Cardiac Catheterization Flashcards
What are relative contraindications to cardiac catheterization?
- Pregnancy (1st and 2nd trimesters)
- Active systemic infection
- Decompensated CHF / Respiratory distress
- Uncontrolled HTN
- Uncontrolled coagulopathy or severe thrombocytopenia
- Inability to provide informed consent
- Inability to tolerate procedure or cooperate (cannot lie supine)
- Severe anaphylactic reaction to contrast medium (for patient’s receiving contrast)
- Acute or chronic renal failure (for patient’s receiving contrast)
- Diabetic patient’s on Metformin -> (hold metformin x 48 hours after the procedure to prevent possible lactic acidosis if renal failure develops)
- DNR status (consider periprocedural suspension of this status)
What are the main vascular access points for cardiac catheterization?
- Femoral
- Radial
- Brachial
What should “time out” include prior to cardiac catheterization?
- Patient name
- Procedure being performed
- Prepocedure antibiotic administration (if necessary)
- Verifying consent is signed
- Verification of the correct site and side being used
- Confirmation of any allergies
- Confirmation of site preparation
- Special equipment and/or imaging studies that may be required
What are the sequence of angiographic views in evaluation of the RCA?
- LAO 40, CRA 20
- prox-mid RCA
- AP CRA 30-40
- distal RCA, PDA-PLB bifurcation
- RAO 90
- mid-RCA
Additional views:
- RAO 30, CRA 20
- prox-mid RCA
- LAO 50, CRA 30
- distal RCA
What are the standard LV ventriculogram angiographic views?
- RAO 30 degrees
- visualizes the high lateral, anterior, apical, and inferior LV walls
- LAO 45-60, CRA 20
- identifies the lateral and septal LV walls
Protocol to reduce the incidence of Contrast-Associated Nephropathy following cardiac catheterization?
Identify risks
- eGFR < 60 ml/min
- DM Manage medications
- hold nephrotoxic drugs (NSAIDS)
Manage intravascular volume
- hydrate with either normal saline or sodium bicarbonate (either acceptable)
- hydrate 1-1.5 ml/kg/min for 3-12 hours before and 6-12 hours post
Radiographic contrast
- minimize contrast volume
- use either low-osmolar or iso-osmolar contrast
Follow up data
- obtain 48-hour creatinine
What are the major disadvantages to radial artery access?
- Smaller caliber of artery
- smaller sheath/catheter systems
- new “sheathless” catheters being developed
- Radial artery spasm
- may limit ability to manipulate catheters and can be very painful
- Radial artery occlusion
- 3-5% of patients
Describe risk stratification using TIMI and GRACE
Describe factors that dictate “Early Invasive” (within 24h) strategy in UA/NSTEMI?
- Grace score > 140 or TIMI ⇒ 5
- Temporal change in Troponin
- New or presumably new ST depression
What should the cardiac catheterization preprocedural assessment include?
- History
- Indications (including symptom status, noninvasive studies)
- Medications and likelihood of adherence
- Metformin dose
- Anticoagulation
- Antiplatelet loading (if anticipated PCI)
- Allergies (including contrast)
- Bleeding risk / anticipated surgeries
- NPO status
- Code Status
- Focused Physical Examination
- Mental status
- Cardiac/Respiratory systems including fluid status
- Vascular examination keyed to access sites and perfusion distally
- Labs
- CBC, BMP, INR, PTT (selected patients)
- EKG
- Prior Catheterization data
- Access site, catheters
- Anatomy (anomalies, grafts) -
- Prior interventional procedures
- Complications and difficulties with the procedure
- Prior Surgical Data
- Number and types of conduits
Describe factors that dictate “Delayed Invasive” (within 25-72h) strategy in UA/NSTEMI?
- DM and renal insuffiency (GFR < 60 mL/min/1.73m2)
- Reduced LV function (EF < 40%)
- Early postinfarction angina
- PCI within 6 months
- Prior CABG
- GRACE risk score 109-140; TIMI risk score ⇒ 2
What are the four major statin benefit groups (from 2013 ACC/AHA update)?
- Clinical ASCVD
- LDL ⇒ 190 mg/dl
- DM (and the following)
- LDL 70-189 mg/dl
- Age 40-75 years
- Estimated 10 year ASCVD ⇒ 7.5% (every 4-6 years)
- if not DM + LDL 70-189 mg/dl + not receiving statin therapy
- 5-7.5% –> shared decision making + additional risk factors
Describe factors that dictate “Immediate Invasive” strategy in UA/NSTEMI?
- Refractory Angina
- Hemodynamic instability
- Electrical instability (sustained VT or VF)
- Acute CHF or worsening MR
- Recurrent angina or ischemia at rest or with low-level activities despite intensive medical therapy
What are treatment strategies for NSTEMI/UA?
