Minimally invasive transradial intervention using sheathless standard guiding catheters

Objectives : We evaluated a sheathless transradial technique for interventions using standard five and six French nonhydrophilic guiding catheters. Background : Miniaturization of transradial interventions may serve to improve patient comfort and reduce the risk of access‐site complications. Guiding catheters carry an outer diameter approximately 2 Fr sizes smaller than their corresponding introducer sheaths. Methods : We identified consecutive patients who underwent transradial intervention between August 2010 and December 2010 using 5 or 6 Fr guides with a sheathless technique. Results : A total of 11 patients were identified (mean age 70.7 ± 10.9 years; 73% male). Single coronary intervention was performed in 10 patients and renal artery intervention in one. Right radial access and 6 Fr guide catheters were used in the majority (each 73%). Five techniques were used to create an inner dilator as the taper. Four of these inner tapers (standard diagnostic catheters, hydrophilic diagnostic catheters, long sheath dilators and guide extensions) enabled successful sheathless guide insertion in all 10 patients attempted. One technique (a partially inflated angioplasty balloon protruding from the guide) attempted in one patient was unsuccessful. All interventional procedures were successful, there were no radial artery access‐site complications and in no case was cross‐over to femoral artery access‐site required. Conclusion : Sheathless transradial intervention using standard 5 and 6 Fr guiding catheters is a safe and effective method for treatment of coronary and peripheral vascular lesions. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Using sheathless standard guiding catheters for transradial percutaneous coronary intervention to treat bifurcation lesions

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the feasibility and safety of using sheathless standard guiding catheters for transradial percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to treat bifurcation lesions.

METHODS:

Coronary bifurcation lesions were identified using angiography in 43 patients with coronary artery disease. These patients underwent transradial PCI using sheathless standard guiding catheters, and the procedural success and complication rates were recorded.

RESULTS:

All 43 patients underwent successful PCI. The Culotte stenting technique was used in 22 (51.2%) subjects, the Crush stenting technique was used in eight (18.8%) subjects and the crossover stenting implantation technique was used in 13 (30.0%) subjects. Of the 43 coronary artery bifurcation lesions, the final kissing balloon technique was performed in 39 (90.1%) lesions. Adjunctive devices used in the cohort included intravascular ultrasound for 32 (74.4%) patients, thrombus aspiration catheters for two patients and cutting balloon for five patients. During the perioperative period, no major complications associated with vessel puncture or adverse cardiac or cerebrovascular events occurred in any of the 43 patients enrolled in the present study. At day 30, radial artery occlusion was detected in only three (2.5%) patients and radial artery stenosis in four (9.3%) patients. At six-month follow-up, 24 (55.8%) patients exhibited coronary artery patency with no significant intimal hyperplasia.

CONCLUSIONS:

Transradial PCI using the sheathless technique may be a feasible and safe technique to treat coronary bifurcation lesions.     

Transradial coronary intervention using a novel 5‐Fr sheathless guiding catheter

We have recently developed a 5‐Fr sheathless guiding catheter system (Virtual 3‐Fr, Medikit, Japan), composed of a hydrophilic catheter and a central dilator. This combination of catheter and dilator enables us to introduce the catheter into the artery without the need of an introducer sheath. Because the outer diameter of this 5‐Fr sheathless guiding catheter system is approximately 2‐Fr sizes smaller than a conventional guiding catheter system, this system provides us with less invasive angioplasty and a puncture site injury equivalent to a conventional 3‐Fr introducer sheath. To demonstrate the potential of this 5‐Fr sheathless guiding system, we report two cases of chronic total occlusion successfully treated by the transradial approach. This novel 5‐Fr sheathless system may become a viable alternative to conventional guiding catheters, and provide a favorable impact upon vascular access complications and patient morbidity. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Mini-invasive strategy in acute coronary syndromes: direct coronary stenting using 5 Fr guiding catheters and transradial approach.

