Evidence against the widespread use of angiography of noncoronary arteries during coronary artery angiography and cardiac catheterization.
OBJECTIVE
Although the most widely used screening techniques for extracardiac atherosclerotic distributions are noninvasive, in patients undergoing coronary arteriography, the question as to whether angiography of extracardiac arteries at the time of cardiac catheterization is really effective or if it should be considered malpractice is still open. We sought to determine the safety and real usefulness of angiography of extracardiac arteries performed by trained invasive cardiologists during cardiac catheterization.


METHODS
Medical records of all patients undergoing combined coronary and noncoronary angiography between May 1998 and December 2002 were retrospectively reviewed. Moderate to severe arterial stenosis (>50% stenosis), vessel occlusion, aneurysmal, or severe ectasia were noted as significant angiographic findings.


RESULTS
Two hundred and seventy patients (165 males, mean age = 67.7+/-9.2 years, mean serum creatinine = 1.1+/-0.8 mg/dl) underwent combined cardiac catheterization and angiography of extracardiac arteries following specific indications. Significant findings were reported in 66 (24.4%) patients. Logistic regression analyses revealed three-vessel coronary artery disease [CAD; odds ratio (OR)=9.917; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.2 to 43.8; P = .002) and hypercholesterolemia (OR = 2.851; 95% CI=1.03 to 7.9; P = .044) to be independent predictors of extracardiac atherosclerotic involvement. Complications rate was negligible. The detection of significant angiographic findings led to endovascular treatment in 37.8% and surgical vascular repair in 33.3% of cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Angiography of extracardiac arteries at the time of coronary angiography appears justified only in patients with specific indications, multivessel CAD, and hypercholesterolemia.
Rigatelli
Gianluca
G
EndoCardioVascular Therapy Research, Legnago, 37040 Verona, Italy. jackyheart@hotmail.com
Baratto
Adriano
A
Panin
Stefano
S
Bedendo
Emiliano
E
Bader
Giovanni
G
Rigatelli
Giorgio
G
D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D015897:Comorbidity; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D018579:Patient Selection; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors