Prophylactic intragraft injection of nicardipine prior to saphenous vein graft percutaneous intervention for the prevention of no-reflow: A review and comparison to protection devices

No-reflow is a failure to restore normal coronary flow despite appropriate treatment of coronary obstruction. It is most commonly seen during interventions in saphenous vein grafts and is associated with poor outcome. The cause of no-reflow is complex and multifactorial. Various mechanisms including vasospasm and distal embolization of debris released during the intervention have been explained as the cause of no-reflow. Treatment to prevent or reverse no-reflow includes, but is not limited to, protective devices and intracoronary vasodilators. Intracoronary nicardipine seems to be the best option in preventing no-reflow regarding its minimal systemic side effects, modest negative inotropic and chronotropic effects, duration of action and feasibility of use. The goal of this manuscript is to review the effects of prophylactic intragraft nicardipine injection for prevention of no-reflow during saphenous vein graft intervention.