[Feasibility and safety study of distal radial artery approach in emergency PCI of elderly STEMI patients]

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Vascular Surgery
• Interventional Cardiology

Context:

• Elderly patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) often require emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
• The choice of arterial access site impacts procedural success and complication rates.
• Traditional radial artery access is common, but alternative approaches are being explored for improved outcomes.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the feasibility and safety of the distal radial artery approach compared to the classic radial artery approach for emergency PCI in elderly STEMI patients.
• To compare procedural outcomes, including success rates and time metrics.
• To assess and compare the incidence of vascular complications between the two approaches.

Summary:

• A cross-sectional study compared the distal radial artery approach with the classic radial artery approach in 140 elderly STEMI patients undergoing emergency PCI.
• No significant differences were found in puncture or surgical success rates and times.
• The distal radial artery group demonstrated a significantly lower rate of radial artery occlusion (1.4% vs. 8.6%) and shorter postoperative compression time.

Impact:

• The distal radial artery approach offers a safer alternative for emergency PCI in elderly STEMI patients.
• Reduced radial artery occlusion and shorter compression times suggest improved patient recovery and reduced long-term complications.
• This approach holds promise for wider clinical application in managing acute myocardial infarction in the elderly population.