Efficacy and Safety of Bivalirudin in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Current Clinical Practice

Bivalirudin is theoretically a promising alternative to unfractionated heparin (UFH). It is a direct thrombin inhibitor and has the ability to block circulating and clot-bound thrombin and prevent thrombin-mediated platelet activation.1 Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (GPI), such as the selective antibody abciximab or the small molecules tirofiban and eptifibatide on the other hand, are not alternatives to heparin but can, in addition to UFH, inhibit platelet aggregation by directly blocking their GPIIb/IIIa receptor. Either of these two strategies is used during most percutaneous coronary procedures for anti-aggregation/anti-coagulation and they contribute significantly to the procedural costs.2 The choice between the two drug strategies is influenced by the patient’s ischemic and bleeding risk and somewhat (we suspect largely) by operator’s preference. Often, bivalirudin is preferred because of its simple protocol and the reduced risk for bleeding.

ABSTRACT: Background. Ectopic origin of the right coronary artery (RCA) occurs in ≈1.0% of studied populations. We investigated the prevalence and location of ectopic RCAs among patients undergoing coronary angiography (CA) and assessed its effects on resource utilization. Methods. Cases of ectopic RCAs were prospectively collected over 21 months among patients undergoing cardiac catheterization at a University Hospital. “Ectopic RCA” was defined as a RCA originating outside the posterior two-thirds of the right coronary sinus. Results. The study population included 2,120 patients, of which 23 (1.1%) had ectopic RCAs. Of these, 15 (65%) originated from the anterior third of the right sinus, while 8 (35%) originated from the anterior half of the left sinus. Mean procedure and fluoroscopy times were 60 ± 33 and 15 ± 12 minutes (min) for the former, and 78 ± 35 and 31 ± 20 min for the latter, while mean contrast volume for CA was 112 ± 62 ml and 192 ± 85 ml, respectively.

ABSTRACT: Background. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and echocardiographic tissue Doppler indices (TDI) predict elevated filling pressures, but few data exist comparing these methods while adjusting for clinical variables. We hypothesized that BNP would provide incremental value for estimating left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP). Methods. Clinical data, echocardiograms, and BNP levels were obtained in 182 geriatric patients undergoing diagnostic left-heart catheterization. Patients with severe valvular disease or acute myocardial infarction were excluded. LVEDP and standard echocardiographic measurements, including early (E) and late (A) mitral inflow velocities and early (Em) mitral annular velocities by TDI, were measured in blinded fashion. Results. Mean age was 71 years, 51% were female, and 19% were nonwhite.

Evaluation of Balloon Withdrawal Forces with Bare-Metal Stents, Compared with Taxus™ and Cypher™ Drug-Eluting Coronary Stents: Balloon, Stent and Polymer Interactions

We now know what was long suspected. In fact, interventionists suspected it for years, dating back to 2004 when the Food and Drug Administration first investigated Boston Scientific’s TAXUS drug eluting stent for “stickiness of the balloon during withdrawal.”1,2 But nothing was ever proven. Until now.

ABSTRACT: Objectives. To compare our experience with sirolimus- and paclitaxel-eluting stents (drug-eluting stents [DES]) and non-drug-eluting stents (NDES) for treatment of vertebral artery (VA) origin stenosis and review the literature. Methods. A retrospective review of our prospectively collected database was performed. Clinical and radiologic follow up was obtained by reviewing office records and radiology. Data collected included demographics, comorbidities, presenting symptoms, stenosis severity, contralateral VA stenosis and/or carotid stenosis, type of stent used, angioplasty before or after stenting, post-treatment residual stenosis, clinical and radiological follow up and retreatment. Patients with symptomatic > 60% stenosis or asymptomatic > 70% stenosis and/or a hypoplastic or occluded contralateral VA or significant carotid occlusion were chosen for revascularization. Results.

ABSTRACT: The absence of antegrade flow in a coronary artery during an intervention is an ominous finding requiring diagnosis of the underlying cause and rapid treatment to limit myocardial necrosis. The Twin-Pass dual access catheter allows for distal coronary contrast injection without loss of wire position. The aim of this analysis was to determine the opacification and flow features of patients with abrupt arrest of antegrade flow to determine the underlying pathology. Methods. Coronary angiograms of patients with abrupt arrest of antegrade flow during an intervention that underwent distal vessel contrast injection with the Twin-Pass catheter were retrospectively analyzed for five features: antegrade flow, retrograde flow, myocardial blush, presence of contrast stasis in the vessel wall and evidence of an intraluminal filling defect. The features were then correlated with the underlying pathological process and treatment. Results.

ABSTRACT: Objectives. We studied the use of 8 Fr Angio-Seal in closure of access sites up to 10 Fr. Background. The use of larger French catheters for procedures such as valvuloplasty and percutaneous valve replacement has required the use of better methods for arterial closure. The use of 6 and 8 Fr Angio-Seal hemostatic devices (St. Jude Medical, St. Paul, Minnesota) has been well described and are routinely used for diagnostic and interventional procedures up to 8 Fr in size. However, no data are available for the use of an 8 Fr Angio-Seal device in the closure of access sites up to 10 Fr. Methods. In our center, we evaluate the incidence of vascular complications following the use of an 8 Fr Angio-Seal device with 10 Fr sheaths in patients undergoing aortic valvuloplasty. Results. Of 53 procedures, there was only 1 vascular complication, a ruptured pseudoaneurysm, which required vascular repair. Conclusions.

ABSTRACT: Antithrombotic therapy, including antiplatelet and antithrombin agents, effectively reduces the risk of ischemic events in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and those undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Unfortunately, these agents intrinsically increase the risk of bleeding complications, which in turn are associated with adverse outcomes, particularly mortality. Accordingly, there is great value in improving the understanding of bleeding complications, including the definitions employed, severity and types of bleeding, as well as the patient characteristics, clinical presentations, and treatment variables that are associated with an increased risk of bleeding. The ultimate goal is to optimize patient outcomes by employing pharmacological and nonpharmacological strategies that minimize bleeding risk while maintaining efficacy.