Learning Curve of Perclose ProGlide Utilization During Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

This study aimed to investigate the learning curve (LC) of Perclose ProGlide (Chicago, IL: Abbott Laboratories) utilization for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for the first time.

The study was conducted in a prospective manner and the final sample of the study was determined as 80 patients. Patients' characteristics, diameter of common femoral artery (CFA), distance from skin to CFA, degree of calcification (<50% or ≥50%), procedure-related parameters, complications, and success of procedures were recorded. Patients were equally divided into four groups and groups were compared according to patient demographic properties, procedure-related parameters, complications, and success.

The mean age and mean BMI of the study population were 55.5 years and 27.5 kg/m², respectively. The mean procedure time was 144.8 minutes (min) in group 1, 138.9 min in group 2, 122.2 min in group 3, and 101.1 min in group 4, and the difference was statistically shorter in favor of group 3 and group 4 (p=0.023). Moreover, mean fluoroscopy time significantly decreased after 20 cases (p=0.030). Hospitalization period was significantly shortened following 40 procedures (p=0.031). Complications were detected in five patients in group 1, four patients in group 2, and one patient in group 4 (p=0.044). Success was significantly higher in group 3 and group 4 in comparison to group 1 and group 2 (p=0.040).

This study showed that procedure time and hospitalization time significantly decreased after 40 cases and fluoroscopy time significantly decreased after 20 cases. Moreover, after 40 procedures, the success of Perclose ProGlide utilization during PCI significantly increased and complications of the procedure significantly decreased.