Use of radial artery as an access during coronary angiography: experience and further prospects

The authors present their own experience in using the radial artery for diagnostic coronarography. Twenty two transradial studies were made during a year and a half. Following the studies, complications were as follows: failure at puncture in 1 (4.5%) patient, local and cardial complications being absent. The authors concluded that the radial access is a promising alternative to the routine femoral one now. The use of the radial access opens up new vistas for coronary angiography performed in the outpatient setting, by making this technique accessible to patients with coronary heart disease who need to be thoroughly studied.     

一个日益重要的冠心病标志物———新蝶呤

动脉粥样硬化是一种慢性炎症过程,炎症反应在动脉粥样斑块的形成、发展、稳定性丧失和斑块破裂过程中都起着非常重要的作用,贯穿于动脉粥样硬化的各个环节。从早期的脂质条纹到进一步的动脉粥样病变及血栓性并发症都能见到炎症细胞的浸润,其中又以激活的巨噬细胞尤为重要。新蝶呤是巨噬细胞激活后的代谢产物,它不仅是巨噬细胞激活的炎症标志物,还参与多种调节氧化平衡的生化途径,增加氧化应激水平,促进动脉粥样硬化的进展,是斑块不稳定性及不良性心血管事件的独立预测因子。在临床上,降低血清新蝶呤水平可以降低冠心病患者发生危险事件的风险。因此,新蝶呤对冠心病的诊断和治疗都有重要意义。本文将对新蝶呤在冠心病中的角色做一综述。     

Inequity of access to investigation and effect on clinical outcomes: prognostic study of coronary angiography for suspected stable angina pectoris

Objectives To determine whether coronary angiography for suspected stable angina pectoris is underused in older patients, women, south Asian patients, and those from socioeconomically deprived areas, and, if it is, whether this is associated with higher coronary event rates.Design Multicentre cohort with five year follow-up.Setting Six ambulatory care clinics in England.Participants 1375 consecutive patients in whom coronary angiography was individually rated as appropriate with the Rand consensus method.Main outcome measures Receipt of angiography (420 procedures); coronary mortality and acute coronary syndrome events.Results In a multivariable analysis, angiography was less likely to be performed in patients aged over 64 compared with those aged under 50 (hazard ratio 0.60, 95% confidence interval 0.38 to 0.96), women compared with men (0.42, 0.35 to 0.50), south Asians compared with white people (0.48, 0.34 to 0.67), and patients in the most deprived fifth compared with the other four fifths (0.66, 0.40 to 1.08). Not undergoing angiography when it was deemed appropriate was associated with higher rates of coronary event.Conclusions At an early stage after presentation with suspected angina, coronary angiography is underused in older people, women, south Asians, and people from deprived areas. Not receiving appropriate angiography was associated with a higher risk of coronary events in all groups. Interventions based on clinical guidance that supports individualised management decisions might improve access and outcomes.     

Effects of radial versus femoral artery access in patients with acute myocardial infarction: A large centre prospective registry

Aim

This study sought to assess whether radial artery access improves clinical outcomes in patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction compared with femoral artery access.

Methods

This is a single-centre, prospective observational registry of all STEMI and NSTEMI patients who underwent coronary angiography and/or primary PCI in the period January 2010 to December 2013. Primary endpoint was 30-day all-cause mortality. Choice of access was left to the discretion of the cardiologist. Differences in the risk of death at 30 days between patients undergoing transradial intervention versus transfemoral intervention was assessed on an intention-to-treat comparison.

Results

Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data was performed in 3580 patients with an acute coronary syndrome who underwent coronary angiography, of which 1310 had radial artery access. PCI was performed in 77?% of the patients. Before propensity score matching, patients who underwent transradial intervention and those intended to undergo transfemoral approach differed significantly in intra-aortic balloon pump use (1.7?% vs. 6.7?%, p < 0.001), and Killip class (Killip 1: 10.8?% vs. 17.3?%, p < 0.001). 30-day mortality rates were 1.7?% in the transradial group and 4.6?% in the transfemoral group (p < 0.001). After matching on the propensity score, the hazard ratio for 30-day mortality in the transradial group was 0.56 (95?% CI: 0.29–1.07, p = 0.08).

Conclusion

This registry-based study showed that radial access is associated with improved outcome in patients with an acute coronary syndrome. However, this difference was no longer significant after multivariate and propensity score adjustment for differences in baseline characteristics.

