Feasibility of percutaneous coronary intervention via transulnar artery approachin selective patients with coronary heart disease

Objective To probe the clinic feasibility of percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI) via transulnar artery approach (PCI TRU).Methods Fourty patients with unstable ischemic manifestation(male 34,female 6;age 59.3 ±9.10 years)whose radial artery of right hand was thin with a weak pulse that was not suitable to transradial artery PCI while whose ulnar artery was thick with a strong pulse based on their larger diameter in ulnar artery as compared with those in radial artery ( 3.30 ±0.22mm vs 2.43 ±0.33 mm, P <0.05 ) by the investigation of vessel echography,but revesered Allen’s test for radial and ulnar artery was positive,were selected as the subjects for PCI TRU. The radio of ulnar artery versus radial artery was 1.35:1.00 and the time of Allen’s test in ulnar artery side was shorter than that in radial artery side ( 2.70 ±0.36 s vs 4.68 ±0.52s , P <0.05 ) before PCI. The efficiency of PCI TRU was evaluated. The time of manipulative duration for each procedure of PCI TRU was recorded. The time of Allen’s test, luminal diameter (mm) , cross area of vessel lumin (mm 2), blood velocity (Vs max), blood resistance (RI) in ulnar artery and radial artery and the level of blood oxygen in finger (PaO 2、SatO 2) were measured and recorded , respectively , as well were compared quantitatively before and after 1 month of procedure . Results Fourty eight lesion segments of 42 vessels in all patients were angioplasticized successfully via TRU by 6F guiding catheter including 23 segments of type B1 , 14 segments of type B2 and 11 segments of type C. PCI TRU in all of 40 patients was performed successfully. Fourty eight stents were implanted including 2 lesions of intrastent restenosis angioplasticized with cutting balloon technique before re stenting . The average time of manipulative duration of guiding catheters engaging in osicum of target coronary, crossing the vessel lesions of guidewire, dilatation and implantation of stents,and under X ray fluoroscopy were 4.30 ±0.59 min , 2.52 ±0.40min , 2.66 ±0.40 min ,and 25.9 ±0.49 min , respectively, and the total time of the whole procedure was 56.6 ±14.8 min . When the ulnar introducer was taken off, the access site in ulnar artery was suppressed by tourniquet with no bleeding in the access site and no limitation of physical activation under maintaining infusion of heparin immediately after procedure . There was no significant change in the diameter of ulnar artery and the time of Allen’s test after 1 month of PCI procedure as compared with those before procedure ( 3.22 ±0.48mm vs 3.26 ±0.22 mm , P >0.05 ; 2.96 ±0.98 s vs 2.72 ±0.47 s , P >0.05 ). No significant change was found in the parameters of blood velocity , cross area of vessel lumin, blood resistance and the level of blood oxygen in finger after 1 month of PCI procedure. The average total hospital stay was 5.21 ±0.43 days. Following up 1 month, no complications such as occlusion of ulnar artery, abnormal sensitivity and movement disability were found in right hands in all patients.Conclusions The ulnar artery might be selected as one approach of antebrachial artery for PCI in the patients with coronary heart disease whose radial artery was difficulty as access vessels of PCI, while reversed Allen’s test for radial and ulnar artery are positive and the luminal diameter of ulnar artery was larger than that of radial artery.

Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting versus on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting： which is better in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease？

To evaluate the clinic outcome of off-pump coronary bypass grafting (OPCABG) of patients with coronary heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, we collected and analyzed 1998-2002 data on 28 patients with these two diseases who had received off-pump coronary bypass operation in our hospital, and compared with data on those who also had the same two diseases but received on-pump coronary artery bypass at same time. There were no operation-related death;one died of respiratory failure 14 days after operation while staying in hospital; there were more respiratory complications in the conventional coronary artery bypass grafting group (CCABG) than in the OPCABG group; and the PaO2/FiO2 in the CCABG group was higher than that in the OPCABG group during operation because of CPB, but lower than that in the OPCABG group 6-12 hours after operation. OPCABG seemed more suitable than CCABG for coronary artery disease patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease due to less damage to their oxygen-exchange capability and the fewer respiratory complications.

Study of Coronary Artery Disease in Single Aortic Valvular Disease

Objectives To analyze the results of coronary angiographies (CAG) in patients with single aortic valvular heart disease; To study the relationship between aortic valve diseases and coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods 105 patients with single aortic valvular heart disease before surgery underwent angiography. The data of clinical characteristics and angiographies were analyzed. Results 51 patients had symptoms of angina pectoris among 105 patients with single aortic valvular heart disease. Seven of them were confirmed coronary artery disease by angiographies. Although the incidence of angina in aortic valve stenosis group was significantly higher than that in aortic valve regurgitation, the probability of combination of CAD in aortic valve stenosis group was similar to the later. However, the probability of combination of CAD in degenerative aortic valve group was significantly higher than the groups of rheumatic, congenitally bicuspid aortic valves, and other causes (p < 0.01 ). Conclusions Angina pectoris is not sensitive for diagnosis of CAD in single aortic valve heart disease. The probability of combination of CAD in degenerative aortic valve disease is higher than that in aortic valve disease with other causes. Coronary angiography is strongly suggested for these patients.