The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and safety of direct coronary stenting in acute coronary syndromes using 5 Fr guiding catheters by transradial approach. A series of 119 patients with an acute coronary syndrome (unstable angina, n = 55; acute myocardial infarction, n = 45; recent acute myocardial infarction, n = 19) explored by transradial approach and eligible for direct stenting were included. A large proportion of patients (52%) was treated during the procedure by platelet IIb/IIIa receptor blockade. Only Medtronic 5 Fr guiding catheters were used in this study. Direct coronary stenting was attempted in all 119 highly selected patients. Failure of direct stenting was observed in only five cases (3.9%) and the stent successfully retrieved in each case in the 5 Fr guiding catheter. In these five cases, balloon predilation was performed and then the stent implanted successfully. Different stents were used: ACS stent (54%), AVE stent (33%), Velocity stent (10%), Nir stent (3%), with diameter ranging from 2.5 to 4 mm. In four cases, the dilation was finally performed using 6 Fr guiding catheters because the backup of the 5 Fr catheter was considered to be too low (3%). No vascular access site complications occurred in this series of patients. We conclude that direct coronary stenting using transradial approach and 5 Fr guiding catheters yields excellent procedural success rate. In the setting of acute coronary syndromes requiring platelet IIb/IIIa receptor blockade or after failure of thrombolysis, this mini-invasive strategy is very attractive because of the low risk of access site complications.     

经桡动脉用7.5 F无鞘指引导管完成冠状动脉复杂病变介入治疗的初步经验

目的：总结北京友谊医院心血管病中心心内科使用无鞘指引导管（日本ASAHI）经桡动脉完成的60例冠状动脉复杂病变患者介入治疗的经验和体会。方法回顾分析患者的临床资料、影像资料以及术后恢复情况,对无鞘指引导管的使用特点进行总结分析。结果60例患者均为复杂冠状动脉病变,其中,慢性完全闭塞病变（CTO）13例,迂曲合并钙化病变17例,左主干病变7例,分叉病变32例（包括左主干病变7例和同时合并CTO病变2例）。行经皮冠状动脉介入治疗（PCI）,成功57例,失败3例,成功率95.0%。患者使用7.5 F的无鞘指引导管,均顺利通过桡动脉到位。左冠状动脉使用的无鞘指引导管型号依次为：JL3.5/4.0（44例）,AL1.0（3例）, SPB4.0/3.5（2例）,PB4.0（2例）;右冠状动脉：JR3.5/4.0（9例）。13例CTO病变使用的无鞘指引导管型号依次为：JL3.5/4.0（8例）,PB4.0（2例）,AL1.0（2例）,JR4.0（1例）;17例迂曲钙化病变：JL3.5/4.0（8例）,JR3.5/4.0（6例）,SPB3.5/4.0（2例）,AL1.0（1例）;32例分叉病变使用的无鞘指引导管型号均为JL3.5/4.0或JR3.5/4.0。结论经桡动脉使用7.5 F无鞘指引导管有良好的通过性,且导管管腔大、管壁厚、支撑力强,能胜任大多数分叉病变的双支架技术和对吻球囊技术,适合CTO、迂曲钙化病变等复杂病变的介入治疗。     

经桡动脉普通导引导管7F无鞘技术治疗冠状动脉复杂病变

目的 评价经桡动脉普通导引导管7F无鞘技术治疗冠状动脉复杂病变的安全性、可行性.方法 纳入2013年11月至2014年4月,经桡/尺动脉置入6F桡动脉鞘造影后,需要用7F导引导管行介入治疗的患者31例.在桡动脉鞘内置入长260 cm,直径0.036 in（1 in=2.54 cm）非亲水涂层导丝至升主动脉;撤出桡动脉鞘,将6 F 110 cm猪尾管插入7 F 100 cm导引导管内,猪尾管头端突出于导引导管外;将猪尾管和导引导管呈一体,穿入长260 cm,直径0.036 in导引导丝,通过皮肤切口逐次进入桡动脉,导引导管到位后撤出猪尾管.结果 31例导引导管均成功通过桡动脉,到达靶冠状动脉开口,完成介入治疗后撤出导引导管.术后观察24 h,所有患者桡动脉穿刺处无出血,穿刺侧上肢未发生血肿、感觉障碍.术后1个月随访,未发生桡动脉闭塞.结论 经桡动脉普通导引导管7F无鞘技术是治疗冠状动脉复杂病变可选用的相对安全、有效的途径.     

