Development and Validation of a Nomogram for Predicting Radial Artery Spasm During Coronary Angiography

This study describes an attempt to develop a user-friendly nomogram incorporating psychological factors to individually predict the risk of radial artery spasm. Patients consecutively recruited between June 2020 and June 2021 constituted the development cohort for retrospective analysis of the development of a prediction model. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression combined with clinical significance was employed to screen out appropriate independent variables. The model's discrimination and calibration were subsequently evaluated and calibrated by using the C-index, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and calibration plot. Decision curve analysis was also performed to evaluate the net benefit with the nomogram, and internal validation was assessed using bootstrapping validation. The predictors included in the risk nomogram included "body mass index ," "anxiety score," "duration of interventional surgery," "latency time (time spent waiting in the catheterization laboratory)," "vascular circuity (substantial changes in the curvature of vessels)," and "puncture number." The derived model showed good discrimination with an area under the ROC curve of .77, a C-index of .771 (95% CI: .72-.822) and good calibration. Decision curve analysis indicated that the nomogram provided a better net benefit than the alternatives.

Efficacy Assessment of Phentolamine Accompanied by Lidocaine Subcutaneously under Ultrasound Guidance on Radial Artery Catheterization in Pediatric Patients

Objective

Pediatric patients are facing greater difficulties in radial catheterization for anatomic variation and smaller diameter. This study is to investigate the efficacy of phentolamine accompanied by lidocaine subcutaneously under ultrasound guidance on radial catheterization in pediatric patients.

Methods

66 pediatric patients were enrolled and randomly divided into saline group, phentolamine group, and phentolamine+lidocaine group. Baseline characteristics and surgical types were collected. Relevant solutions were subcutaneously injected, and catheterization was subsequently conducted under ultrasound guidance. Radial artery diameter and depth were measured, the success rate of catheterization and procedure time were calculated, and the complications were evaluated with ultrasonography.

Results

No significant differences were observed in age, sex, weight, American Society of Anesthesiologists' classification, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, hemoglobin, and surgical types among three groups. Subcutaneously, the diameter in phentolamine and phentolamine+lidocaine groups increased significantly compared with the saline group. Moreover, the diameter also increased significantly after injection compared with that before injection both in the phentolamine and phentolamine+lidocaine groups. The first-attempt success rates were significantly higher while the procedure times of cannulation were shorter in the phentolamine and phentolamine+lidocaine groups than that in the saline group. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that the overall procedure time was shorter in the phentolamine and phentolamine+lidocaine groups than the saline group. Overall complications and vasospasm incidence were lower in the phentolamine and phentolamine+lidocaine groups than the saline group.

Conclusion

Phentolamine accompanied by lidocaine subcutaneous injection under ultrasound guidance improved the first-attempt success rate and reduced the complication of radial artery catheterization in pediatric patients.

Interventions to reduce arterial puncture-related pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Arterial puncture-related pain remains unaddressed across several clinical settings. Analgesic techniques are not routinely employed before arterial puncture despite the recommendation that local anesthesia be used, except in emergencies. A comprehensive review of interventions aimed at reducing arterial puncture-related pain and their potential effectiveness is lacking, and the benefit of some interventions is uncertain.

OBJECTIVE

To describe interventions aimed at reducing arterial puncture-related pain and provide an estimate of their effectiveness.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO no. CRD42020212299).

DATA SOURCE(S)

PubMed, CINAHL EBSCO, EMBASE, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Scopus were searched from their inception to 7 October 2020. No temporal or language limits were applied.

METHODS

Published, quantitative studies on interventions aimed at reducing arterial puncture-related pain among adults were included. Screening, quality appraisal, and data extraction were undertaken independently by two reviewers. Random effects meta-analyses were performed to assess the association between interventions aimed at reducing arterial puncture-related pain and patients' perceived pain using difference in means (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A funnel plot and Egger test were used to assess publication bias.

RESULTS

The titles and abstracts of the 2446 identified articles were screened, and 43 and 31 studies were finally included in the systematic review and meta-analysis, respectively. Interventions to reduce arterial puncture-related pain included: topical anesthetics (n = 16), cryotherapy (n = 9), local anesthetic infiltration (n = 5), narrower needle gage (n = 5), ultrasound-guided procedure (n = 3), topical anesthetics combined with local anesthetic infiltration (n = 1), iontophoresis using anesthetics (n = 1), engineered blood gas syringe (n = 1), jet injector (n = 1), and local massage (n = 1). Topical anesthetics [MD -0.58, 95% CI -1.00, -0.15], cryotherapy [MD -1.13, 95% CI -1.72, -0.53], and local anesthetic infiltration [MD -1.13, 95% CI -1.72, -0.53] reduced arterial puncture-related pain. No benefit was found for narrower needle gage [MD -0.07, 95% CI -0.86, 0.71] or ultrasound-guided procedure [MD -1.74, 95% CI -3.51, 0.03]. No publication bias was detected.

