Background
The impact of operator experience on fluoroscopy time and contrast utilization during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of coronary chronic total occlusions (CTOs) has received limited study.
Methods
We evaluated temporal trends in fluoroscopy time and contrast utilization among 1,363 consecutive CTO PCIs performed at 3 US institutions between January 2006 and November 2011.
Results
Mean age was 65±11 years, 85% of patients were men, 40% had diabetes, 37% had prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery and 42% had prior PCI. The CTO target vessel was the right coronary artery (55%), circumflex (23%), left anterior descending artery (21%), and left main or bypass graft (1%). The retrograde approach was used in 34% of all procedures. The technical and procedural success rates were 85.5% and 84.2%, respectively. The mean procedural time, fluoroscopy time and contrast utilization was 113±61 minutes, 42±29 minutes, and 294±158 ml, respectively. Years since initiation of CTO PCI was independently associated with higher technical success rate (OR=1.52, 95% CI 1.52 to 1.70, p <0.001), lower fluoroscopy time (OR=0.84, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.75 to 0.95, p=0.005) and contrast utilization (OR=0.84, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.79, p <0.001) during the study period.
Conclusions
Among selected US-based institutions performing CTO PCI we observed a significant reduction in total fluoroscopy time and contrast utilization paralleled with an improved technical success rate over time.
The GuideLiner catheter (Vascular Solutions, Minneapolis, MN) is a novel, rapid exchange catheter that allows deep vessel intubation. We describe 21 patients in whom the GuideLiner catheter [7 French (F) in 76% and 6F in 24%] was used to facilitate equipment delivery (n = 14) or vessel engagement (n = 7). Pressure dampening after GuideLiner catheter insertion was observed in 12 patients (57%). The procedure was successfully completed in 19 patients (90%) and one patient developed acute vessel closure, likely due to dissection. The GuideLiner catheter can facilitate complex coronary interventions but should be used with caution to minimize the risk for vessel injury.
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