     

不同动脉途径行经皮冠状动脉介入治疗高龄冠心病的临床疗效观察

目的:探讨不同动脉途径行经皮冠状动脉介入治疗高龄冠心病的临床疗效和安全性。方法:选取2014年1月～2017年1月我院收治的265例高龄冠心病患者为研究对象,根据就诊顺序将受试者分为对照组132例及研究组133例,对照组患者给予股动脉途径(TFI)行经皮冠状动脉介入治疗,研究组患者给予桡动脉途径(TRI)行经皮冠状动脉介入治疗,比较两组患者的手术情况、手术前后各心功能指标变化、心血管不良事件及并发症的发生情况。结果:两组患者的手术成功率、支架数量、造影剂用量比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05),但研究组患者动脉穿刺时间、导管插入时间及X线曝光时间均长于对照组,卧床时间及住院时间均明显短于对照组(P0.05)。治疗后,两组患者的左心射血分数(LVEF)、左室收缩末期内径(LVESD)及左室舒张末期内径(LVEDD)较治疗前均明显改善,且研究组优于对照组(P0.05),研究组患者心血管不良事件发生率及各并发症发生率均显著低于对照组(P0.05)。结论:TRI与TFI在经皮冠状动脉介入术治疗高龄冠心病患者的手术效果相当,但TRI在改善患者心功能、减少心血管不良事件的效果更好且安全性更高,可做为高龄冠心病患者PCI治疗的首选途径。     

JAK2 mutation status, hemostatic risk factors and thrombophilic factors in essential thrombocythemia (ET) patients

The recently discovered JAK2 V617F point mutation, found in 50-60% of ET patients, has been reported to be associated with a higher risk of thrombotic events. In this study, we explored if JAK2 V617F mutation, or coexisting thrombophilic and hemostatic risk factors, contributed to these complications. We examined 32 patients with ET, and looked for pathogenetic JAK2 V617F mutation and prothrombotic genes mutations: factor V Leiden, prothrombin and MTHFR. We also evaluated plasma levels of fibrinogen, factors VIII and XII, AT, protein C, protein S and serum level of homocysteine. Urokinase concentration was assessed in patients' plasma as well as platelet lysates. There was no difference in the number of thrombotic complications between ET patients with and without JAK2 mutation. However, we found a number of thrombophilic and hemostatic risk factors that could contribute to thrombotic complications in ET patients.     

Pro-thrombotic state induced by post-translational modification of fibrinogen by reactive nitrogen species

Formation of nitric oxide-derived oxidants has been linked to development of atherosclerosis and associated thrombotic complications. Although systemic levels of protein nitrotyrosine predict risk for coronary artery disease, neither specific proteins targeted for modification nor functional consequences that might contribute to disease pathogenesis have been defined. Here we report a selective increase in circulating levels of nitrated fibrinogen in patients with coronary artery disease. Exposure of fibrinogen to nitrating oxidants, including those produced by the myeloperoxidase-hydrogen peroxide-nitrite system, significantly accelerates clot formation and factor XIII cross-linking, whereas exposure of fibrinogen to non-nitrating oxidants decelerates clot formation. Clots formed with fibrinogen exposed to nitrating oxidants are composed of large bundles made from twisted thin fibrin fibers with increased permeation and a decrease in storage modulus G' value, suggesting that these clots could be easily deformed by mechanical stresses. In contrast, clots formed with fibrinogen exposed to non-nitrating oxidants showed decreased permeation with normal architecture. Fibrinogen modified by exposure to physiologic nitration systems demonstrated no difference in the rate of plasmin-induced clot lysis, platelet aggregation, or binding. Thus, increased levels of fibrinogen nitration may lead to a pro-thrombotic state via acceleration in formation of fibrin clots. The present results may account, in part, for the association between nitrative stress and risk for coronary artery disease.     

Relationship Between Myocardial Bridging and Coronary Arteriosclerosis

The objective of the study was to explore the prevalence and characteristics of myocardial bridging in patients who underwent coronary angiography and to also evaluate the correlation between bridged coronary segments and atherosclerosis. For this purpose, clinical materials of 1,500 patients who had received coronary angiography were retrospectively analyzed. The location and length of the myocardial bridge were recorded as well as the extent and location of coronary artery stenosis was described. Segments proximal and distal to the bridging were evaluated for coronary arteriosclerosis as were the remaining coronary segments. We found that myocardial bridging was present in 179 (11.9 %) patients. Bridges were frequently (84.9 %) localized in the mid-distal segment of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery. Myocardial bridging was not considered a significant risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis (odds ratio 0.58) compared with traditional cardiovascular risk factors. The incidence of coronary arteriosclerosis in the distal segments was significantly less affected than the proximal segments (P < 0.01). It was, therefore, concluded that myocardial bridging frequently localized in the mid-distal segment of the LAD artery. The presence of myocardial bridging promotes proximal atherosclerosis but it is not an additional risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis.     

Atherosclerotic plaques occur in absence of intima-media thickening in both systemic sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus: a duplexsonography study of carotid and femoral arteries and follow-up for cardiovascular events

Introduction

The objective of this cross-sectional and retrospective cohort study was (1) to determine the usefulness of intima-media thickness (IMT) in contrast to plaque assessment, (2) to examine the value of additive femoral artery sonography and (3) to identify potential risk factors for atherosclerosis and incident cardiovascular events in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.

Methods

In this study, 90 SSc and 100 SLE patients were examined by duplexsonography. IMT was measured in common carotid and common femoral arteries, plaques were assessed in common, internal and external carotid and common, proximal superficial and deep femoral arteries. Different definitions of pathological IMT (pIMT) were compared with the presence of plaque. Results were evaluated in relation to traditional and non-traditional risk factors for baseline atherosclerosis (logistic regression) and their predictive value for cardiovascular events during follow-up (cox regression).

Results

Definite atherosclerosis occurred frequently without signs of subclinical atherosclerosis in both diseases: pIMT >0.9 mm was present in only 17/59 (28.9%) SSc and 13/49 (26.5%) SLE patients with already present atherosclerotic plaques. Using age-adjusted pIMT definitions, this rate was even lower (5.1-10.3% in SSc, 14.3-26.5% in SLE). Plaques were located only at the carotid or only at the femoral arteries in 26 (13.7%) and 24 (12.6%) patients, respectively. Age and nicotine pack-years were independently associated with atherosclerotic plaques in SLE and SSc patients, as well as the cumulative prednisolone dose in SSc subgroup, and ssDNA positive SLE patients had a lower risk for atherosclerotic plaque. During follow-up (available for 129/190 (67.9%) patients, 650 person-years), cardiovascular events occurred more often in patients with coronary heart disease (adjusted-hazards ratio (HR) 10.19, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.04 to 34.17, P <0.001), male patients (adjusted-HR 8.78, 95% CI 2.73 to 28.19, P <0.001) and in patients with coexistent carotid and femoral plaques (adjusted-HR 5.92, 95% CI 1.55 to 22.67, P = 0.009). Patients with solely carotid or femoral plaque were not at higher risk.

Conclusion

Atherosclerotic plaque lesions can be found frequently in absence of intima-media thickening in both SSc and SLE patients. As well as routine sonography of carotid arteries, the sonography of femoral arteries is recommended to identify additional atherosclerotic lesions and to detect patients at a high risk for cardiovascular events.     

Left Radial Access Is Preferable to Right Radial Access for the Diagnostic or Interventional Coronary Procedures: A Meta-Analysis Involving 22 Randomized Clinical Trials and 10287 Patients

Objective

The transradial approach has been used extensively for both diagnostic and interventional coronary procedures; however, there is no universal consensus hitherto on the optimal choice of radial access from either the left or the right artery. We therefore sought to meta-analyze available randomized clinical trials to compare the left with the right radial access for the diagnostic or interventional coronary procedures.

Methods and Results

Four electronic databases including the PubMed, EMBASE, Wanfang, and CNKI were searched up to April 2013. In total, there were 22 qualified randomized trials involving 5317 and 4970 patients assigned to the left and the right radial accesses, respectively. Data were extracted independently by two investigators. Analyses of the full data set indicated significant reductions in fluoroscopy time (seconds) (weighted mean difference; 95% confidence interval; P: −36.18; −53.28 to −18.53; <0.0005) and contrast use (mL) (−2.88; −5.41 to −0.34; 0.026) in patients with the left radial access compared to those with the right radial access, and there was strong evidence of heterogeneity but low probability of publication bias. The failure rate of radial access from the left was relatively lower than that from the right (odds ratio: 0.83; 95% confidence interval: 0.68−1.01; P = 0.064). Further in meta-regression analyses, body mass index was found to be a potential source of heterogeneity for both fluoroscopy time (regression coefficient: 35.85; P = 0.025) and catheter number (regression coefficient: 0.35; P = 0.018).

