title: Six French sheathless coronary angioplasty using a novel technique to introduce the guiding catheter: the INTRUC, a preliminary retrospective study.
abstract: This registry describes our preliminary experience with a novel introducing-catheter allowing direct percutaneous introduction of the 6F guiding catheter (G-C), minimizing the puncture size, preventing vessel scraping, and improving the pushability and torque response of the G-C. In 1995, 203 patients had sheathless PTCA, using this device. Eighty-five percent were male. Mean age was 65+/-10 years. Thirty-nine percent had stable angina, 35% unstable angina, 7% evolving infarction, and 19% recent infarction. Two hundred fifty-six lesions were treated (1.26/patient). One hundred eight patients (52%) received one (85%) or more than one (15%) stent. The procedural success rate was 98%. Mean coronary stenosis was 82+/-10% and decreased to 20+/-15% after PTCA. No major complication occurred. The guiding catheter was immediately removed in 95% of patients, despite heparinization. No patient required surgery or blood transfusion for vascular complications, and only 7 had minor local complications (3.5%). Sheathless angioplasty provides no technical difficulties and has the same safety and quality as conventional angioplasty using a sheath. Immediate removal of the guiding catheter, without keeping vascular access, has no deleterious effect, allows early mobilization, and may limit the risk of vascular complications.
authors.affiliation: Institut Arnault Tzanck, Saint Laurent du Var, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Durand
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Metz
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Butto
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Touati
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gervais
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D002404:Catheterization; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004867:Equipment Design; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome