Role of distal protection device in prevention of distal embolization during PCI of saphenous vein grafts at AFIC/NIHD; an experience of 26 cases

ABSTRACT

Failure of Saphenous vein grafts [SVG], an almost universally used conduit in coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG] patients, is a common problem. Distal embolization during percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI] of SVG can have serious consequences. Use of embolization protection devices [EPD] has resulted in lesser incidence of such complications. Spider Rx is a distal protection filter device, experience and results of use of this device are presented. This study was conducted at the interventional cardiology department of Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology National Institute of Heart Diseases during a period from Feb 2007 to May 2009. All patients having indications for PCI, angina CCS class I to IV, to vein grafts more than three years after CABG was included. Patients with acute myocardial infarction and totally occluded SVGs were excluded. No flow or slow flow phenomenon and pre and post procedure CKMB, at six and twenty four hours, levels were measured. Spider RX distal embolization protection is easy to use and its use resulted in embolization protection comparable to that of other devices reported in literature