Effectiveness and feasibility of transradial approaches for primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of the transradial approach for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI).

Methods

195 patients with acute myocardial infarction were randomly divided into two groups according to the different PCI operation pathways. 105 cases were assigned to the transfemoral artery group and 90 cases to the transradial artery group. We analyzed the data from the two groups, including the achievement ratio of paracentesis, cannulation time, the time from local anesthesia to the first time balloon inflation, the time of the total procedure, achievement ratio of PCI, incidence rate of vascular complications, total duration of hospitalization, and the six-month follow-up results in both groups.

Results

Our results showed that the achievement ratio of arteriopuncture, cannulation time and the time from local anesthesia to the first time balloon inflation in the transradial and transfemoral groups were 98.9% vs. 100%, 3.15 ± 1.56 min vs. 2.86 ± 0.97 min, and 18.56 ± 4.37 min vs. 17.75 ± 3.21 min, respectively. These differences between the two groups were not statistically significant. The total operating time was 29.75 ± 4.38 min for the transradial group and 27.89 ± 3.95 min(P < 0.05) for the transfemoral group. The operation achievement ratio in the transradial group was 96.7%, and 96.2% in the transfemoral group. The incidence of puncture point complications was 2.2% in the transradial group and 11.4% in the transfemoral group, and this difference was significant. The duration of hospitalization was 10.56 ± 2.85 days for the transradial group and 13.78 ± 3.15 days(P < 0.05) for the transfemoral group. At the six-month follow-up, the rate of survival without cardiac event was 86.1% vs. 86.4% respectively in the transradial and transfemoral groups(P > 0.05).

Conclusion

The transradial approach was as effective as the transfemoral approach, and there were fewer puncture point complications as well as a shorter span of hospitalization in the transradial group. PCI via the transradial approach is safe, effective and feasible in patients with AMI.