ROLE OF DISTAL PROTECTION DEVICE IN PREVENTION OF DISTAL EMBOLIZATION DURING PCI OF SAPHENOUS VEIN GRAFTS AT AFIC/NIHD; AN EXPERIENCE OF 26 CASES

Abstract

Background: Failure of Saphenous vein grafts (SVG), an almost universally used conduit in coronary artery
bypass grafting (CAB G) patients, is a common problem. Distal embolization during percutaneous coronary
intervention (PCI) of SVG can have serious consequences. Use of embolization protection devices (EPD) has
resulted in lesser incidence of such complications. Spider Rx is a distal protection filter device, experience
and results of use of this device are presented.

Material and Methods: This study was conducted at the interventional cardiology department of Armed
Forces Institute of Cardiology National Institute of Heart Diseases during a period from Feb 2007 to May
2009. All patients having indications for PCI, angina CCS class I to IV, to vein grafts more than three years
after CABG were included. Patients with acute myocardial infarction and totally occluded SVGs were
excluded. No flow or slow flow phenomenon and pre and post procedure CKMB, at six and twenty four
hours, levels were measured.

Conclusion: Spider RX distal embolization protection is easy to use and its use resulted in embolization
protection comparable to that of other devices reported in literature.