Comparison of hyperemic efficacy between femoral and antecubital fossa vein adenosine infusion for fractional flow reserve assessment

INTRODUCTION: Intravenous infusion of adenosine via the femoral vein is commonly used to achieve maximum hyperemia for fractional flow reserve (FFR) assessment in the catheterization laboratory. In the era of transradial access for coronary interventions, obtaining additional venous access with sheath insertion in the groin is unpractical and may be associated with a higher risk of bleeding complications. In a vast majority of cases, patients scheduled for the catheterization laboratory are already equipped with peripheral vein access in antecubital fossa vein. However, only limited data exist to support non-central vein infusion of adenosine instead of the femoral vein for FFR assessment. AIM: To compare infusion of adenosine via a central versus a peripheral vein for the assessment of peak FFR. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We enrolled 50 consecutive patients with 125 borderline coronary lesions that were assessed by FFR using adenosine femoral and antecubital vein infusion of 140 µg/kg/min. RESULTS: Physiological severity assessed with femoral vein adenosine infusion at 140 µg/kg/min was mean 0.82 ±0.09, and with antecubital vein adenosine infusion at 140 µg/kg/min was 0.82 ±0.09. The mean time from initiation of adenosine infusion to maximal stable hyperemia was significantly shorter for 140 µg/kg/min femoral vein infusion as compared to antecubital vein infusion (49 ±19 s vs. 68 ±23 s; p < 0.001). There was a strong correlation between FFR values obtained from 140 µg/kg/min femoral and antecubital vein infusion (r = 0.99; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Antecubital vein adenosine infusion achieved FFR values are very similar to those obtained using femoral vein adenosine administration. However, time to maximal hyperemia is longer with infusion via the antecubital vein.