Functional assessment of a left coronary-pulmonary artery fistula by coronary flow reserve

We report a 71-year-old man who presented with atypical chest pain. Coronary angiography did not reveal left main or proximal left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis, but a fistulous communication with a stronger tube-like fistula was present originating from the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery and emptying into the main pulmonary artery. Fractional flow reserve and coronary flow reserve measurements were performed to gain more data on the potential functional aspects of this fistula. With the present case, the importance of functional evaluation of these fistulas is demonstrated

Simultaneous Dual Distal Radial Balloon Aortic Valvuloplasty for Larger Aortic Annuli

Dual distal mini-balloon aortic valvuloplasty stabilized an 85-year-old patient with severe aortic stenosis. Puncturing both radial arteries solves the issue of large diameters at the aortic ring, introducing a feasible strategy in selected cases of fragile octogenarian patients with a high hemorrhagic risk. Moving at the anatomical snuffbox offers better postprocedural occlusion rates and better workspace ergonomics during the procedure

The Role of Ultrasound in Accessing the Distal Radial Artery at the Anatomical Snuffbox for Cardiovascular Interventions

In an effort to refine transcatheter vascular interventions, radial artery access has moved more distally at the anatomical snuffbox. Here, more challenges appear as the artery is smaller, more angulated, and more difficult to palpate. Including ultrasound guidance as a mandatory step during puncture may encourage more operators to switch to this approach. In the femoral approach, ultrasound guidance is strongly recommended because of bleeding complications, whereas in the proximal (conventional) radial approach, the role of ultrasound remains optional, and in current practice, almost all cases are performed by palpation of the pulse only. However, in distal radial access, the situation is different because the artery differs in caliber and position, and imaging can help the operator for a clean puncture, especially since repeated punctures are not only painful but also any hematoma formation leads to the complete compression of the artery and failure of access. The aim of this review is to investigate the rationale of vascular ultrasound during distal radial access and to establish some techniques and anatomical landmarks for the ultrasonographic exploration of the dorsal area of the hand