New long-tip guiding catheters designed for right transradial coronary intervention.

New long-tip catheters, one for the left and the other for the right coronary artery, were designed specifically for right transradial intervention. We utilized the overbending principle to achieve more precise control of the catheters. We also analyzed principal factors involved to determine guiding catheter support considering the anatomy of the innominate artery, ascending aorta, left and right coronary arteries. Catheter shapes were designed to exploit favorable factors to compensate for mechanically disadvantageous anatomy. The catheter for the left coronary artery has an initial loop to make use of the angle between the innominate artery and the ascending aorta to introduce the catheter to the correct position to provide strong backup support. The catheter for the right coronary artery has a unique three-dimensional curve that provides sufficient backup support and compensates for the angles between the innominate artery and the proximal portion of right coronary artery to achieve coaxial engagement. The distal portions of these catheters include long tips aiming to minimize the loss of transmitted force. The performance of these catheters was studied in 143 patients with 161 lesions. Successful engagement was achieved in 138 patients with 156 lesions (97%) and coronary intervention was successful in 136 patients with 154 lesions (99%). No major complications or coronary artery dissection occurred due to use of these catheters. This study showed the present long-tip catheters to be safe and highly effective for right transradial coronary intervention. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 49:218-224, 2000.     

Atraumatic complex transradial intervention using large bore sheathless guide catheter

The Asahi sheathless guide catheter system is a hydrophilic catheter with a central dilator that does not require an introducer sheath during transradial percutaneous coronary intervention. Conventional sheath introducers are often 1‐ to 2F larger than the catheter itself; therefore, this system enables the use of a larger French catheter during procedures than would otherwise be possible using conventional techniques. We describe the use of a 7.5F sheathless guide catheter system with a smaller outer diameter than a conventional 6F introducer sheath in 16 cases performed transradially involving rotablation, crush stent bifurcation lesions, 7F proximal protection, and thrombectomy devices. Such cases would otherwise not always be possible if performed using conventional transradial techniques in patients with smaller radial artery sizes. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Transradial percutaneous coronary interventions using sheathless guiding catheters: a multicenter registry

Background: Transradial approach (TRA) for percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) is a common alternative to transfemoral approach associated with lower complications. However, a limitation of TRA is the use of large caliber guiding catheters due to the small size of the radial artery. The sheathless guiding catheter system that is in diameter 1–2 French (Fr) smaller than the corresponding introducer sheath may overcome these difficulties. Methods: From January 2010 through December 2010 in 5 Italian high‐volume hospitals, 213 consecutive patients who underwent TRA‐PCIs using the sheathless Eaucath guiding catheter system because of small radial artery caliber (Group 1) or undergoing bifurcation PCIs (Group 2) were enrolled in this registry. In patients of Group 1 (n = 79), a 6.5‐Fr sheathless guiding catheter was employed, whereas in patients of Group 2 (n = 134) a 7.5 Fr was used. Results: Among the 213 patients enrolled, 270 vessels were treated for 316 lesions. No procedures required conversion to a conventional guiding catheter system. There were significantly more female patients in Group 1, and they were, older, shorter, and thinner than patients in Group 2. No cases of major vascular complications were observed in either groups. During procedures, adjunctive devices employed included intravascular ultrasound, thrombectomy catheters, and distal protection systems. Conclusions: The use of the sheathless guiding catheter system is feasible for TRA‐PCIs in case of small radial artery caliber or intended coronary bifurcation intervention. (J Interven Cardiol 2011;24:407–412)     