- Immediate invasive (within 2h)
- Ischemia guided strategy
- Early Invasive (within 24h)
- Delayed Invasive (within 25-72h)
What trials created the TIMI risk score?
What trials validated the TIMI risk score?
- TIMACS
- TIMI 11B and ESSENCE trials
When should the following anticoagulants be discontinued prior to CABG?
- Heparin
- Enoxaparin
- Bivalirudin
- Fondaparinux
- Heparin –> zero or at time of surgery
- Enoxaparin –> 12 hours (T 1/2 = 4-6 hours)
- Bivalirudin –> 3 hours (continuance of UFH)
- Fondaparinux –> 24 hours
What is the risk associated with each TIMI risk score?
- All-Cause Mortality, New or Recurrent MI, or Severe Recurrent Ischemia Requiring Urgent Revascularization within 14 days
- Also useful in predicting:
- 30 day mortality
- 1 year mortality
When should enoxaparin be discontinued prior to surgery?
12 hours
- T 1/2 = 4-6 hours
- use of enoxaparin < 12 hours prior to CABG is associated with lower postoperative hemoglobin and a higher risk of blood tranfusion
Describe the TIMI risk score for UA/NSTEMI
- Known CAD (stenosis ⇒ 50%)
- ⇒ 2 episodes of angina within 24 hours
- Presence of ⇒ 3 CAD risk factors
- DM, tobacco use, HTN, HLD, FH of CAD
- Positive cardiac biomarkers
- ST changes ⇒ 0.05 mV
- Age ⇒ 65 years
- ASA use in the past 7 days
Describe pre-test probability
Describe factors that dictate “Ischemia-guided” strategy in UA/NSTEMI?
- Low-risk score
- TIMI < 2
- GRACE < 109
- Low risk, troponin negative female patients
- Patient or clinician preference in the absence of high-risk features
Diagnostic findings: Right heart catheterization
- Right sided cardiac pressures
- Pulmonary artery pressures
- PCWP
- CO
- Vasodilator challenges to evaluate transpulmonic gradients
What is the set up for Image intensifier (II) and x-ray source (or flat-panel detector in fully digital laboratories)?
- II -> directly above patient
- X-ray source -> below the patient
What medications are commonly used in radial artery catheterization?
Why are these medications used?
Antispasm “cocktail”
- Nitroglycerin (100-300 mcg)
- Verapamil (2.5-5.0 mg) or Diltiazem (5mg)
- Systemic anticoagulation (Unfractionated Heparin, weight based (50-100 U/kg)
- Helps to avoid radial artery occlusion
- Buffer or dilute meds throughout procedure -> reduces arterial spasm
- Back-bleed and flush sheath repeatedly throughout procedure
What are the sequence of angiographic views in evaluation of the LCA?
- LAO 15
- LM
- RAO 20 / CAU 20
- LCx, LAD
- AP CAU 30
- LCx
- LAO 40-60 / CAU 30
- “Spider”
- LAO 60
- LPL’s, LPDA’s
- LAO 40 / CRA 20
- LAD “Gutter”
- AP CRA 40
- LAD
- RAO 30
- LCx, LAD
Diagnostic findings: Endomyocardial biopsy
- transplant rejection
- primary myocardial disease
Diagnostic findings: Supravalvular aortography
- proximal aortic dissection
- aortic root disease
- aortic insufficiency
- anomalous anatomy
- saphenous vein graft origins
What is the optimal projection for visualizing:
- Mid-LAD
RAO Cranial
What is the optimal projection for visualizing:
-Distal RCA, PDA, PLB
LAO cranial
What is the optimal projection for visualizing:
-Proximal and Mid-LMCA
RAO Caudal (shallow) or AP Caudal
What is the optimal projection for visualizing:
-Ramus Intermedius (RI)
LAO Caudal
What is the optimal projection for visualizing:
-Proximal-RCA
LAO cranial
What is the optimal projection for visualizing:
-Proximal LAD
RAO Cranial**
- overlap with the CFx may occur LAO Caudal and Cranial
- Foreshortening may occur
- Good view for visualizing entire LAD (septals - down and diagnoals up/away)
What is the optimal projection for visualizing:
-Proximal and Mid-Circumflex
AP Caudal
LAO Caudal
-Ostium and RI best visualized in this view
RAO Caudal (shallow)
-obtuse marginal branches best visualized in this view
What is the optimal projection for visualizing:
-Distal LMCA
LAO Caudal (spider view)
Definition and description:
-Third Diagonal branch
3rd branch from the LAD that travels over the anterolateral surface of the LV
What are two tests that can be utilized in determine patency of the ulnar artery prior to a radial artery approach?
What is the reasoning behind these tests?
