Rebuttal: Innovative embolic protection strategies for saphenous vein graft interventions

✍ Scribed by Neeraj Badhey; Subhash Banerjee; Emmanouil S. Brilakis

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2011
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 28 KB
• Volume: 77
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1522-1946
• DOI: 10.1002/ccd.22820

✦ Synopsis

We appreciate Dr. Heuser's comment on our manuscript. The ''Suck-U-Surge'' technique [1] described by Dr. Heuser's group is a clever, simple, and easy to implement strategy for embolic protection during saphenous vein graft interventions. A potential limitation of the technique is inability to protect ostial SVG lesions during stenting, as the guide catheter may need to be disengaged from the SVG ostium, and aspiration through an un-engaged guide might increase the risk for systemic embolization.

In addition to the ''Suck-U-Surge'' technique other simple techniques have been proposed for preventing or reducing the consequences of distal embolization in saphenous vein grafts, such as use of vasodilators [2], undersized stents [3], and novel covered stents [4]. All these approaches are not mutually exclusive and may be useful additions to the saphenous vein graft embolization prevention armamentarium. We look forward to comparative studies comparing their efficacy and safety with that of embolic protection devices, which remain the only strategy proven to reduce distal embolization in randomized-controlled trials.