveillance).

Interventional Cardiac Procedures and Pregnancy.

As the average maternal age advances with increasing concurrent cardiovascular disease risk factors, more women are entering pregnancy with or at risk for various cardiovascular conditions. Although rare, pregnant patients may require various cardiac interventions in the catheterization laboratory. An understanding of indications for intervention in pregnant patients with conditions such as myocardial infarction, severe valvular disease, and cardiogenic shock is critical to optimizing both fetal and maternal outcomes.

A Heart Team Approach to Assessing Frailty in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory.

Introduction: Frailty is a well-documented risk factor for increased morbidity and mortality among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). There remains a lack of knowledge regarding the impact of patient frailty in cardiac patient management and outcomes. Thus, this study examined whether the Heart Team, without using frailty assessments, made decisions regarding coronary interventions [medical management (MM) vs.

Coronary Artery Radial Deformation and Velocity in Native and Stented Arteries.

Introduction: Coronary arteries are exposed to a variety of complex biomechanical forces during a normal cardiac cycle. These forces have the potential to contribute to coronary stent failure. Recent advances in stent design allow for the transmission of native pulsatile biomechanical forces in the stented vessel.

Radial versus femoral access for left main percutaneous coronary intervention: An analysis from the Veterans Affairs Clinical, Reporting, and Tracking Program.

Objectives: We aimed to compare clinical characteristics and procedural outcomes of left main percutaneous interventions (LM-PCI) by transradial (TRA) versus transfemoral (TFA) approach in the VA healthcare system.

Background: TRA for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is steadily increasing. However, the frequency and efficacy of TRA for LM-PCI remain less studied.

Adaptive Coronary Artery Rotational Motion Through Uncaging of a Drug-Eluting Bioadaptor Aiming to Reduce Stress on the Coronary Artery.

Background: Caged drug-eluting stents impede natural coronary rotational motion and increase vessel stress, which can contribute towards adverse events. The DynamX™ Drug-Eluting Bioadaptor is a cobalt‑chromium platform with a novel mechanism that uncages the vessel after the bioresorbable coating resorbs over six months. This study aimed to analyze the effects of the rotational uncaging in a finite element analysis (FEA) model, validating its effect on coronary artery rotational motion through in-vivo stationary intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).

This Can Be as Easy as 1-2-3.

The S1S2S3 pattern, in conjunction with right-dominant forces on a 12-lead electrocardiogram including a tall R-wave in lead V (R:S >1), deep S waves in the left precordial leads V and V (R:S <1), QRS interval <120 ms, and right atrial enlargement (P-wave in lead II >2.5 mm), is highly specific for right ventricular dysfunction with pulmonary hypertension. ().

Transradial Interventions at the Forefront of Innovation.

Interventional cardiology has witnessed tremendous changes over the years from a mainly diagnostic approach in an elective population to therapeutic strategies in critically ill patients. Currently, we can treat a broad spectrum of coronary artery, peripheral artery, and structural heart diseases with less invasive, percutaneous approaches that we did not anticipate to be possible just a decade ago. It is certain that the interventional techniques will see further development and we will be able to treat by percutaneous methods more conditions previously thought beyond our reach.

Comparison of distal radial access versus standard transradial access in patients with smaller diameter radial Arteries(The distal radial versus transradial access in small transradial ArteriesStudy: D.A.T.A - S.T.A.R study).

Aims: To evaluate safety and efficacy of distal right radial access (DRRA) compared to right radial access (RRA), for coronary procedures, in patients with smaller diameter radial arteries (SDRA) (radial artery diameter (RAD) < 2.1 mm).

Methods And Results: This is a retrospective analysis of safety and efficacy of DRRA Vs.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Prasugrel for Prevention of Early Saphenous Vein Graft Thrombosis.

Objectives: To test whether administration of prasugrel after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) reduces saphenous vein graft (SVG) thrombosis. Use of aspirin after CABG improves graft patency, but administration of other antiplatelet agents has yielded equivocal results.

Methods: We performed a double-blind trial randomizing patients to prasugrel or placebo after CABG at four United States centers.