- Barbeau (modified Allen’s) test
- staging system using pulse oximetry and plethysmography on the thumb with alternating compression of radial and ulnar arteries
- Allen test
- compressing both arteries while pumping/releasing a fist -> blanching of the palm -> release of ulnar artery results in rapid capillary refill
*****Both tests assess ulnar flow into the palmar arch
What is required for imaging/visualization of aorta-to-native vessel bypass grafts?
- Aorta-graft proximal anastomosis
- Body of the Graft
- Distal graft-coronary arterial anastomosis
- Adequacy of perfusion of the bypassed native vessel
What should be considered when evaluating arterial (radial, femoral) access points in cardiac catheterization?
- Body habitus (obese patients avoid upper extremity)
- Ability to lie flat
- Pulse strength (avoid weak pulse or bruit)
- Pre-access assessment of distal pulses (helps to establish baseline for comparison pos-procedure)
- Presence of abdominal bruit or peripheral livedo reticularis (stigmata of abdominal aortic atheroma)
- Prior vascular surgery along access point
What is the optimal projection for visualizing:
-Proximal and Mid-PDA
RAO projection
What should be considered when evaluating venous access points in cardiac catheterization?
- Thrombotic or venous disease
- IVC filter (can be traversed with small catheter system)
- Prior unsuccessful attempts
What are the advantages of CFA access?
- relatively superficial, predictable location makes it reliable
- location overlying the femoral head provides solid support against which manual compression may be applied to achieve active hemostasis
What are key points regarding CFA access?
- Puncture CFA below the inguinal ligament, but above the bifurcation of the superficial femoral artery (SFA) and profundis femora artery
- “Target Zone” for arterial puncture = over inferomedial aspect of femoral head
- Inguinal ligament course can be identified by path between ASIS and symphisis pubis
- Inguinal skin crease is variable, frequently does not correspond with location of inguinal ligament (caudal to femoral bifurcation in 75% of patients, especially obese patients)
Explain the stepwise approach for obtaining femoral artery access via the modified Seldinger technique.
- Local anesthesia is given 1-2 cm distal to planned entry point
- Small skin incision is made, followed by gentle blunt dissection to establish channel for easy passage of the sheath (channel allows for blood to escape rather than to collect in deep thigh tissues)
- Palpate pulse with one hand and advance access needle to puncture (only) front wall of artery (45-60 degree angle)
- Insert guide wire through needle and advance (slow if any resistance) then remove needle
- Confirm wire placement in CFA (passes to the left of the spine) with fluoroscopy
- Advance sheath over wire and remove the wire
- Confirm sheath placement:
- aspirate 2-3 mL blood from side of sheath
- flush with heparinized-saline solution
- arterial pressure should be checked with connection of a pressure manifold to the side arm of the sheath
What did the FAUST trial demonstrate?
FAUST (Femoral Arterial Access With Ultrasound Trial)
- multicenter clinical trial (1,000 patients, 500 in each group) use of real-time ultrasound guidance in obtaining CFA access
- No difference in rate of successful cannulation
- Reduced:
- number of attempts
- time required to gain femoral artery access
- occurrence of vascular complications (from 3.4% to 1.4%).
What are the most common complications associated with CFA arterial access?
- Obstruction of vessel -> limb ischemia
- Pseudoaneurysm
- AV fistula formation
- Urinary retention (decreased ambulation, opiates)
- Retroperitoneal hematoma
- Femoral neuropathy and infections (rare)
****most problems occur due to inadequate identification of the anatomic landmarks
What must be checked before a femoral sheath can be successfully removed?
Activated Clotting Time (ACT)
- time taken for blood clot to form
- sheath not removed until < 150s
- Normal = 70-120s
- Normal (with heparin) = 180-240s
How long should manual pressure be held at access point after sheath removal?
5 minutes per sheath size
- 5Fr = 25 minutes
- 6Fr = 30 minutes
What did the RIVAL trial demonstrate?
RIVAL (Radial Versus Femoral Access for Coronary Intervention) trial
- 7,021 patients undergoing cardiac catheterization and intervention for an acute coronary syndrome were randomized to radial or femoral access
- No significant difference in primary endpoint (death, MI, CVA, noncoronary artery bypass graft-related bleeding at 30 days) between the two groups (3.7% in radial group and 4.0% in femoral group)
- Major vascular complications were significantly lower in the radial group compared with the femoral group (1.4% vs. 3.7%; p < 0.0001)
What are the types of invasive lesion assessment?
FFR Coronary flow reserve
Intracoronary imaging
- intravascular ultrasounds (IVUS)
- optical coherence tomography
Explain IVUS use and what it measures?
Identification of coronary artery lesions Quantification of plaque volume
- by tracing external elastic membrane (EEM) and lumen areas of the proximal reference, lesion and distal reference Types of arterial remodeling
What are the contents of informed consent?
