Impact of a single universal guiding catheter on door-to-balloon time in primary transradial coronary intervention for ST segment elevation myocardial infarction

The purpose of this study is to determine reduction of door-to-balloon (D2B) time using a single universal guiding catheter (Ikari-Left catheter) in transradial approach. In this procedure, we can skip a total of five steps compared with a conventional procedure (two catheter insertions, two catheter removals, and one catheter engagement). Reducing total ischemic time is important to achieving a better outcome in primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We retrospectively compared 30 consecutive STEMI patients who underwent transradial primary PCI with a single guiding catheter (IL group) with 30 consecutive patients with conventional transradial primary PCI. Patients with cardiogenic shock, heart failure, or need for intra-aortic balloon pumping support before primary PCI were excluded. Baseline characteristics were not different between the two groups. The D2B time was significantly shorter in the IL group (55 ± 16 vs. 63 ± 17 min, respectively; p = 0.01). Puncture-to-balloon time was also significantly shorter in the IL group (15 ± 11 min vs. 25 ± 11 min, respectively; p = 0.001). The total number of diagnostic and guiding catheters was significantly less in IL group (1 (IQR 1-1) vs. 3 (IQR 3-3), respectively; p < 0.0001). Primary PCI with a single universal guiding catheter reduced D2B time by skipping several procedural steps, and reduced the total number of catheters needed. This technique could reduce patient mortality as well as total medical cost.