6 FRENCH SHEATHLESS CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY USING A NOVEL TECHNIQUE TO INTRODUCE THE GUIDING CATHETER - THE INTRUC, A PRELIMINARY RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

This registry describes our preliminary experience with a novel introd ucing-catheter allowing direct percutaneous introduction of the 6F gui ding catheter (G-C), minimizing the puncture size, preventing vessel s craping, 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 perc ent had stable angina, 35% unstable angina: 7% evolving infarction, an d 19% recent infarction. Two hundred fifty-six lesions were treated (1 .26/patient). One hundred eight patients (52%) received one (85%) or m ore than one (15%) stent, The procedural success rate was 98%. Mean co ronary 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 require d 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 conve ntional angioplasty using a sheath. Immediate removal of the guiding c atheter, without keeping vascular access, has no deleterious effect, a llows early mobilization, and may limit the risk of vascular complicat ions. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.