Willingness to undergo the procedure
Acknowledgement that the performing physician has discussed and confirmed
- goals
- risks
- benefits
- alternatives
What procedure should be performed in a patient with RCA-CTO with ambiguous cap + 30 mm long + bridging collaterals?
Retrograde approach to CTO PCI *occlusion > 20 mm + ambiguous cap + bridging collaterals -> lower success rate with anterograde PCI
What is GRACE?
Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events
What is the TIMI Risk Score?
- “Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction”
- Risk score utilized in NSTEMI / UA -Comprises seven equally weighted risk indicators which categorizes patient’s risk of death and ischemic events and provides a basis for therapeutic decision making
- Risk of all-cause mortality, new or recurrent MI, or severe recurrent ischemia prompting urgent revascularization within 14 days showed a graded increase with increasing TIMI score
What are the components of the TIMI Risk Score?
“AMERICA”
- Age > 65 years
- Markers (cardiac enzymes)
- EKG changes (ST changes > 0.05mV)
- Risk factors for CAD ( > 3 = Obesity, HTN, DM, Dyslipidemia, Cigarette smoking, FH premature CAD)
- Ischemic chest pain ( > 2 episodes of chest pain within 24 hour period)
- Coronary (known) stenosis ( > 50%)
- Aspirin (use within the past 7 days)
What are the breakdowns per point for the TIMI Risk Score?
Risk of all-cause mortality, new or recurrent MI, or severe recurrent ischemia prompting urgent revascularization within 14 days showed a graded increase with increasing TIMI score
- 0-1 - 4.7%
- 2 - 8.3%
- 3 - 13.2%
- 4 - 19.9%
- 5 - 26.2%
- 6-7 - 40.9%
What two trials validate the use of the TIMI-risk score?
-TIMI 11B -ESSENCE (Efficacy and Safety of Subcutaneous Enoxaparin in Unstable Angina and Non-Q Wave Myocardial Infarction)
Patients with TIMI-risk score > 3, derive benefit from what interventions?
- Early invasive therapy**
- LMWH
- Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors
What did the RITA 3 trial show?
***In low-moderate risk NSTE-ACS, a routinely invasive strategy is preferable to a provisionally invasive strategy (performed only for recurrent ischemia or positive stress test)
- Randomized patients presenting with low-moderate risk NSTE
- ACS to routine angiography vs. optimal medical therapy
- Routine angiography group -> reduction in death, MI and refractory angina at 4 months
Class I recommendations derived from RITA 3 and TIMACS trials?
- Early invasive strategy is indicated in patients who have (refractory angina, hemodynamic instability, electrical instability) without serious comorbidities or contraindications to these procedures
- Early invasive strategy indicated in initially stabilized UA/NSTEMI patients who have an elevated risk for clinical events
What did the TIMACS trial demonstrate?
- Among NTEMI patients managed with routine invasive approach, angiography within 24 hours did not confer benefit when compared with angiography after 36 hours
- Except among the subgroup of patients with high-risk NSTEMI as defined by GRACE score > 140
What are the antiplatelet recommendations for patients presenting with ACS and are treated with CABG?
DAPT x 12 months after ACS *CLASS I RECOMMENDATION
What are the antiplatelet recommendations for DAPT in patients with previous coronary stent placement and subsequently undergo CABG?
Resume postoperatively to complete recommended duration of therapy (12 months)
*CLASS I RECOMMENDATION
What are the antiplatelet recommendations for patients with SIHD who are treated with CABG?
DAPT x 12 months after CABG may be reasonable to improve graft patency
*CLASS IIb recommendation
What are the antiplatelet recommendations for patients with SIHD after BMS placement?
DAPT x 1 month (minimum)
*CLASS I RECOMMENDATION
What are the antiplatelet recommendations for patients with SIHD after DES placement?
DAPT x 6 months (minimum)
*CLASS I RECOMMENDATION
Describe the Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC)?
- Consensus standard for the use of diagnostic catheterization and PCI in order to ensure proper and ethical use of these procedures
- AUC attempts to critically and systematically create, review, and categorize clinical situations where diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are utilized
- Establish consensus standards regarding whether the procedures potential benefit outweighs its possible risks -> is that procedure reasonable to perform for the specific clinical situation?
- Not meant as a substitute for clinical judgement but a guide in decision making
What are examples of the Appropriate Use Criteria in regards to suspected CAD?
- focus on symptom status -estimate of global CAD risk
- presence and severity of abnormal noninvasive findings
- other clinical elements that inform patient risk
What are examples of the Appropriate Use Criteria in regards to Coronary Revascularization?
Evaluates clinical scenarios based on:
- procedure urgency
- angina class
- adequacy of antianginal theapy
- presence and severity of abnormal noninvasive findings
- disease burden and location
When was the first cardiac catheterization performed? And on who?
- 1929
- Dr. Werner Forssmann performed a right heart catheterization on himself