CONCLUSIONS

Local anesthetic infiltration provided the greatest pain reduction and should be considered standard practice. Cryotherapy may be a safe, convenient alternative to local anesthetic infiltration. Topical anesthetics had limited benefit, and their lengthy time of onset makes them unsuitable for critical or emergency situations, though they may represent an option when comorbid conditions make cooling impossible. Caution must be used when interpreting these results, given the high risk of bias in the methods of included studies and the heterogeneity across the studies.

Update on complications and their management during transradial cardiac catheterization

Introduction: Transradial artery access (TRA) was introduced in 1989 and has been universally used as an alternative approach to the traditional transfemoral access (TFA). Complications of TRA include asymptomatic and less likely symptomatic radial artery occlusion, nonocclusive radial artery injury, radial artery spasm, radial arterial perforation, radial artery pseudoaneurysm, arteriovenous fistula, granuloma formation, access-site bleeding, nerve damage, complex regional pain syndrome along with other rare complications.Areas covered: A literature search was performed using MedLine, PubMed, and Google Scholar (dating to 1 May 2019). Authors reviewed all articles related to transradial artery catheterization, its complications, as well as novel techniques for their management. The article provides insight on the incidence, risk factors, and prevention of such complications along with a description of usual and newer techniques to decrease morbidity.Expert opinion: With increasing experience, TRA complication rate is decreasing and new very uncommon complications are being described. A 'radial first' approach should be implemented in all catheterization laboratories and a physician's familiarity with minor and major complications is a must. Distal radial artery access through the snuff box might be the preferred site of accessing the radial artery and further studies will be needed to prove its superiority to the current access site.

Novel treatment of severe radial artery spasm using "homemade sheathless technique": A case report

RATIONALE

Transradial access (TRA) is common for cardiac catheterization, but radial artery spasm (RAS) is suggested to be highlighted. Severe radical artery spasm could be solved by a relative novel approach called "sheathless technique," using a Tiger diagnostic catheter.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 73-year-old woman presented to our institution with a recurrent feeling of discomfort in her chest. Her electrocardiogram showed ST segment depression. Her medical history indicated arterial hypertension, diabetes, and chronic renal failure. She was on hemodialysis for 5 years for the management of renal problems. Five stents were implanted from femoral access in another hospital via 2 percutaneous coronary interventions. The patient agreed to angiography this time and wanted a more comfortable solution.

DIAGNOSIS

Recurrent exertional angina was confirmed based on the chief complaint, electrocardiogram, and history.

INTERVENTIONS

After a successful radial artery puncture, a 6F arterial sheath pipe and a 5F Tiger diagnostic ductus could only advance slightly because of the RAS. Glonoin and verapamil functioned with the help of the radial sheath, and systemic nitroglycerin was applied later but had a negative outcome. Warm covers were positioned on the antebrachium, but no relief was reported.The "homemade sheathless technique" was applied. The 5F tube was held, and the 6F sheath was withdrawn. A blade was used to damage the sheath in reverse, and the excess sheath tube was removed.

OUTCOMES

The diagnostic catheter was successfully advanced to the ascending aorta, enabling left main and right coronary engagement and angiography. No significant coronary lesion was observed. The patient was discharged 3 days after angiography. Moreover, no complications were observed. A follow-up for 1 month after discharge also showed no complications.

LESSONS

Severe RAS causing failure of TRA is frequent in the transradial catheterization procedure. The sheathless technique may be useful in relieving spasm when other measures fail.

Effect of transient ulnar artery compression on radial artery diameter

The transradial approach is widely preferred in coronary procedures. A small radial artery diameter (RAD) is the most important factor affecting successful access. Various maneuvers and medications have been used to increase the RAD and thereby facilitate RA cannulation. Ulnar artery compression (UAC) for 30 min has been indicated to be effective in increasing the RAD and facilitating RA access. The aim of the present preliminary study was to assess the effect of transient UAC for 1 min on the RAD. A total of 151 patients were included in the present study. RA ultrasonography was performed at the level of the wrist. The UA was compressed for 1 min. The RAD was measured at baseline, at the end of UAC and at 1 min thereafter. The results indicated that the RAD was significantly smaller in diabetic vs. non-diabetic patients (2.35±0.43 vs. 2.50±0.39 mm, P=0.024) and in women vs. men (2.25±0.38 vs. 2.56±0.38 mm, P<0.001). At the end of UAC, the RAD was increased compared with that at baseline (2.45±0.41 vs. 2.62±0.41 mm, P<0.001), but it started to decrease thereafter, and the RAD measured at 1 min after stopping UAC was significantly smaller (2.62±0.41 vs. 2.55±0.40 mm, P<0.001), while remaining significantly larger than that at baseline (P<0.001). The RA peak systolic flow velocity also increased significantly during UAC (35.3±8.9 vs. 60.3±19.2 cm/sec; P<0.001). In conclusion, Transient UAC for 1 min significantly increased the RAD and the peak systolic flow velocity. Further studies with clinical endpoints are required for further exploration of the feasibility of this approach.