title: Comparison of physician-rated performance characteristics of hydrophilic-coated guide wires.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was undertaken to determine whether hydrophilic-coated guide wires differed significantly according to physician-rated performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this single-blinded, randomized prospective trial, three standard-shaft, 3-cm, angled-tip hydrophilic-coated guide wires were compared: the ZIPwire, HiWire, and Glidewire. Physicians rated performance characteristics on a five-point scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Glidewire had significantly greater physician-rated tip radiopacity (3.3 +/- 0.5 vs. 3.0 +/- 0.6; P = .04), wire radiopacity (3.3 +/- 0.5 vs. 3.0 +/- 0.6; P = .04), and "lubricity" (3.3 +/- 0.6 vs. 2.6 +/- 1.0; P < .01) compared with the ZIPwire. The HiWire and Glidewire did not differ significantly in any of these characteristics. Compared with the ZIPwire (2.4 +/- 1.2), the HiWire (3.0 +/- 0.7; P = .02) and Glidewire (3.2 +/- 0.6; P < .01) had significantly higher-rated lubricity retention. There were no differences in torque response, ability to navigate tortuous vessels, or tip shape retention among the three devices. The Glidewire received a significantly higher rating for overall balance of properties (3.3 +/- 0.6) compared with the HiWire (3.0 +/- 0.7; P = .01) and ZIPwire (2.7 +/- 0.8; P < .01). Overall, operators stated that the Glidewire met their expectations in 95.0% of cases compared with 75.0% for the HiWire (P < .01) and 62.5% for the ZIPwire (P < .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In addition to the highest-rated overall balance of properties, the Glidewire had significantly higher-rated lubricity and radiopacity characteristics compared with the ZIPwire.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Anand
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: S William
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Stavropoulos
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nemeth
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Soulen
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Solomon
authors.forename: Jeffrey I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Mondschein
authors.forename: Aalpen A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Shlansky-Goldberg
authors.forename: Maxim
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Itkin
authors.forename: Jesse L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Chittams
authors.forename: Scott O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Trerotola
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D010820:Physicians; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015642:Radiology, Interventional / Q000295:instrumentation*