Incidence and predictors of forearm hematoma during the transradial approach for percutaneous coronary interventions.

BACKGROUND: The transradial approach for percutaneous coronary intervention (TRA-PCI) reduces vascular complications compared with the transfemoral approach (TFA). Although hematoma formation is less frequent with the TRA than TFA, it is not uncommon, and its presentation ranges from mild hematoma to compartment syndrome. Incidence and predictors of hematoma have not been well studied. METHODS AND RESULTS: The present study was conducted to prospectively evaluate the incidence and predictors of forearm hematoma after TRA-PCI. The study population consisted of consecutive patients undergoing TRA-PCI. Baseline and procedural characteristics and clinical outcomes were prospectively collected. All patients were observed for forearm/arm hematoma immediately after procedure, after band removal, before discharge, and whenever the patient complained of pain/swelling in the limb. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the predictors for hematoma formation. A total of 520 patients who had successfully completed TRA-PCI were included in the final analysis. The mean age was 55.2 ± 9.5 years, and 24% patients were women. Hematoma occurred in 53 (10.2%) patients. Hematomas were of grade I, II, III, and IV in 22 (4.2%), 9 (1.7%), 18 (3.5%), and 4 (0.8%) patients, respectively. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, age, body mass index, multiple puncture attempt, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor blocker use, nonclopidogrel agent use for dual antiplatelet therapy, and multiple catheter exchanges emerged as independent predictors for hematoma formation. CONCLUSIONS: Forearm hematoma following TRA-PCI occurs in about 10% patients. Most hematomas occur near the puncture area. The independent predictors for hematoma formation are age, body mass index, multiple puncture attempts, intensive antiplatelet therapy, and multiple catheter exchanges.

Incidence and predictors of radial artery occlusion after transradial coronary angioplasty: Doppler-guided follow-up study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the incidence and predictors of radial artery occlusion (RAO) after transradial coronary angioplasty (TRA). BACKGROUND: RAO can occur after TRA but has not been well studied by serial vascular Doppler examination. METHODS: A total of 198 patients undergoing TRA were included. Radial pulse and Doppler examination of the radial artery were performed 1 day before, 1 day after, and 3 months after the procedure. RAO was defined as an absence of antegrade flow on Doppler studies. Logistic regression analysis was done to evaluate the predictors of RAO. RESULTS: The mean radial arterial diameter was 2.8 ± 0.4 mm. On the day after TRA, radial artery Doppler examination revealed RAO in 30 patients (15.2%). Radial pulse was still palpable in 30.0% of these patients. All of them were asymptomatic. At 3-month follow-up, no new RAO was noted. Interestingly, the radial artery had spontaneously recanalized in 8 patients (26.7%) with RAO. Patients with persistent RAO remained asymptomatic. On univariate analysis, female sex, diabetes, lower body mass index, radial artery diameter ≤2.5 mm, lower peak systolic velocity, and radial artery to sheath ratio <1 were predictors of RAO. Interestingly, procedural characteristics and duration of the procedure were not identified as predictors of RAO. On multivariate analysis, radial artery diameter ≤2.5 mm and preprocedural peak systolic velocity emerged as independent predictors for RAO. CONCLUSION: Asymptomatic RAO occurs in about 15% of patients after TRA. Spontaneous recanalization occurs in about one-fourth of these patients. Preprocedure radial artery inner diameter ≤2.5 mm and peak systolic velocity are the independent predictors of RAO.

Successful surgical management of atherosclerotic dual right coronary artery with short-term follow-up.

Congenital anomalies of the coronary arteries are present in 0.2-1.4% of the general population. Dual right coronary artery is one of the rarest congenital anomalies (0.01%) of the coronary arteries. We report a patient with unstable angina with severe triple vessel disease who had diseased dual right coronary artery. He was successfully managed with surgical revascularization and followed up with computed tomography angiography. Surgical revascularization of both the coronary arteries of right side is hardly reported in literature.

Characteristics of infective endocarditis in a developing country-clinical profile and outcome in 192 Indian patients, 1992-2001.

Total 198 episodes of Duke "definite" infective endocarditis (IE) in 192 patients observed over last 10 years were studied [141 males and 51 females, mean age 27.6+/-12.7 years (range 4-68 years)]. Majorities of patients (76.5%) were below 40 years of age. Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) was the commonest underlying heart disease (present in 46.9% patients). Probable source of infection could be identified in only 16.6% episodes. None of our patient was intravenous drug abuser. Fever (90.0%), anemia (81.0%), clubbing (58.1%), splenomegaly (60.6%), changing/new murmur (22.7%) were the common clinical findings. Vegetations were present in 89.9% episodes. Blood cultures were positive in 134 (67.7%) episodes (streptococci in 23.2%, staphylococci in 19.7%, gram negative in 13.6%, enterococci in 8.1%, polymicrobial and fungal in 1.5% episodes each). Complications were cardiovascular [congestive heart failure (CHF) in 41.9%, atrioventricular block in 1.5%, cardiac temponade and acute myocardial infarction in 0.5% each), neurological in 16.6%, renal in 13.1% and embolisms in total 21.7% episodes. Total 182 (91.9%) episodes in 176 patients were managed completely [(medical in 140 (76.9%) and surgical in 42 (23.1%) episodes] while patients in remaining 16 (8.1%) episodes left against medical advises before completion of therapy. Total 21% patients (37 out of 176 completely treated patients) died during therapy (cause of deaths; CHF in 11, septicemia in 10, cerebral embolism in 7, post cardiac surgery in 5, ruptured cerebral mycotic aneurysm in 2, ventricular tachycardia in 2 patients). On stepwise logistic regression analysis; cardiac abscess and CHF were independent predictors of cardiac surgery. Similarly, CHF, renal failure and prosthetic valve dysfunction were independent predictors of mortality. To conclude, spectrum of IE in our country is different from the west, but quite similar as reported from developed countries about 40 years ago. IE in our country occurs in relatively younger population with RHD as the commonest underlying heart disease. Streptococci are still the commonest responsible microorganisms. Morbidity and mortality are still high. Early cardiac surgery, whenever indicated, helps in improving outcome of these patients.