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate that left radial access is preferable to right radial access in terms of fluoroscopy time and contrast use for the diagnostic or interventional coronary procedures. The import of this study lies in its great shock to the concept of convenient radial access from the right artery.     

冠状动脉造影大致正常的胸痛患者临床分析

摘要 目的：探讨有胸痛症状的冠状动脉造影大致正常的患者的临床特点及病因。方法：回顾性分析2019年1月至2021年5月我院收治的有胸痛症状疑诊为冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病并行冠状动脉造影的1283例患者,纳入其中冠状动脉造影提示冠状动脉大致正常的患者,比较冠状动脉造影结果大致正常者与冠状动脉造影存在异常的患者的人口学资料、危险因素等,并统计冠状动脉造影结果大致正常者的确定诊断并进行分析。结果：最终纳入91例疑诊为冠心病的冠状动脉造影大致正常的患者。与冠状动脉造影存在异常的1192例患者的相比,冠脉造影大致正常组中无危险因素者占20.1%,单一高危因素者占50.5%,显著高于冠脉造影异常组,而多重高危因素者占28.6%,显著低于冠脉造影异常组（P＜0.05）。91例疑诊为冠心病的冠状动脉造影大致正常的患者中心脏神经官能症及心律失常分别占45例（49.5％）及12例(13.2％)。结论：临床上很多疑诊为冠心病的胸痛患者的冠状动脉造影大致正常,这部分患者与冠状动脉异常的患者相比冠心病的危险因素更少,胸痛由其他原因引起,所以对这部分患者应强调应用无创的检查手段。     

两种途径介入治疗急性心肌梗塞疗效分析

目的：探讨对急性心梗患者行不同途径急诊经皮冠状动脉治疗（PCi）的临床疗效及预后。方法：选取我院自2011年1月至2012年12月收治的75例sT段抬高的急性心肌梗死患者作为研究对象进行回顾性调查,对比分析经桡动脉PCI（TRA—Pet）和经股动脉PCI（TFA—PCI）两组治疗疗效及出现并发症情况,包括比较两组穿刺成功率,手术时间,术中出血及术后局部及其他并发症等方面,并作统计分析,取P〈0．05为有统计学意义。结果：两组穿刺成功率及PCI手术成功率差异无统计学意义,P〉0．05。在手术操作时间上,TFA—PCI组明显长于TRA—PCI组,差异有统计学意义,P〈0．05。TFA．PCI组局部并发症发生率为11．8％．远期并发症为2．9％。TRA-PCI组局部并发症发生率为2．4％,远期并发症为7．3％,两组差别显著,P〈0．05。结论：TRA—PCI和TFA—PCI在手术时间及术后并发症上有差异,TRA—PCI术中花时间较少,术后局部并发症要轻,值得在临床上推广,但是由于有远期并发症的危险,故术后应加强肝肾功能等的监测。     

Thrombosis and atherosclerosis: regulatory role of interactions among blood components and endothelium

Complex interactions among constituents of blood and components of the vessel wall are involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and its subsequent thrombotic complications. Alterations in the endothelium are central both to the slowly progressive process of atherogenesis and to the acute events leading to thrombotic occlusion. Recent data, obtained by systematic evaluation of chronologic events that occur in diet-induced atherosclerosis, have extended our understanding of interactive processes among endothelium, monocytes, platelets, vascular smooth muscle cells, and humoral hemostatic elements in atherogenesis.     

The prevalence, type and severity of cardiovascular disease in diabetic and non-diabetic patients: a matched-paired retrospective analysis using coronary angiography as the diagnostic tool

People with diabetes mellitus have a 2-8-fold excess in cardiovascular mortality than people without diabetes. This study compared angiographically determined cardiovascular disease in 79 patients with diabetes mellitus and an equal number of matched controls without diabetes under the age of 55 years. Seventy-nine diabetic patients coming to coronary angiography during a 12-month period were reviewed retrospectively along with 79 control patients matched for age (+/- 3 years), sex, ethnic origin and risk factors (hyperlipidemia, body mass index and smoking history). The angiographic features of a consecutive series of 62 European and 17 Asian patients and their matched-paired controls were assessed. In all study subjects had undergone elective coronary angiography and ventriculography. Angiographic findings were graded to describe severity and extent of coronary atherosclerosis. Left ventricular systolic function was assessed by ejection fraction. The diabetic group had a significantly higher arterial systolic pressure than the non-diabetic group (p < 0.008) and they were clinically obese with a body mass index of >30. Detailed analysis of the angiograms showed that prevalence and severity of coronary artery disease in diabetic patients was greater. The mean 'severity score' was 11.66 for the diabetic group against 8.49 for the non-diabetic group (p < 0.037). Multivessel disease was more common in diabetic patients than in the controls, with three-vessel disease being the most common. Furthermore, 38 of 79 diabetic patients had three-vessel disease compared to 29 of 79 controls. Diabetic patients were also more likely to have more segments diseased in one vessel. Systolic function was reduced in the diabetic group, with a significantly lower (p < 0.05) mean ejection fraction. The present study supports the evidence that diabetic patients have more extensive coronary artery disease than non-diabetic patients and a poorer prognosis, and that the coronary arteries of the Asian patients were affected more adversely than those of the European group irrespective of the diabetic state.     

