In this multicenter randomized controlled trial, routine real-time US guidance improved CFA cannulation only in patients with high CFA bifurcations but reduced the number of attempts, time to access, risk of venipunctures, and vascular complications in femoral arterial access. (Femoral Arterial Access With Ultrasound Trial [FAUST]; NCT00667381).

BACKGROUND: Autopsy studies consistently demonstrate cardiac involvement in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), but clinical evidence for cardiac abnormalities is rarely reported. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This systematic review addresses the apparent discrepancy between autopsy and clinical data. English language articles were identified by keywords for both TTP and for cardiac symptoms, testing, or events. Patients were analyzed if they were more than 10 years old with idiopathic TTP. RESULTS: Thirty articles were identified that described 111 eligible patients: 20 case reports described 27 patients, 9 retrospective cohort studies described 74 patients, and 1 prospective cohort study described 10 patients. Cardiac events included infarction (26 patients), congestive failure (17), arrhythmias (10), cardiogenic shock (6), and sudden cardiac death (8). Mortality was assessed in 101 patients: 55 died, and 48 autopsies were described. All demonstrated cardiac microvascular thrombi, hemorrhage, and/or necrosis. Follow‐up information was reported in only 6 of the 16 patients who survived a cardiac event (follow‐up duration, 10 days‐2 years; median, 7 weeks). CONCLUSIONS: The frequency and sequelae of clinical cardiac abnormalities in TTP cannot be accurately assessed because most patients were described in reports of few selected patients; many patients were reported before the availability of effective treatment for TTP and sensitive tests for cardiac involvement. Continuing case reports and cohort studies, however, suggest that cardiac abnormalities may be important and often unrecognized causes of mortality and morbidity in patients with TTP. Prospective studies are needed to determine if cardiac therapy can improve survival and long‐term outcomes of patients with TTP.

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Since the publication of the 2009 SCAI Expert Consensus Document on Length of Stay Following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), advances in vascular access techniques, stent technology, and antiplatelet pharmacology have facilitated changes in discharge patterns following PCI. Additional clinical studies have demonstrated the safety of early and same day discharge in selected patients with uncomplicated PCI, while reimbursement policies have discouraged unnecessary hospitalization. This consensus update: (1) clarifies clinical and reimbursement definitions of discharge strategies, (2) reviews the technological advances and literature supporting reduced hospitalization duration and risk assessment, and (3) describes changes to the consensus recommendations on length of stay following PCI (Supporting Information Table S1). These recommendations are intended to support reasonable clinical decision making regarding postprocedure length of stay for a broad spectrum of patients undergoing PCI, rather than prescribing a specific period of observation for individual patients.

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Ultrasound guidance improves the success and efficiency of radial artery cannulation in patients presenting for transradial catheterization. (Radial Artery Access With Ultrasound Trial [RAUST]; NCT01605292).

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