8 french transradial coronary interventions: clinical outcome and late effects on the radial artery and hand function.
BACKGROUND
Limited information is available on the effects of 8 French (Fr) transradial procedures on radial patency. In addition, the effects of radial procedures and radial occlusion on hand function are unknown.


METHODS
Two groups were recruited: twenty-four patients who had undergone 26 transradial 8 Fr interventions and 16 patients who had undergone 16 transradial 6 Fr procedures. At 1 year, radial patency, hand strength and hand endurance were measured.


RESULTS
No major adverse cardiac events or vascular complications were noted in either group. Late radial occlusion was noted in 2/18 (11%) 8 Fr patients and 3/16 (19%) 6 Fr patients (p = ns). There were no differences in the 8 Fr group between the catheterized and uncatheterized radial arteries for diameter (3.2 +/- 1.1 mm versus 3.3 +/- 0.7 mm, respectively; p = NS) or volumetric flow (55 +/- 51 ml/minute versus 57 +/- 45 ml/minute, respectively; p = NS). No differences in hand strength or hand endurance were seen between the catheterized and uncatheterized arms in the 8 Fr group, between the 8 Fr and 6 Fr groups, or between occluded and non-occluded patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Transradial use of 8 Fr guiding catheters appears to be feasible and safe in highly selected patients, albeit associated with a low incidence of silent radial occlusion. Additionally, neither the use of 8 Fr sheaths nor the presence of radial artery occlusion appear to adversely affect hand strength or endurance.
Wu
S S
SS
Medical College of Ohio, Cardiology Division, 3000 Arlington Avenue, Toledo, OH, 43699-0008, USA.
Galani
R J
RJ
Bahro
A
A
Moore
J A
JA
Burket
M W
MW
Cooper
C J
CJ
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000293:injuries; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome