Low-Dose Protamine to Facilitate Earlier Sheath Removal from the Femoral Artery After Peripheral Endovascular Intervention

The Utilization of Protamine during Peripheral Vascular Interventions in the VQI

BACKGROUND

Protamine administration was shown to reduce bleeding after carotid surgery but the role of protamine during peripheral vascular interventions (PVIs) remains unknown. This study evaluates the trend and outcomes of protamine use in the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI). Our hypothesis is that the use of protamine is associated with decreased bleeding after PVI.

METHODS

Patients undergoing elective PVI in the VQI (2016-2020) for peripheral arterial disease were reviewed and the utilization trend for protamine was described. The characteristics of patients undergoing PVI with and without protamine use were compared. After propensity score matching based on the patient's comorbidities, access site, and procedural characteristics, the perioperative outcomes of both groups were compared using multivariable Poisson regression to estimate adjusted rate ratios (aRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).

RESULTS

The total number of patients was 131,618 and patients who received protamine constituted 29.8% of the sample (N = 38,191). After propensity matching, the total number of patients was 94,582, and patients who received protamine constituted 28.8% of the sample (N = 27,275). Protamine use significantly increased during the study period from 5.2 to 22.9%. Before propensity score matching, patients who received protamine were more likely to be white (79% vs. 76.8, P ≤ 0.001), smokers (80.5% vs. 78.5%, P ≤ 0.001), with medical comorbidities including hypertension (88.9% vs. 88.5%, P = 0.074), congestive heart failure (20.5% vs. 19.8%, P = 0.006), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (28.2% vs. 26.5%). They were also more likely to be on perioperative medications such as P2Y12 inhibitors (44.3% vs. 45, P = 0.013%) and statin (77.4% vs. 76.5%, P = 0.001) compared to patients who did not receive protamine. After propensity matching, there were no significant differences between the 2 groups. There was a significant decrease in bleeding during procedures where protamine was administered compared to no protamine (2.0% vs. 2.2%) (aRR, 0.89 [95% CI 0.80, 0.98]). Protamine was more likely to be given in procedures complicated by perforation (0.8% vs. 0.5%) (aRR, 1.48 [95% CI 1.24, 1.76]) and less likely to be given during procedures with distal embolization (0.4% vs. 0.7%) (aRR, 0.59 [95% CI 0.49, 0.73]). However, patients receiving protamine had significantly higher cardiac complications (1.4% vs. 1.1%) (aRR, 1.27 [95% CI 1.12, 1.43]). There was no significant difference in mortality between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Protamine use is associated with decreased perioperative bleeding but increased cardiac complications. Protamine should be selectively administered to patients at high risk of bleeding during PVI.

Safety of routine protamine in the reversal of heparin in percutaneous coronary intervention: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

To determine the safety and efficacy of protamine in the reversal of heparin in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

BACKGROUND

Heparin is routinely used for anticoagulation in PCI. Protamine is not used routinely to reverse heparin's effects in PCI, partly due to the perceived risk of stent thrombosis.

METHODS

Relevant studies published in English were searched for in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases from inception to April 26th, 2023. Our primary outcome of interest was stent thrombosis in patients receiving PCI for all indications. Secondary outcomes included mortality, major bleeding complications, and hospitalization length. Dichotomous outcomes were analyzed using a Mantel-Haenszel random-effects model and expressed as odds ratios (OR) with their 95% confidence intervals (CI), while continuous outcomes were analyzed using an inverse variance random-effects model expressed as mean differences (MD) with their 95% CI.

RESULTS

11 studies were included in our analysis. Protamine use was not associated with stent thrombosis: OR 0.58, 95% CI: 0.33, 1.01 (p = 0.05) nor with mortality (p = 0.89). Protamine administration was associated with a decreased incidence of major bleeding complications: OR 0.48; 95% CI: 0.25, 0.95 (p = 0.03) and decreased length of hospitalization (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients pre-treated with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), protamine may be a safe and efficacious option to facilitate earlier sheath removal, reduce major bleeding complications, and reduce length of hospitalization without increased risk of stent thrombosis.

Ultrasound-guided puncture reduces bleeding-associated complications, regardless of calcified plaque, after endovascular treatment of femoropopliteal lesions, especially using the antegrade procedure: A single-center study

Background

A common complication of endovascular treatment for femoropopliteal lesions is bleeding at the vascular access site. Although risk factors of bleeding-associated complications at the approach site have been reported, the results have been inconclusive. Hence, this study aimed to assess the predictors of bleeding-associated complications at the approach site in patients undergoing endovascular treatment for femoropopliteal lesions.

Methods

This retrospective, single-center, observational study included consecutive patients who underwent endovascular treatment (n = 366, 75% male, 72.4±9.9 year) for peripheral arterial disease with claudication and critical limb ischemia in our hospital from January 2010 to December 2017. We divided the patients into bleeding and non-bleeding groups, depending on whether bleeding-associated complications occurred at the approach site. Bleeding-associated complications were defined according to the Bleeding Academic Research Consortium criteria types 2, 3, and 5.

Results

Altogether, 366 endovascular treatment procedures and 404 arterial accesses were performed for femoropopliteal lesions in 335 peripheral arterial disease patients with claudication and 69 critical limb ischemia patients. We recorded 35 postprocedural bleeding-associated complications at the approach site (9%), all of which were hematomas. The predictors of increased bleeding-associated complications were age ≥ 80 years (bleeding vs. non-bleeding group, 43% vs. 25%, p<0.05) and antegrade cannulation of the common femoral artery (48% vs. 69%, p<0.05). Ultrasound-guided puncture reduced bleeding-associated complications (odds ratio, 0.28; 95% confidence interval, 0.004–0.21; p<0.05). In contrast, there was no significant difference in puncture site calcification between the groups (bleeding vs. non-bleeding groups, 29% vs. 21%, p = 0.29).

Conclusion

Ultrasound-guided puncture is associated with a decrease in bleeding-associated complications at the approach site, regardless of the presence of calcified plaque. It is particularly effective and should be more actively used in patients aged ≥80 years and for antegrade cannulation of the common femoral artery.