Approach to Tibiopedal Retrograde Revascularization of Below-The-Knee Peripheral Arterial Diseases With or Without Transradial Guidance Peripheral Angiography.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to compare the use of transradial peripheral angiography to guide retrograde revascularization of below-the-knee (BTK) lesions using tibiopedal access (TPA). BACKGROUND: Tibiopedal retrograde revascularization of BTK lesions is an emerging technique in peripheral interventions. METHODS: We performed an observational cohort study of 194 consecutive adult patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) who underwent endovascular intervention for BTK diseases using peripheral angiography and primary TPA access with vs without transradial (TR) guidance at 2 centers (New York, USA and Budapest, Hungary). The primary endpoints were procedure success, 30-day major adverse event rate, 30-day access-site complication rate, and 30-day access-site patency rate by ultrasound. Secondary endpoints were periprocedural complications, fluoroscopy time, procedure length, and crossover rate to femoral access. RESULTS: There were 78 patients in the TR-guidance group and 116 patients in the non-TR guidance group. Overall procedure success rates with TR guidance vs without TR guidance were 97% and 98%, respectively. Fluoroscopy times (732.8 ± 615.7 seconds vs 769.8 ± 565.8 seconds; P=NS) and procedure times (46.5 ± 24.4 minutes vs 55.4 ± 12.6 minutes; P=NS) were similar in the TR-guidance group vs the non-TR guidance group, but contrast volumes were higher in the TR-guidance group (100.0 ± 60.1 mL vs 43.8 ± 10.2 mL in the non-TR guidance group; P<.05). There was no difference in 30-day major adverse events, other than higher amputation rate in the TR-guidance group (15.3%), which was attributed to severe baseline complex CLI status in this patient group. There was 1 case of arteriovenous fistula, 1 case of pseudoaneurysm, and 1 case of tibiopedal artery occlusion at 30 days in the group without TR guidance. There were 3 cases (3.8%) of radial artery occlusion in the TR-guidance group. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of CLI with BTK lesions is feasible and safe, with a high procedural success rate and low access-site complication rate using the TPA approach regardless of whether or not TR guidance is utilized.

Functional hemodynamics assessment during endovascular Tibio-pedal retrograde intervention of peripheral arterial disease.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to use a novel technique to measure the functional hemodynamics of peripheral arterial lesions during endovascular interventions. BACKGROUND: Functional hemodynamics has not been thoroughly evaluated during endovascular interventions. The aim of our study is to evaluate the feasibility and the potential benefits of pedal pressures measurements from tibio-pedal access. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 100 consecutive patients who underwent endovascular interventions via tibio-pedal artery access between October 3, 2018 and December 15, 2018. Baseline and postintervention pedal pressures from the pedal sheaths were measured. We also evaluated the pedal-brachial index (PBI) which is defined as the pedal sheath pressure divided by the simultaneously brachial cuff pressure. We compared baseline pedal pressures, postintervention pedal pressures, baseline PBI, postintervention PBI, % change of PBI ([postintervention PBI minus baseline PBI]/baseline PBI), and resting ankle-brachial index (ABI) versus baseline PBI in this cohort of patients. RESULTS: All 100 patients had successful tibio-pedal artery access. Baseline pedal pressure was 70 + 30 mmHg with post intervention pedal pressure of 133 + 27 mmHg (p < .001). Baseline PBI was 0.75 + 0.24 with post intervention PBI of 1.09 + 0.19 (p < .001). The correlation coefficient of resting ABI vs. baseline PBI was 0.55. The % change of PBI was 63.2 + 52.4%. There was significant improvement of postintervention PBI when compared to baseline PBI in the majority of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Obtaining pedal pressures and PBI from tibio-pedal access can be a feasible tool for endovascular interventions. This simple technique can provide us important functional hemodynamics information before and after peripheral revascularization.

Transpedal vs. femoral access for peripheral arterial interventions-A single center experience.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the transpedal approach to established femoral approach for endovascular treatment of infrainguinal peripheral arterial disease. BACKGROUND: Endovascular treatment of infrainguinal peripheral arterial disease is on the rise. Femoral approach is widely used but has significant complications. Recently the primary transpedal approach has been described for endovascular interventions. We hypothesized that transpedal approach could reduce access site related complications. We compared the two approaches in a retrospective cross-sectional study at a single center. METHODS: We analyzed demographics, procedural parameters, and complications in patients who underwent a primary transpedal approach for infrainguinal intervention and compared to patients with a traditional femoral approach in our outpatient based endovascular lab. RESULTS: The success rate for access was lower in transpedal group compared to femoral (94% vs. 100%, p = .0002). The contrast dose (44 ± 11 mL vs. 68 ± 13 mL, p < .0001), radiation dose (25 mGy [16-43] vs. 48 mGy [36-67], p < .0001) and fluoroscopy time (5.48 min [3.48-11.71] vs. 9.35 min [6.63-14.11], p < .0001) were significantly lower in transpedal group. CONCLUSION: The transpedal approach for infrainguinal revascularization appears to be a reasonable primary approach with high success and low complication rate with significant reduction in radiation and contrast dose. These findings should be further studied in a randomized controlled trial.

