title: Immediate evidence of the benefit of distal protection in vein graft intervention.
abstract: Percutaneous intervention carries a higher risk of distal embolization and fatal outcome in saphenous vein grafts (SVG) than in native coronary vessels. Most of these adverse clinical events, predominantly myocardial infarction and reduced antegrade flow (no reflow phenomenon), are due to distal embolization of atherothrombotic debris and distal microvascular occlusion. For this reason, in current interventional practice, the use of distal protection devices is mandatory. Our case report provides direct and dramatic evidence of the usefulness of a low-profile filter device in the setting of massively thrombotic SVG.
authors.affiliation: Policlinico Agostino Gemelli, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. italo.porto@gmail.com
authors.forename: Italo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Porto
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cautilli
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Camaioni
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D057505:Embolic Protection Devices; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000637:transplantation*; D015607:Stents; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*