Faculty Bibliography

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Transradial intervention (TRI) was first introduced by Lucien Campeau in 1989 and since then has created a lasting impact in the field of interventional cardiology. Several studies have demonstrated that TRI is associated with fewer vascular site complications, offer earlier ambulation and greater post-procedural comfort. Patients presenting with ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) have experienced survival benefit and higher quality-of-life metrics as well with TRI. While both the updated scientific statement by the American Heart Association and the 2017 European Society of Cardiology guidelines recommend a "radial first" approach there appears to be a lag in physicians adapting TRI as the preferred vascular access. We present a review focusing on identification and management of TRA related challenges and complications using a systematic algorithmic approach.

OBJECTIVES:The aims of this study were to examine rates of radial artery access in post-coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients undergoing diagnostic catherization and/or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), whether operators with higher procedural volumes and higher percentage radial use were more likely to perform diagnostic catherization and/or PCI via the radial approach in post-CABG patients, and clinical and procedural outcomes in post-CABG patients who undergo diagnostic catherization and/or PCI via the radial or femoral approach. BACKGROUND:There are limited data comparing outcomes of patients with prior CABG undergoing transradial or transfemoral diagnostic catheterization and/or PCI. METHODS:Using the National Cardiovascular Data Registry CathPCI Registry, all diagnostic catheterizations and PCIs performed in patients with prior CABG from July 1, 2009, to March 31, 2018 (n = 1,279,058, 1,173 sites) were evaluated. Temporal trends in transradial access were examined, and mortality, bleeding, vascular complications, and procedural metrics were compared between transradial and transfemoral access. RESULTS:The rate of transradial access increased from 1.4% to 18.7% over the study period. Transradial access was associated with decreased mortality (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 0.83; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.75 to 0.91), decreased bleeding (OR: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.51 to 0.63), decreased vascular complications (OR: 0.38; 95% CI: 0.30 to 0.47), increased PCI procedural success (OR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.06 to 1.16; p < 0.0001), and significantly decreased contrast volume across all procedure types. Transradial access was associated with shorter fluoroscopy time for PCI-only procedures but longer fluoroscopy time for diagnostic procedures plus ad hoc PCI and diagnostic procedures only. Operators with a higher rate of transradial access in non-CABG patients were more likely to perform transradial access in patients with prior CABG. CONCLUSIONS:The rate of transradial artery access in patients with prior CABG undergoing diagnostic catheterization and/or PCI has increased over the past decade in the United States, and it was more often performed by operators using a transradial approach in non-CABG patients. Compared with transfemoral access, transradial access was associated with improved clinical outcomes in patients with prior CABG.

Trans-radial artery access (TRA) for cardiac catheterization and percutaneous coronary intervention has many advantages over trans-femoral artery access (TFA), but implementation has been slow. The steep learning curve, logistical issues, and radiation exposure have been documented as barriers to implementation. Although many cardiac catheterization laboratories have overcome these barriers, we lack evidence on effective implementation strategies. Our objective is to test a team-based coaching intervention that targets the learning curve and other barriers to increase use of TRA. We use a stepped-wedge cluster-randomized trial to test a coaching intervention in Department of Veterans Affairs cardiac catheterization laboratories. The coaching intervention comprises team-based didactic instruction with live observation at a TRA-proficient lab, followed by a visit from a cardiologist and catheterization laboratory nurse coaching team. Interview and survey data are collected from participants to test and adapt an implementation science framework known as the Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (PARIHS) framework. This study is designed to test the effectiveness of the coaching intervention on TRA implementation, inform changes to the coaching intervention itself, and test and adapt the PARIHS framework in practice. While the benefits of TRA, including increased clinical efficiency, patient comfort, and reduced patient complications, are well understood, the underlying drivers of TRA adoption and sustained practice are not. Findings from this trial can inform future research to facilitate change in the cardiac catheterization laboratory.

OBJECTIVES:The aims of this study were to describe trends and hospital variation in same-day discharge following elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and to evaluate the association between trends in same-day discharge and patient outcomes. BACKGROUND:Insights on contemporary use of same-day discharge following elective PCI are limited. METHODS:In a sequential cross-sectional analysis of 819,091 patients undergoing elective PCI at 1,716 hospitals in the National Cardiovascular Data Registry CathPCI Registry from July 1, 2009, to December 31, 2017, overall and hospital-level trends in same-day discharge were assessed. Among the 212,369 patients who linked to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services data, the association between same-day discharge and 30-day mortality and rehospitalization was assessed. RESULTS:A total of 114,461 patients (14.0%) were discharged the same day as PCI. The proportion of patients with same-day discharge increased from 4.5% in the third quarter of 2009 to 28.6% in the fourth quarter of 2017. From 2009 to 2017, the rate of same-day discharge increased from 4.3% to 19.5% for femoral-access PCI and from 9.9% to 39.7% for radial-access PCI. Hospital-level variation in the use of same-day discharge persisted throughout (median odds ratio adjusted for year and radial access: 4.15). Risk-adjusted 30-day mortality did not change over time, while risk-adjusted rehospitalization decreased over time and more quickly for same-day discharge (P for interaction <0.001). CONCLUSIONS:In the past decade, a large increase in the use of same-day discharge following elective PCI was not associated with worse 30-day mortality or rehospitalization. Hospital-level variation in same-day discharge may represent an opportunity to reduce costs without compromising patient outcomes.

Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are at heightened risk of venous thromboembolic events (VTE), though there is no data examining when these events occur following a COVID-19 diagnosis. We therefore sought to characterize the incidence, timecourse of events, and outcomes of VTE during the COVID-19 pandemic in a national healthcare system using data from Veterans Affairs Administration.