[Percutaneous coronary angioplasty via the radial artery. Feasibility and safety]

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Interventional Cardiology
• Vascular Surgery

Context:

• Percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PCA) is a common procedure for treating coronary artery disease.
• The radial artery approach has emerged as an alternative to the traditional femoral artery approach.
• Assessing the feasibility and safety of the radial artery approach is crucial for clinical practice.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the feasibility and safety of percutaneous coronary angioplasty using the radial artery approach.
• To determine the rates of cardiac and vascular complications associated with this technique.

Summary:

• A total of 5,354 percutaneous coronary angioplasties were performed using the radial artery approach between February 1994 and December 1998.
• The radial artery approach demonstrated high technical success (98% cannulation, 99% angiographic success) and was increasingly adopted, reaching 78% of cases by 1998.
• Serious cardiac complications occurred in 1.5% of patients, with a mortality rate of 0.3%. Vascular complications were also low, including 0.5% hematomas at the puncture site.

Impact:

• The radial artery approach is a feasible and safe option for percutaneous coronary angioplasty.
• This approach is associated with a relatively low incidence of cardiac and vascular complications when performed by trained operators.
• Findings support the wider adoption of the radial artery approach in interventional cardiology practices.