Na. Omoigui et al., PERIPHERAL VASCULAR COMPLICATIONS IN THE CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY VERSUS EXCISIONAL ATHERECTOMY TRIAL (CAVEAT-I), Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 26(4), 1995, pp. 922-930
Objectives. In-hospital peripheral vascular complications of balloon a
ngioplasty were compared with those of directional atherectomy in the
Coronary Angioplasty Versus Excisional Atherectomy Trial (CAVEAT-I) to
identify patients at risk and evaluate costs and outcomes. Background
. The incidence, costs and outcomes of peripheral vascular complicatio
ns after coronary intervention have not been fully characterized as a
function of randomly assigned therapy. Methods. At 35 sites in the Uni
ted States and Europe, 1,012 patients were randomized. Peripheral vasc
ular complications were defined as the composite of pulse loss, pseudo
aneurysm, hematoma >4 cm in diameter or groin hemorrhage necessitating
blood transfusion. Logistic models were derived to 1) predict these c
omplications from baseline and procedural characteristics, 2) test the
relevance of randomization assignment, and 3) assess their impact on
hospital costs and long-term outcomes. Results. Sixty-seven patients (
6.6%) developed peripheral vascular complications, of whom 15 (22.4%)
required a blood transfusion, 14 (20.9%) underwent vascular surgery, a
nd 2 (3.0%) died. Both in-hospital deaths occurred in patients with pe
ripheral vascular complications. There was no difference in composite
peripheral vascular complication rates among patients randomized to an
gioplasty or atherectomy. Greater age, female gender, postprocedural h
eparin and intraaortic balloon counterpulsation were predictive of inc
reased risk. In a representative 60% subset, mean hospital costs incre
ased from $9,583 in patients without to $18,350 in those with peripher
al vascular complications (p = 0.0001). The unadjusted mortality rate
at 1 year was 7.5% for patients with peripheral vascular complications
compared with 1.1% for all others (p = 0.0001). These complications i
dentified patients at greater risk of death, myocardial infarction or
repeat revascularization at 30 days and 1 year. The atherectomy group
had a trend toward more frequent deaths and myocardial infarction. Con
clusions. Directional atherectomy and balloon angioplasty had similar
in-hospital peripheral vascular complication rates. Female gender, gre
ater age, postprocedural heparin and intraaortic balloon counterpulsat
ion were predictive of higher risk. The twofold increase in cost and s
evenfold increase in long-term deaths highlight the need to prevent th
ese periprocedural events and monitor patients closely.