title: Transradial approach for coronary interventions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the feasibility and safety of coronary interventions performed through the radial artery.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 103 patients with ages from 38 to 86 years (57+/-8.7), 90 (87%) males, and: radial pulse with a good amplitude, presence of ulnar pulse, a good collateral flow through the palmar arch assessed with the Allen's test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The vascular approach was obtained in 97 (94%) patients, 88 (91%) treated electively and 9 (9%) during acute myocardial infarction, for primary angioplasty; 56 (64%) unstable angina; 22 (25%) stable angina; 10 (11%) were asymptomatic, 6 referred for recanalization of chronic occlusion and 4 silent ischemia in the first week after acute myocardial infarction. We approached 107 arteries: anterior descending artery, 49 (46%); right coronary artery, 27 (25%); circumflex artery, 25 (23%); diagonal artery, 6 (6%); and 2 saphenous vein bypass grafts. We treated 129 lesions: 80 (62%) B2 type; 23 (18%) B1 type; 17 (13%) C type; and 9 (7%). A type. There were 70 stents, and 59 balloon angioplasties performed. Thirty-two (33%) patients used GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors. The mean duration of the elective procedure was 42.3+/-12.8 min. Success, correct stent deployment and residual lesion <20%, was reached in 100% of the lesions treated with stent implantation; arterial dilation with residual lesion <50% was obtained in 96% of the lesions treated with transluminal coronary angioplasty (TCA). Complications, were: 1 (1.0%) non-Q-wave acute myocardial infarction; 2 (2%) hematomas in the forearm; and 2 losses of radial pulse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radial artery approach is practical and safe for percutaneous coronary interventions there was a low incidence of complications.
authors.affiliation: Rua Wanderley de Pinho 305/302 - 41841-300, Salvador, BA Brazil.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Brito
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Von Sohsten
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santos Filho
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Carvalho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000379:methods*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017534:Radial Artery