Uric acid levels are associated with endothelial dysfunction and severity of coronary atherosclerosis during a first episode of acute coronary syndrome

The role of serum uric acid in coronary artery disease has been extensively investigated. It was suggested that serum uric acid level (SUA) is an independent predictor of endothelial dysfunction and related to coronary artery lesions. However, the relationship between SUA and severity of coronary atherosclerosis evaluated via endothelial dysfunction using peripheral arterial tone (PAT) and the reactive hyperhemia index (RHI) has not been investigated during a first episode of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The aim of our study was to address this point. We prospectively enrolled 80 patients with a first episode of ACS in a single-center observational study. All patients underwent coronary angiography, evaluation of endothelial function via the RHI, and SUA measurement. The severity of the coronary artery lesion was assessed angiographically, and patients were classified in three groups based on the extent of disease and Gensini and SYNTAX scores. Endothelial function was considered abnormal if RHI?<?1.67. We identified a linear correlation between SUA and RHI (R² =?0.66 P <?0.001). In multivariable analyses, SUA remained associated with RHI, even after adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors and renal function. SUA was associated with severity of coronary artery disease. SUA is associated with severity of coronary atherosclerosis in patients with asymptomatic hyperuricemia. This inexpensive, readily measured biological parameter may be useful to monitor ACS patients.     

The use of adjunctive GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors in patients with unstable angina/non-Q-wave MI undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitors represent a relatively new therapeutic approach in the field of antiplatelet therapy. Following the development of abciximab a number of small molecule GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors have been introduced such as tirofiban and eptifibatide. In this fast-moving field the interventional cardiologist needs a framework to guide decision-making for the individual patient. This review covers the efficacy and safety data from the clinical trials of GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors in the context of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for unstable angina/non-Q-wave myocardial infarction. There is an increasing body of evidence to support the efficacy of GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors in reducing the risk of adverse ischemic events in high and low risk patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. A number of unresolved efficacy and safety issues remain, including the duration of treatment before and after intervention; whether a reduction in the heparin dose would further decrease the risk of hemorrhage without affecting the periprocedural thrombotic rate in patients undergoing PTCA with adjunctive GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors; and the cost-effectiveness of this therapy. When a thorough analysis of cost-effectiveness has been made, it will be easier to advocate the widespread use of these agents in all patients undergoing coronary intervention.     

OMERACT: An international initiative to improve outcome measurement in rheumatology

Background and objective

Cerebral microembolism detected by transcranial Doppler (TCD) occurs systematically during cardiac catheterization, but its clinical relevance, remains unknown. Studies suggest that asymptomatic embolic cerebral infarction detectable by diffusion-weighted (DW) MRI might exist after percutaneous cardiac interventions with a frequency as high as 15 to 22% of cases. We have set up, for the first time, a prospective multicenter trial to assess the rate of silent cerebral infarction after cardiac catheterization and to compare the impact of the arterial access site, comparing radial and femoral access, on this phenomenon.

Study design

This prospective study will be performed in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis. To assess the occurrence of cerebral infarction, all patients will undergo cerebral DW-MRI and neurological assessment within 24 hours before, and 48 hours after cardiac catheterization and retrograde catheterization of the aortic valve. Randomization for the access site will be performed before coronary angiography. A subgroup will be monitored by transcranial power M-mode Doppler during cardiac catheterization to observe cerebral blood flow and track emboli. Neuropsychological tests will also be recorded in a subgroup of patients before and after the interventional procedures to assess the impact of silent brain injury on potential cognitive decline. The primary end-point of the study is a direct comparison of ischemic cerebral lesions as detected by serial cerebral DW-MRI between patients explored by radial access and patients explored by femoral access. Secondary end-points include comparison of neuropsychological test performance and number of microembolism signals observed in the two groups.

