Infrapopliteal transcatheter interventions for limb salvage in diabetic patients: importance of aggressive interventional approach and role of transcutaneous oximetry.

Objectives: This study sought to determine whether infrapopliteal transcatheter interventions can salvage ischemic limbs in diabetic patients referred for below the knee amputation at our institution.

Background: The value of transcatheter interventions in diabetic crural arteries is controversial. Tissue oxygen partial pressure (TCO2) levels < 40 mm Hg predict poor wound healing.

Comparison of angioscopy, intravascular ultrasound imaging and quantitative coronary angiography in predicting clinical outcome after coronary intervention in high risk patients.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify qualitative or quantitative variables present on angioscopy, intravascular ultrasound imaging or quantitative coronary arteriography that were associated with adverse clinical outcome after coronary intervention in high risk patients.

Background: Patients with acute coronary syndromes and complex lesion morphology on angiography are at increased risk for acute complications after coronary angioplasty. Newer devices that primarily remove atheroma have not improved outcome over that of balloon angioplasty.

Rotational atherectomy with a new device: initial clinical experience.

The Bard Atherectomy Catheter is a new rotational atherectomy device that consists of a flexible, hollow, thin-walled cutting catheter that, while rotated at 1,500 revolutions per minute, is advanced across the lesion over a special spiral guidewire system. We report the initial clinical experience with this device in 20 peripheral lesions in ten patients. The majority of patients were treated for limb salvage.

Successful treatment of chronic total peripheral occlusions that failed conventional techniques using the stiff backend of the Glidewire.

The vast majority of failures of transcatheter interventions in patients with peripheral vascular disease are due to inability to cross the lesion with a guidewire. Although the use of the Glidewire has clearly improved the success rate, failures with especially chronic total occlusions still occur. We describe a new technique using the very stiff backend of the Glidewire, which we have found very successful, when conventional techniques fall in crossing highly resistant lesions.

Diffuse vasospasm following stenting of a free gastroepiploic artery graft: resolution with balloon angioplasty and intensive medical therapy.

Vasospasm following balloon angioplasty of gastroepiploic artery bypass grafts can be prevented or reversed with vasodilators. In our patient, stent deployment for ostial stenosis of a free gastroepiploic artery graft was accompanied by severe, diffuse spasm and a change in graft configuration that required both intensive medical therapy and balloon angioplasty for resolution.