Adjunctive abciximab improves outcomes during recanalization of totally occluded saphenous vein grafts using transluminal extraction atherectomy ^†

Degenerative disease of aortocoronary saphenous vein grafts is a major cause of late morbidity and mortality in patients after coronary bypass surgery. We previously described a technique for recanalization of totally occluded grafts using extraction atherectomy (TEC) as a primary modality. While success was comparable to overnight urokinase, distal embolization, no-reflow, and non-Q myocardial infarction were common. Recently, abciximab has been used adjunctively in angioplasty and stenting with a reduced incidence of periprocedural complications. In order to determine whether abciximab can reduce the incidence of distal embolization, no-reflow, and myocardial infarction during TEC in totally occluded saphenous vein grafts, we compared patients treated with adjunctive abciximab with control subjects not receiving the drug. Male patients with previous coronary bypass surgery, class III–IV angina, and totally occluded saphenous vein grafts serving a vascular territory with ischemia not approachable by standard catheter-based techniques underwent TEC with or without adjunctive abciximab. Recanalization of the graft was achieved in 8/10 (80%) of subjects without abciximab, but complete success was achieved in only 5/10 (50%). In contrast, all procedures in the abciximab group were completely successful, without embolization or no-reflow. Our results suggest that TEC with adjunctive abciximab may be a highly effective approach for management of totally occluded saphenous vein grafts. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 46:107–110, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.