Abstract
BackgroundAdrenal vein sampling (AVS) is the preferred method for subtyping patients with primary aldosteronism, while the procedure is technically challenging. This study evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of a single-catheter approach for AVS.MethodsA retrospective analysis of 106 consecutive patients who underwent AVS was performed to determine the procedural success and complication rates. Bilateral AVS procedures were performed using a single 5-Fr Tiger catheter with repeated manual reshaping.ResultsWe successfully advanced the catheter into the bilateral adrenal veins of all patients and reached a 90.6% procedural success rate of AVS. The procedural period was 33.0 ± 8.2 min, the fluoroscopy period was 5.8 ± 1.7 min, and the diagnostic contrast used was 17.3 ± 5.5 ml. Only one patient (0.9%) had a hematoma at the femoral puncture site. No other complications were observed. The operation period gradually shortened as the cumulative number of operations increased. The number of procedures required to overcome the learning curve was about 33 cases.ConclusionsThe single-catheter approach is feasible and effective for AVS. Moreover, this approach required a relatively short learning curve for an inexperienced trainee.
Highlights
Adrenal vein sampling (AVS) is the preferred method for subtyping patients with primary aldosteronism, while the procedure is technically challenging
Nearly half of patients with Primary aldosteronism (PA) that is due to an unilateral aldosteroneproducing adenoma can be cured by adrenalectomy [5]
Success rate of AVS procedure The single Tiger catheter was successfully inserted into the right and left adrenal veins in all 106 patients
Summary
Adrenal vein sampling (AVS) is the preferred method for subtyping patients with primary aldosteronism, while the procedure is technically challenging. Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most common cause of secondary hypertension with a prevalence of at least 4% in patients with newly diagnosed hypertension in Chinese population [3]. PA is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease compared with patients with primary hypertension [4]. Nearly half of patients with PA that is due to an unilateral aldosteroneproducing adenoma can be cured by adrenalectomy [5]. Aldosterone-producing adenoma and bilateral idiopathic adrenocortical hyperplasia are the two most common types of PA, while patients with the latter are unsuitable for adrenalectomy but need lifelong treatment with mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists. Appropriately selecting patients for unilateral adrenalectomy is critical in the differential diagnosis and subtyping of
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
