Effect of randomized prophylactic nitroglycerin on radial artery spasm during transradial catheterization: an analysis based on operator experience

One limitation to transradial access (TRA) is the occurrence of spasms (RAS), for which the use of prophylactic medications is recommended. Improvement in TRA material combined with the increase in operators' expertise, might mitigate this benefit. We assess the effect of preventive nitroglycerin on RAS during TRA, evaluating the role of the operator's experience. Patients received 500 µg nitroglycerin or placebo. The operator's expertise was classified as: inexperienced (I), intermediate (M), and experienced (E). 2040 patients were included. Prophylactic use of nitroglycerin did not reduce RAS (10.8% vs. 13.4% (placebo), p = 0.07). RAS incidence was 14.5% in I, 12.5% in M, and 9.7% in E (p = 0.01). In group I, nitroglycerin reduced RAS (17.4% vs. 11.1%, p = 0.04), which was not observed in other groups. Overall, nitroglycerin does not prevent RAS, which is more common among inexperienced operators. More experienced operators could abolish preventive nitroglycerin use.

Randomized clinical trial on prevention of radial occlusion after transradial access using Nitroglycerin: PATENS trial

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether administration of nitroglycerin at the beginning or end of a transradial approach (TRA) procedure would preserve radial patency. BACKGROUND: The TRA is becoming the preferred vascular access route in coronary interventions. Radial artery occlusion (RAO) is the most frequent complication. Routine vasodilator treatment aims to reduce spasm and possibly prevent RAO. METHODS: The authors designed a prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, 2-by-2 factorial, placebo-controlled trial encompassing patients undergoing the TRA. Patients were randomized to either 500 µg nitroglycerin or placebo; each arm was also subrandomized to early (upon sheath insertion) or late (right before sheath removal) nitroglycerin administration to evaluate the superiority of nitroglycerin in the prevention of RAO with 24 hours on Doppler ultrasound. RESULTS: A total of 2,040 patients were enrolled. RAO occurred in 49 patients (2.4%). Fifteen of these patients (30.6%) showed reestablishment of flow at 30 days. Nitroglycerin, compared with placebo, did not reduce the risk for RAO at either of the 2 time points (early, 2.5% vs 2.3% [P = 0.66]; late, 2.3% vs 2.5% [P = 0.66]). By multivariable analysis, the presence of spasm (OR: 3.53; 95% CI: 1.87-6.65; P < 0.001) and access achieved with more than 1 puncture attempt (OR: 2.58; 95% CI: 1.43-4.66; P = 0.002) were independent predictors of RAO. Conclusions: The routine use of nitroglycerin was not associated with a reduction in the rate of RAO, regardless of the time of administration (at the beginning or end of the TRA procedure).

Comparison of minimum pressure and patent hemostasis on radial artery occlusion after transradial catheterization

ABSTRACT: Objectives. The aim of this study was to compare two hemostatic techniques, minimum pressure technique and patent hemostasis, on radial artery occlusion (RAO) after trans-radial catheterization. Background. RAO is an infrequent complication of trans-radial procedures. One of the strategies used to reduce this complication is the patent hemostasis technique. Use of minimum pressure in hemostatic wristband, without monitoring patency, might have the same efficacy for preventing RAO. Methods. This is a multicenter study encompassing patients submitted to trans-radial catheterization. After pneumatic wristband application, the band was deflated to the lowest allowable volume while preserving hemostasis. Radial artery patency was subsequently evaluated. The group with no return of plethysmography curve was labeled "minimum pressure," and the group in which the signal returned was labeled "patent hemostasis." RAO was verified by Doppler evaluation within the first 24 hours of the procedure. Results. A total of 1082 patients were enrolled, with mean age of 61.4 ± 10.4 years. The majority (61.0%) were male and 34.5% had diabetes. Patent hemostasis was achieved in only 213 cases (20%). Early RAO occurred in 16 patients (1.8%) in the minimum pressure group and in 4 patients (1.9%) in the patent hemostasis group (P=.97). No major bleeding was observed among the entire cohort. EASY scale for hematoma grade was similar between the cohorts (EASY grades 1-3: 7.0% in the minimum pressure group vs 7.5% in the patent hemostasis group; P=.96). Conclusion. Checking radial patency during hemostatic compression may not be necessary after the procedure when adopting a mild and short hemostatic compression

Incidência de aposição incompleta persistente e tardia após implante de stents com sirolimus e zotarolimus / Incidence of persistent and late-acquired incomplete stent apposition after sirolimus and zotarolimus-eluting stents

Introdução: Aposição incompleta (AI) é descrita após implante de stents farmacológicos (SF) e pode associar-se à trombose de stents. Em razão de diferentes plataformas, polímeros e fármacos utilizados, diferenças na eficácia e na segurança entre SF também são esperadas. Objetivo: Avaliar a incidência de AI persistente e tardia após implante de stents com sirolimus (SES) e com zotarolimus (ZES) e a evolução dos pacientes que apresentem essa alteração. Método: Análise de 242 pacientes tratados com SF (175 pacientes com SES – Cypher® – e 67 pacientes com ZES – Endeavor™) e submetidos a ultra-sonografia intracoronária após o implante e aos seis meses. Resultados: No grupo tratado com SES, 7 (4%) pacientes apresentaram AI tardia e 12 (6,8%), AI persistente. No grupo tratado com ZES, nenhum caso de AI tardia foi identificado e, em 4 pacientes, observou-se AI após o implante e que desapareceu aos seis meses. Nos pacientes com AI tardia, observou-se aumento evolutivo dos volumes do vaso (de 377,2 ± 148,9 mm3 para 431,9 ± 155,1 mm3; p = 0,51)e da placa (de 206,1 ± 51,5 mm3 para 236,9 ± 68,4 mm3; p = 0,36). O volume de hiperplasia intimal foi maior após ZES (16,6 ± 5,8 mm3 vs. 5,1 ± 5,5 mm3; p < 0,0001). Após nove meses, não ocorreram eventos cardíacos adversos nos pacientes com AI. Conclusão: A incidência de AI tardia foi de 2,9% e observada após SES. A presença de AI não esteve relacionada a eventos adversos a médio prazo.

Background: Incomplete stent apposition (ISA) has been documented after drug-eluting stents (DES) and could be related to stent thrombosis. Because DES differ in metal platform, polymer and pharmacological agent, differences in performance and safety are expected. Objective: We sought to investigate the frequency and clinical consequences of ISA after implantation of sirolimus- (SES) and zotarolimuseluting stents (ZES). Methods: 242 patients (pts) who underwent DES placement (175 pts with Cypher® and 67 pts with EndeavorTM stents) had serial intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) performed (at index procedure and after 6-months). Results: 7 pts (4%) had late-acquired ISA after SES. Another 12 (6.8%) pts treated with SES had persistent ISA. Among pts treated with ZES, none had late ISA and 4 had ISA observed after stent implantation that completely resolved at 6-months. There was an increase in vessel (377.2 ± 148.9 to 431.9 ± 155.1 mm3, p = 0.51) and in plaque volume (206.1 ± 51.53 to 236.91 ± 68.4 mm3, p=0.36) in pts with late ISA. Amount of neointimal hyperplasia was significantly higher in ZES than SES (16.6 ± 5.8 mm3 vs 5.1 ± 5.5 mm3, p < 0.0001). After 9 months, no adverse clinical event was observed in pts with ISA. Conclusion: Overall incidence of IVUS-detected late incomplete DES apposition was 2.9%, all after SES. The presence of ISA was not related to clinical adverse events during mid term follow-up.