Safety and efficacy of aminophylline in the prevention of bradyarrhythmia during coronary atherectomy

Coronary calcified lesions are commonly encountered and coronary atherectomy is commonly used for lesion modification during percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). The release of adenosine during atherectomy can result in bradyarrhythmias and aminophylline is commonly used to prevent this reaction. We identified 138 patients to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravenous (IV) aminophylline administration prior to coronary atherectomy. A total of 159 calcified lesions were treated, and the atherectomy device was orbital atherectomy, rotational atherectomy, and both in 52 %, 42 %, and 6 %; respectively. After administration of aminophylline, 4.3 % of patients required intraprocedural insertion of a transvenous pacer (TVP), and 18.1 % of patients required administration of IV atropine. Technical success was achieved in 98.6 % of patients, and no adverse reactions to aminophylline were reported. All patients survived to discharge. In conclusion, aminophylline administration prior to coronary atherectomy was safe and effective. No adverse effects of aminophylline were seen, and the rate of bailout TVP placement was low.