Implications

Using serial DW-MRI, silent cerebral infarction rate will be defined and the potential influence of vascular access site will be evaluated. Silent cerebral infarction might be a major concern during cardiac catheterization and its potential relationship to cognitive decline needs to be assessed.

Study registration

The SCIPION study is registered through National Institutes of Health-sponsored clinical trials registry and has been assigned the Identifier: NCT 00329979.     

Use of Rtrade mark stent in the percutaneous coronary intervention of coronary bifurcation lesions

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) of coronary bifurcation lesion is technically quite demanding. It has been associated with a lower procedural success, higher rates of complication and restenosis. Side-branch occlusion and plaque shifting or 'snow plow' effect are not uncommon. Stenting of the main vessel may cause 'stent jail' of the side-branch. Modern stent design may allow passage of a balloon or stent into the side-branch through the struts of the stent placed in the main vessel. A newly developed 316 stainless steel tubular stent, the Rtrade mark stent is uniquely designed to provide flexibility, radial strength on deployment and conformability. Its large cell size facilitates PCI of bifurcation lesion. AIM: To assess the feasibility of R(trade mark) stent in the treatment of symptomatic patients with bifurcation coronary lesions. The main objective was to assess the ease of deployment, side-branch access and overall success of the R(trade mark) stent in this group of patients without any major adverse events. METHODS: Between December 1998 and September 2000 the R(trade mark) stent was used as a main stent in 28 consecutive patients with coronary bifurcation lesions, 46% of which had unstable angina. The mean age was 59 +/- 10 and 89% were male. Adjunctive medical therapy included clopidrogel, aspirin and intraprocedure heparin. Abciximab (ReoPro) was given to 9 patients. RESULTS: Successful stent deployment was achieved in all patients. Thirty-four R Stents and 16 other stents were used. Two patients had post-procedure rise in cardiac enzymes. There were no major adverse events at 30 days. LAD/D1 with LAD/diagonal was the target lesion in the majority of patients. Stenting of the side-branch was done in 18 and balloon dilatation in 9 patients. At 3-23 months (mean 11.8) follow-up, repeat angiography was done in 18 patients with restenosis in 4, two of them had repeat PCI and one had coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). CONCLUSION: Coronary bifurcation lesions are not uncommon. Current advances in stent technology offer a safe and effective revascularisation strategy for such complex lesions. The R(trade mark) stent appears to be a suitable device that provides good wall coverage, radial strength, conformability and easy side-branch access.     

Rapid disappearance of a massive iatrogenic haematoma of the left hand following radial coronary angiogram

A 73-year-old man with a medical history of coronary artery disease and status post coronary artery bypass grafting underwent elective coronary angiography for progressive left ventricular systolic dysfunction using the radial artery access.     

Duke Treadmill Score in prioritizing patients for coronary angiography: retrospective study of a Croatian regional hospital

Aim of the study was to determine the potential of Duke Treadmill Score (DTS) in prioritizing patients for coronary angiography in a transitional country clinical setting. We analyzed 114patients with suspected stable coronary artery disease who underwent exercise treadmill testing, and coronary angiography in Slavonski Brod General Hospital. DTS was calculated from treadmill test as: exercise time--(5 x ST deviation in mm)--(4 x exercise angina). Regarding the score, patients were grouped into three groups of risk for coronary artery disease: low risk, medium risk, and high risk patients. All patients underwent coronary angiography, and were grouped in accordance to the severity of the coronary artery disease into three groups: insignificant, significant, or severe coronary artery disease. All patients scored as high risk DTS had significant or severe coronary artery disease. Medium and low risk DTS patients had insignificant coronary artery disease in 50%, and 90% of cases, respectively. Medium risk patients with significant or severe coronary artery disease were significantly older, and had more frequent history of typical chest pain with higher number of episodes per week (P<0.05), whereas there were no differences regarding gender or presence of risk factors. There were no significant differences among medium risk patients regarding the severity of coronary artery disease in exercise time or ST deviation. However, the presence of limiting exercise angina in medium risk patients was significantly more related with significant and severe coronary artery disease (P<0.05). High risk DTS result showed great potential in stratifying patients for immediate coronary angiography. This scoring system may be used in prioritizing patients for coronary angiography in a transitional clinical setting.