A randomised clinical trial investigating robotic-assisted percutaneous coronary intervention: the PARTY trial

Robotic-assisted percutaneous coronary intervention (R-PCI) allows precise control of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) equipment with the operator in a radiation-shielded cockpit.

We aimed to address the lack of randomised studies investigating this emerging technology.

In this single-centre, randomised controlled trial, patients with symptomatic coronary disease underwent either R-PCI or manual PCI (M-PCI). The primary endpoint was patient radiation exposure. Secondary outcomes included radiation exposure to the medical team, overall subjective workload, and other procedural characteristics.

A total of 148 patients were randomised (72 R-PCI, 76 M-PCI), with a median age of 63.2 years (interquartile range [IQR] 55.5-69.5), and 82.4% were male. In the intention-to-treat analysis, R-PCI numerically reduced patient radiation exposure (230.7 microsieverts [μSv; IQR 104.0-443.7] vs 261.4 µSv [IQR 136.5-531.2]; p=0.14). This reduction became statistically significant in the as-treated analysis (218.5 µSv [IQR 100.0-375.3] vs 264.7 µSv [IQR 136.3-534.8]; p=0.03). R-PCI significantly reduced operator radiation exposure (0.1 µSv [IQR 0.1-0.3] vs 13.6 µSv [IQR 6.0-29.2]; p<0.0001) and contrast usage (75 mL [IQR 50-120] vs 100 mL [IQR 70-130]; p=0.001). R-PCI did not prolong PCI time (40 mins [IQR 25.3-58.8] vs 46 mins [IQR 31.0-55.8]; p=0.23). Seven R-PCI cases (9.7%) required manual conversion. R-PCI reduced operator workload (NASA Task Load Index 12.5 [IQR 9.4-30] vs 25 [IQR 11.3-45]; p<0.01). There were no major adverse cardiac events at 30 days.

Patient radiation exposure was numerically reduced with R-PCI, while operator radiation exposure was significantly reduced, without prolonging PCI time. Furthermore, R-PCI reduced contrast use and was found to be less onerous for the operator. These results are encouraging; however, there are important limitations that must be addressed before wider adoption.