Safety and feasibility of intravascular ultrasound guided zero-contrast percutaneous coronary intervention-A prospective study

Background: There are published reports of safety and feasibility of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) without contrast, using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and coronary physiology guidance in chronic kidney disease population. We prospectively evaluated the safety and feasibility of zero-contrast PCI technique.

Methods: In this prospective study, we hypothesized that PCI is feasible without contrast, using IVUS guidance alone without mandatory coronary physiology to rule out slow-flow or no-flow at the end of PCI in a population at risk of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI). In this study, we included 31 vessels in 27 patients at risk of CI-AKI and assessed the primary outcome of technical success at the end of PCI. Major adverse cardio-cerebro vascular events (MACCE) and percent change in estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR) one month after PCI were the secondary outcomes of the study.

Results: The primary outcome was met in 87.1%(n = 27) of the procedures. Technical failure was seen in 12.9%(n = 4) of the procedures. None of the patients developed MACCE at one-month follow-up. The median percent change in eGFR at one-month follow-up was -8.19%(-24.40%, +0.92%). There was no newer initiation of renal replacement therapy at one-month follow-up.

Conclusions: Zero-contrast PCI is safe and feasible in selective coronary anatomies with IVUS guidance. Coronary physiology is not mandatory to rule out slow-flow or no-flow at the end of procedure. Contrast may be needed to tide over the crisis during the possible complications, namely slow-flow, geographical miss and intraprocedural thrombus.