经桡动脉冠状动脉介入治疗中5F与6F导引导管的对比研究

目的比较5French(5F)及6French(6F)导引导管在经桡动脉冠状动脉介入治疗(TRI)患者中的安全性及有效性。方法共纳入2009年2月至2010年3月患者,收集相关资料录入数据库,包括患者基线临床资料、导引导管的尺寸、靶血管、靶病变的特点、手术的成功率、手术失败原因、经桡动脉冠状动脉介入治疗手术的成功率及失败原因、患者住院期间主要不良心血管事件率及术后桡动脉闭塞率。结果连续纳入患者共185例,接受195次经桡动脉冠状动脉介入治疗术,平均年龄(57±11)岁(33～81岁);其中54例患者纳入6F导引导管组,共进行56次手术,治疗89处病变;138例患者纳入5F导引导管组,共行146次手术,治疗231处病变。AHA B2/C型病变比例在两组间差异无统计学意义(5F组43.7%/29.0%比6F组46.1%/34.6%,P>0.05),但慢性闭塞性病变、分叉病变、钙化病变5F组显著少于6F组(5.6%比14.6%,P=0.005;23.4%比37.1%,P=0.012;9.5%比47.2%,P<0.001);组间的手术时间[(45±21)min比(46±19)min)]、手术X线曝光时间[(15±12)min比(16±13)min]、使用造影剂量[(140±45)ml比(156±56)ml]差异均无显著统计学意义(P>0.05),但是5F组造影剂用量有减少的趋势(P=0.066);组间住院时间[(1.40±1.26)d比(1.29±0.69)d]和手术成功率(95.2%比94.6%)也差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);5F组1例患者术后桡动脉闭塞,6F组无患者术后桡动脉闭塞(P=1.0),5F组1例发生卒中。结论经桡动脉冠状动脉介入治疗,即使是复杂及高危冠脉病变,5F导引导管有效、安全,手术成功率不低于常规使用的6F导引导管;换用5F导引导管进行冠状动脉介入治疗是一种有吸引力的选择。     

Comparison of 5 French versus 6 French guiding catheters for transradial coronary intervention: a prospective, randomized study

We compared 5 versus 6 French (Fr) guiding catheters in coronary intervention using the transradial approach. Smaller guiding catheters may have advantages over larger ones in transradial coronary intervention. However, there is uncertainty about how small is small enough, and when smaller would become too small. Eligible patients were randomized between the 5 and 6 Fr groups before the procedure. The primary endpoint was procedural success. A total of 216 patients were randomized. Procedural success was obtained in 95% of the 6 Fr group versus 90% of the 5 Fr group (p = 0.25). Most of the failures in the 5 Fr group were because of cross-over to the 6 Fr group. Crossover to the 5 Fr group occurred in 1 patient in the 6 Fr group (0.9%; p = 0.05) because of a small radial artery. Transradial intervention using 5 Fr guiding catheters necessitates crossover to a 6 Fr catheter in 6.8% of cases, and offers no clear advantages over the 6 Fr technique.     

应用5F引导导管经桡动脉行冠状动脉介入治疗

目的 评价应用5F引导导管经桡动脉行冠状动脉(冠脉)介入治疗(PCI)的可行性、安全性及优越性，探讨其应用策略。方法 应用5F引导导管经桡动脉对120例患者的166处病变进行PCI，桡动脉穿刺成功后动脉鞘内注入维拉帕米5mg，根据造影显示冠脉起始段和病变近端的情况选择合适引导导管，按常规进行PCI操作；术后立刻拔出鞘管，加压包扎穿刺处，4h后解除加压包扎；术后仅限制患者穿刺侧上肢活动。结果 右冠脉(RC)病变43例中有67．4％应用Judkins RC导管(JR)，32．6％应用Amplatz导管。92例患者的121处左冠脉(LC)病变，66．3％应用Judkins LC导管，18．5％应用EBU导管，15．2％应用Amplatz LC导管。2例静脉旁路病变均应用JR。PCI成功率97％；5处(3％)仅行经皮冠脉成形术未成功；并发症仅有1例(0．8％)桡动脉闭塞，但不影响手部供血。结论 应用5F引导导管经桡动脉行PCI具有可行性，由于导管细软，大大降低冠脉和穿刺部位的并发症，具有很高的安全性和优越性；但操作难度较大，需掌握导管的选用策略，以增加导管的支持力和同轴性，提高成功率。     

Successful transradial intervention by switching from 6 French to 5 French guiding catheter

We report a case of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) where a 6 French (Fr) guiding catheter could not be advanced through extremely tortuous subclavian and brachiocephalic arteries with a right transradial approach. Downsizing from a 6 Fr to 5 Fr guiding catheter was effective to reach to the coronary cusp, and we successfully performed transradial PCI without access-site crossover. When a catheter cannot be advanced in a tortuous vessel during transradial intervention, downsizing the catheter is an option to reduce resistance and enable successful PCI without access-site crossover.     

