The Use of Both Peripheral and Coronary Techniques to Treat a Diseased Saphenous Vein Graft

Case Report. A 68-year-old male with prior coronary artery bypass grafting developed angina pectoris 23 years after surgery. A nuclear stress test revealed anterior ischemia. He had a single sequential vein graft (SVG) with a side-side anastomosis to the left anterior descending artery (LAD), and an end-side anastomosis to the distal right coronary artery (RCA). Six years prior to this presentation, the distal portion of the graft was treated with a 6.0 x 40 mm Magic Wallstent (Boston Scientific, Natick, Massachusetts). Diagnostic coronary angiography via the femoral artery (6 Fr) revealed a patent SVG with a significant lesion in the proximal portion of the vessel supplying the LAD and a patent stent distally (Figure 1). The RCA distal to the graft was diffusely diseased but patent. Left ventricular function was normal. The native RCA and LAD were chronically occluded proximally and the circumflex (nondominant) was patent. The graft diameter was estimated at 6.0 mm. Distal embolization resulting in no-reflow was a concern, so the patient was treated with intravenous heparin to maintain an activated clotting time of 250 seconds, combined with eptifibatide. Distal protection of the LAD was performed using a FilterWireEX (Boston Scientific), and the distal portion of the SVG was protected with an AccuNet device (Guidant Corp., Indianapolis, Indiana) (Figure 2). With both distal protection devices in place, a 6.0 x 57 mm (0.35 inch compatible) Express Stent (Boston Scientific) was advanced over both wires without a guide catheter and advanced to the diseased portion of the SVG using fluoroscopic landmarks. The stent was deployed at 8 atm and postdilated with a 6.0 mm balloon. After removal of the balloon, a 6 Fr guide catheter was advanced over the distal protection devices and the FilterWireEX and AccuNet systems were retrieved. Small but noticeable debris was present in both devices. Final angiography revealed a widely patent SVG and normal (TIMI 3) flow (Figure 3). The patient was discharged the following day without cardiac enzyme elevation and a normal electrocardiogram, and remains free of clinical angina at 6 months.

Discussion. The treatment of complex saphenous vein graft disease with percutaneous intervention has allowed patients to undergo successful treatment without repeat surgery. The challenges associated with this treatment involve preventing the complications that can occur in severely diseased SVGs. Distal emboli causing no-reflow with subsequent infarction and poor clinical outcome have resulted in the development of devices to trap emboli and protect the distal circulation during complex interventions of SVGs. Since distal protection was first described in SVGs,^2,3 devices have been developed for the treatment of carotid arteries.^4,5 The initial devices were balloon occlusive devices over an angioplasty wire preventing distal embolization of debris and removal of embolic debris through a suction catheter. The development of expandable filter nets over an angioplasty wire have allowed distal protection without occlusion.
We used the FilterWireEX to protect the LAD (despite the current recommendations for use in SVG interventions only, we were concerned that distal emboli could result in LAD compromise). To adequately protect the 6.0 mm distal SVG and obtain complete coaptation of the vessel wall by a filter to trap potential emboli, we used the larger AccuNet device designed for carotid stenting. Since the SVG was 6.0 mm, a 0.35 inch compatible peripheral stent allowed for advancement over both wires and safe deployment of the stent in a severely diseased segment of the SVG. The presence of atherosclerotic debris in both filter devices strongly suggests that the possibility of no-reflow was prevented by using this technique.
We feel that this procedure is a great example of the use of both peripheral and coronary techniques to safely and effectively treat a severe stenosis in a large SVG.

References

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2. Baim DS, Wahr D, George B, et al. Randomized trial of a distal embolic protection device during percutaneous intervention of saphenous vein aorto-coronary bypass grafts. Circulation 2002;105:1285–1290.
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