Superficial Femoral Artery Intervention by Single Transpedal Arterial Access.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerotic disease of the superficial femoral artery (SFA) is frequently seen and can be treated with percutaneous interventions, traditionally via femoral artery access. There are limited reports of transpedal artery access for peripheral artery interventions, but none to date describing routine primary transpedal artery approach for SFA stenting. METHODS: In this preliminary study, we report 4 patients who underwent successful endovascular SFA stenting using a single transpedal artery access via a new ultra-low profile 6 Fr sheath (Glidesheath Slender; Terumo Corporation). RESULTS: All patients underwent successful SFA stenting without complication. Procedure time varied from 51 to 72 minutes. The mean contrast amount used was 56 mL; mean fluoroscopy time was 21 minutes; mean radiation dose was 91 mGy. At 1-month follow-up, duplex ultrasonography showed that all pedal arteries had remained patent. CONCLUSIONS: Transpedal artery approach as a primary approach to SFA stenting appears feasible and safe. Comparative trials with standard percutaneous femoral approach are warranted.

Feasibility and Safety of Routine Transpedal Arterial Access for Treatment of Peripheral Artery Disease.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the feasibility and safety of transpedal arterial access for lower-extremity angiography and intervention. BACKGROUND: Traditionally, the femoral artery is chosen for the initial access site in symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD), but this approach carries a substantial portion of the entire procedural complication risk. METHODS: 80 patients were prospectively evaluated for the treatment of PAD between May and July 2014. All patients underwent peripheral angiography, and intervention if necessary. A pedal artery was the initial access site for all patients. Under ultrasound guidance, one of the pedal arteries was visualized and accessed, and a 4 Fr Glidesheath was inserted. Retrograde orbital atherectomy and balloon angioplasty were performed with a 4 Fr sheath or upsizing to a 6 Fr Glidesheath Slender (Terumo) for stenting as needed. Clinical and ultrasound assessment of the pedal arteries were performed before the procedure and at 1-month follow-up. RESULTS: Diagnostic transpedal peripheral angiography was performed in all 80 patients. 43 out of 51 patients (84%) who required intervention were successful using a pedal artery as the sole access site. No immediate or delayed access-site complications were detected. Clinical follow-up was achieved in 77 patients (96%) and access artery patency was demonstrated by ultrasound at 1 month in 100% of patients. CONCLUSION: The routine use of a transpedal approach for the treatment of PAD may be feasible and safe. Pedal artery access may also avoid many of the complications associated with the traditional femoral approach, but further study is needed.

Oral contraceptive use, iron stores and vascular endothelial function in healthy women.

BACKGROUND: Increased iron stores are associated with greater cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women. Oral contraceptive pill (OCP) use decreases the volume of menstrual blood loss and increases iron stores, but the link between OCP use, iron stores and cardiovascular risk in premenopausal women has not been characterized. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 23 healthy OCP users to determine the association between type and duration of OCP exposure, iron stores, and vascular endothelial function [flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in the brachial artery]. RESULTS: Median duration of OCP use was 45 months. FMD in the brachial artery was significantly associated with progestin type used (estranes/gonanes vs. drospirenone) and duration of OCP use (both p<.05) but not iron stores. In multivariate analysis, progestin type was the only independent predictor of FMD. CONCLUSIONS: Use of OCP containing drospirenone was independently associated with greater FMD in the brachial artery and, thus, a potentially more favorable cardiovascular risk profile, when compared with use of OCP containing estranes/gonanes.

Interferon and lamivudine vs. interferon for hepatitis B e antigen-positive hepatitis B treatment: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

AIMS: To compare interferon monotherapy with its combination with lamivudine for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive hepatitis B treatment. METHODS: Two independent researchers identified pertinent randomized controlled trials. The trials were evaluated for methodological quality and heterogeneity. Rates of sustained virological and biochemical responses, and HBeAg clearance and seroconversion were used as primary efficacy measures. Quantitative meta-analyses were conducted to assess differences between groups for conventional and pegylated interferon, and overall. RESULTS: Greater sustained virological, biochemical and seroconversion rates were observed with addition of lamivudine to conventional [odds ratio (OR)=3.1, 95% confidence intervals (CI) (1.7-5.5), P<0.0001, OR=1.8, 95% CI (1.2-2.7), P=0.007 and OR=1.8, 95% CI (1.1-2.8), P=0.01 respectively], although not pegylated [OR=1.1, 95% CI (0.5-2.3), P=0.8, OR=1.0, 95% CI (0.7-1.3), P=0.94, and OR=0.9, 95% CI (0.6-1.2), P=0.34 respectively] interferon-alpha, with no significant affect on HBeAg clearance rates [OR=1.6, 95% CI (0.9-2.7), P=0.09, and OR=0.8, 95% CI (0.6-1.1), P=0.26 respectively]. Excluding virological response (P<0.001), pegylated interferon monotherapy and conventional interferon and lamivudine combination therapy were similarly efficacious (P>0.05), with the former studied in harder to treat patients, as evidenced by the superior virological response observed with conventional as compared with pegylated interferon monotherapy (P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: In comparable populations, pegylated interferon monotherapy is likely to be equally or more efficacious than conventional interferon and lamivudine combination therapy, thus constituting the treatment of choice, with no added benefit with lamivudine addition. However, when conventional interferon is used, its combination with lamivudine should be considered.