Transradial coronary angiography and angioplasty in Chinese patients

Radial artery punctures for diagnostic coronary angiography or coronary balloon angioplasty were performed in 211 patients with a success rate of 98% (207 patients). In the four failed transradial accesses, the procedure was accomplished via the transfemoral route. Major local vascular complications included one arteriovenous fistula, one pseudo-aneurysm, and one ischemic contracture of the right hand. Reduced radial pulses were noted in 25 (12%) patients at follow-up without ischemic manifestations. Transradial diagnostic coronary angiography was successfully completed in 184 (98%) of 187 patients. The technical success for balloon angioplasty was obtained in 73 (97%) of 75 patients. Clinical success was observed in 68 (91%) patients; balloon angioplasty resulted in one nonfatal myocardial infarction and four late deaths (3 cardiac and 1 stroke). We believe that transradial catheterization for diagnostic coronary angiography and balloon angioplasty in our relatively small built Chinese population is a safe and practical alternative approach.