Five French (5 Fr) guiding catheters for percutaneous coronary angioplasty and stent placement: An initial feasibility study.

Thirty patients were treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using a 5 Fr guiding catheter. A recently developed, mechanically advantaged hand injector was used to deliver contrast and achieved excellent visualization through the 5 Fr system. Stent sizes ranged from 2.25 to 4.00 mm in diameter and from 8 to 24 mm in length. All primary lesions were successfully treated. The average contrast use was 70 cc per case. There were no major complications and only one minor femoral hematoma. In selected patients, a balloon angioplasty and stent placement can be performed safely and successfully with 5 Fr guiding catheters using currently available products. This technique creates a smaller arterial puncture site, which may obviate the need for a closure device and allow early and safe ambulation. With 5 Fr systems, it appears that contrast usage is reduced, thereby potentially decreasing cost and morbidity. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 51:352-357, 2000.     

Reducing needle-to-balloon time by using a single guiding catheter during transradial primary coronary intervention

Objectives and Background: It is unknown whether using a single guiding catheter for both nonculprit and culprit vessel angiography and intervention during transradial primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is feasible. Methods: This single‐center study enrolled 242 consecutive patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who received primary PCI. Among them, 102 patients received primary PCI via transfemoral approach (TFI), 109 patients received primary PCI via transradial approach using conventional technique (Conventional TRI), and 31 underwent primary TRI using a single guiding catheter (Single Guiding TRI). The catheter used for this purpose was 6 Fr RM® 3.5 guiding catheter. Results: Using a single guiding catheter, both coronary artery angiograms and intervention were successful in 30 of 31 patients (96.7%). Needle‐to‐balloon time (from puncture to first balloon) and door‐to‐balloon (D2B) time were similar between TFI and Conventional TRI groups and significantly lower in the Single Guiding TRI group (13.8 [TFI] and 14.1 [Conventional TRI] vs. 7.6 minutes, P < 0.001; 89.5 [TFI] and 91.0 [Conventional TRI] vs. 68.5 minutes, P = 0.008, respectively), whereas proportion of patients achieving D2B time within 90 minutes increased significantly in the Single Guiding TRI group from 51.0% for TFI and 49.5% for Conventional TRI to 74.2% (P = 0.023). Conclusions: Primary transradial PCI using a single guiding catheter is feasible and highly successful and might allow timely restoration of blood flow in infarct‐related artery. (J Interven Cardiol 2012;25:330–336)     

Percutaneous coronary intervention using a virtual 3‐Fr guiding catheter

Background : We have recently reported a novel percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) system using a hydrophilic‐coated sheathless guiding catheter (Virtual 3‐Fr, Medikit, Tokyo, Japan), which provides us with less invasive angioplasty and a puncture site injury equivalent to a conventional 3‐Fr introducer sheath. Here, we report the initial results of PCI using this novel system. Methods : A total of 36 coronary artery lesions of 27 patients were treated by using a virtual 3‐Fr PCI system. Procedural outcomes of virtual 3‐Fr PCI were retrospectively evaluated. Results : The mean age was 73.0 ± 8.7 years (range, 46–84 years), and 15 were men (56%). Access sites included the radial artery in 18 patients (67%), the brachial artery in eight patients (30%), and the femoral artery in 1 patients (4%). Among 36 lesions, seven were chronic total occlusions, and a virtual 3‐Fr PCI was successful in 33 lesions (92%). Among the successfully treated 33 lesions, coronary stents were deployed in 32 (97%), and intravascular ultrasound examination was performed in 19 (58%). Hemostasis was achieved immediately after PCIs in all cases. No access‐site related complications including radial artery occlusion were observed. Conclusions : The performance of a virtual 3‐Fr PCI system appears to be comparable to one using a regular 5‐Fr guiding catheter while the puncture‐site damage remains equivalent to that of a 3‐Fr introducer sheath. Virtual 3‐Fr PCI may have a potential to serve as a minimally invasive strategy for the treatment of coronary artery diseases. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.