A randomised comparison of monoplane versus biplane fluoroscopy in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: the RAMBO trial

Prevention of Contrast-induced Nephropathy in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) or contrast-induced acute kidney injury has varying definitions, but in general, increased serum creatinine level by ≥ 0.3 mg/dL (26.5 µmol/L) or 1.5x of baseline value or urine output <0.5 mL/kg/h within 1-7 days after contrast media (CM) administration can be considered as CIN. CIN is one of the most common complications and is associated with increased mortality in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Thus, risk stratification for CIN should be made and preventive strategies should be employed in which the intensity of the approach must be tailored to patient's risk profile. In all patients, adequate hydration is required, nephrotoxic medications should be discontinued, and pre-procedural high-intensity statin is recommended. In patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m2, IV hydration should be started 12 hours pre-procedure up until 12-24 hours after the procedure. Remote ischemic preconditioning may be performed pre-procedurally. Radial first approach for vascular access is recommended. During the procedure, low or iso-osmolar CM should be used and its volume should be limited to eGFR x 3.7. In patients at high risk for CIN, additional contrast-sparing strategies may be applied, such as using a contrast reduction system, 5 Fr catheter with no sideholes, CM dilution, limiting test injection, confirming placement using guidewire, use of stent enhancing imaging technology, using metallic/software roadmap to guide PCI, use of IVUS or dextran-based OCT, and coronary aspiration. A more advanced hydration technique based on central venous pressure, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, or using furosemide-matched hydration, might be considered.

Monoplane versus biplane fluoroscopy in patients undergoing fenestrated/branched endovascular aortic repair

OBJECTIVE

Endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) with fenestrated (F-EVAR) or branched (B-EVAR) endografts represents an indispensable tool of modern patient care in vascular surgery. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the center's initial experience of F/B-EVAR procedures performed under biplane angiography guidance compared with a historical control group.

METHODS

From January 2020 to March 2022, 80 consecutive patients underwent F/B-EVAR under general anesthesia at a single institution. As from January 2021, the deployment of complex stent grafts was performed using an alternative intraoperative imaging modality-a biplane fluoroscopy and angiography. The cohort was divided into monoplane (MPA) and biplane (BPA) groups according to the imaging modality applied. The end points were operation time, fluoroscopy time, radiation exposure, dose of contrast agent, and technical success.

RESULTS

The MPA group included 59 patients (78% male; median age; 74 years; interquartile range [IQR], 66-78 years) and the BPA group 21 patients (85.7% males; median age, 75 years; IQR, 69-79 years). Operation time (median, 320 minutes; IQR, 266-376 minutes) versus (median, 275 minutes; IQR, 216-333 minutes) was significantly lower in the BPA group (P = .006). The median fluoroscopy time (median, 82 minutes; IQR, 57-110 minutes vs median, 68 minutes; IQR, 54-92 minutes), contrast agent volume applied (median, 220 mL; IQR, 179-250 mL vs median, 200 mL; IQR, 170-250 mL), and radiation dose (dose-area product, median, 413 Gy × cm²; IQR, 249-736 Gy × cm²; vs median, 542 Gy × cm²; IQR, 196-789 Gy × cm²) were similar in both groups. Technical success of 96.6% (57/59 cases) versus 100% (21/21 cases) could be achieved in MPA and BPA group, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

F/B-EVAR procedures performed under BPA guidance were associated with a significant decrease in operation time.

Anthropometric parameters and radiation doses during percutaneous coronary procedures

PURPOSE

Body size is a major determinant of patient's dose during percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Body mass index, body surface area (BSA), lean body mass and weight are commonly used estimates for body size. We aim to identify which of these measures and which procedural/clinical characteristics can better predict received dose.

METHODS

Dose area product (DAP, Gycm²), fluoroscopy DAP rate (Gycm²/min), fluoroscopy DAP (Gycm²), cine-angiography DAP (Gycm²), Air Kerma (mGy) were selected as indices of patient radiation dose. Different clinical/procedural variables were analysed in multiple linear regression models with previously mentioned patient radiation dose parameters as end points. The best model for each of them was identified.

RESULTS

Overall 6623 PCI were analysed, median fluoroscopy DAP rate was 35 [IQR 2.7,4.4] Gycm², median total DAP was 62.7 [IQR 38.1,107] Gycm². Among all anthropometric variables, BSA showed the best correlation with all radiation dose parameters considered. Every 1 m² increment in BSA added 4.861 Gycm²/min (95% CI [4.656, 5.067]) to fluoroscopy DAP rate and 164 Gycm² (95% CI [145.3, 182.8]) to total DAP. Height and female sex were significantly associated to a reduction in fluoroscopy DAP rate and total DAP. Coronary angioplasty, diabetes, basal creatinine and the number of treated vessels were associated to higher values.

CONCLUSIONS

Main determinants of patient radiation dose are: BSA, female sex, height and number of treated vessels. In an era of increasing PCI complexity and obesity prevalence, these results can help clinicians tailoring X-ray administration to patient's size.

Coronary Angioplasty and Stenting in Acute Coronary Syndromes Using Very Low Contrast Volume and Radiation Dosage Improves Renal and Cardiovascular Outcomes

Aim: To demonstrate that in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), using Cordis 6F Infiniti diagnostic catheters for angioplasty may represent a safe alternative associated with lower contrast volume and radiation dosage, improving cardiovascular and renal outcomes.

Material and Methods: In 1,800 patients with ACS (2,331 lesions/2,603 stents), angioplasty was performed with Cordis 6F Infiniti Thrulumen diagnostic catheters. Primary angioplasty was performed in 545 cases, and only balloon angioplasty in 67 patients. All procedures were performed through the femoral route, and switch-over to the radial route was made in 5 cases due to associated aortic/iliac obstructive lesions. Iodixanol was used in 76% of cases, and tirofiban in 99% of cases with adjusted dosages based on creatinine values. The mean contrast volume used per patient was 28 mL (± 6 mL) including the angiogram prior to the angioplasty.

Results: The median fluoroscopy time was 4.4 min (IQR 3–6.8), the mean fluoroscopy time was 5.59 min (± 0.28), the median dose-area product or kerma-area product was 1,507 µGym2 (IQR 918–2,611), median total or cumulative dose including backscatter was 2,702 µGym2 (IQR 1,805–4,217), and the median cumulative skin dose was 468 mGy (IQR 296–722). Groin hematoma was seen in 7 cases, proximal mild edge dissection in the deployed stent in 3 cases, and acute in-hospital stent thrombosis in 7 cases. In total, 33 deaths were registered and 19 of these patients had cardiogenic shock, of which 11 subjects were late presenters. Three patients died after discharge due to possible acute stent thrombosis.

Conclusions: Angioplasty and stenting can be performed safely in patients with acute coronary syndromes using Cordis 6F diagnostic catheters. The procedure was associated with a very low volume of contrast and radiation dose, leading to improved clinical outcomes..

Reducing fluoroscopic and cineangiographic contribution to radiation exposure for chronic total coronary occlusion interventions

BACKGROUND

The treatment of chronic total coronary occlusions (CTO) carries the highest radiation exposure among percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). In order to minimize radiation damage, we need to understand and optimize the contribution of all components of radiation exposure.

METHODS

A total of 1000 CTO procedures performed between 2011 and 2020 were compared according to implemented radiation modifications. Group 1 used the original set-up of the X-ray equipment (Artis Zee, Siemens). In group 2 a modified protocol aimed at reducing the fluoroscopy exposure, in group 3 further modifications aimed at reducing cineangiographic exposure.

RESULTS

Despite an increased lesion complexity, Air Kerma (AK) was reduced from 2619 mGy (1653-4574) in group 1 to 2178 mGy (1332-3500; p < 0.001) in group 2 by mainly reducing fluoroscopic contribution by 54.1%, the cineangiographic contribution was lowered by only 6.6%. In group 3 AK dropped drastically to 746 mGy (480-1225; p < 0.001) mainly by reducing the cineangiographic contribution by 53.4%, still there was a further reduction of fluoroscopy contribution of 8.2%. This also led to a reduction of the skin entry dose from 1038 mGy (690-1589) in group 2 to 359 mGy (204-591; p < 0.001) in group 3. This was achieved both in normal weight and obese patients, and both in antegrade and retrograde procedures.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study demonstrates that by modifying both the fluoroscopic and cineangiographic contribution to radiation exposure a drastic reduction of radiation risk can be achieved, even in obese patients. Currently accepted radiation thresholds may no longer be a limit for CTO PCI.