Bypass Graft Interventions
Dr. Brilakis: Research support from the Department of Veterans Affairs (PI of the Drug Eluting Stents in Saphenous Vein Graft Angioplasty—DIVA trial and Merit grant—I01-CX000787-01) and from the National Institutes…
Vascular Access and Closure
Arterial access for common coronary and vascular procedures can be obtained via the common femoral artery, radial, ulnar, or brachial arteries. More recently, the subclavian artery and direct aortic access…
Hemodynamic Support During High-Risk PCI
Introduction Coronary balloon angioplasty (PTCA), introduced in 1977, was initially limited to treatment of focal, noncalcified, proximal, concentric coronary lesions. Initially case selection was confined to patients with normal left…
Radiation Safety in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory
Introduction Over the past few decades, major technological improvements in Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory (CCL) equipment have enabled acquisition of images with better quality at a potentially lower radiation dose. Concurrently,…
Contrast Selection
Introduction Iodinated contrast media (CM) are widely used in interventional cardiology. Efficacy is predicated on the capacity to opacify intravascular structures; however, when selecting a CM, other important properties should…
Pharmacotherapy in the Modern Interventional Suite
The major aims of pharmacotherapy during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and invasive cardiac procedures are to avoid the adverse consequences related to iatrogenic plaque rupture during balloon angioplasty and stent…
Guidelines and Appropriateness Criteria for Interventional Cardiology
Introduction Quality of care has been a major focus of medical care since the Institute of Medicine focused attention on the unacceptable degree of variability in care and concern about…
The Birth of Interventional Cardiology
The Innovator of Angioplasty There are few who are acknowledged as true pioneers in medicine, but Andreas Grüntzig was surely one ( Figure 1-1 ). He quite simply not only…
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Unprotected Left Main Disease
Philippe Généreux has received speaker fees from Abbott Vascular and is a consultant for Cardiovascular System, Inc. Introduction Left main (LM) coronary artery disease, defined by a visually estimated diameter…
Chronic Total Coronary Occlusions: Rationale, Technique, and Clinical Outcomes
Introduction Despite remarkable advances in the procedural and clinical outcomes of percutaneous revascularization, chronically occluded coronary arteries represent persistent technical challenges and unresolved clinical dilemmas in interventional cardiology. Although a…
