title: Use of the sheathless guide catheter during routine transradial percutaneous coronary intervention: a feasibility study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of using a 6.5 Fr sheathless guide catheter as a default system in transradial (TRA) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  TRA PCI has been shown to reduce mortality rates through a reduction in access site related bleeding complications compared with procedures performed though a femoral approach. Complications associated with the TRA route increase with the size of sheath used. These complications may be reduced by the use of a sheathless guide catheter system (Asahi Intecc, Japan) that is 1-2 Fr sizes smaller in diameter than the corresponding introducer sheath.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed PCI in 100 consecutive cases using 6.5 Fr sheathless guides to determine the procedural success, rates of symptomatic radial spasm and radial occlusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Procedural success using the 6.5 Fr sheathless guide catheter system was 100% with no cases requiring conversion to a conventional guide and catheter system. There were no procedural complications recorded associated with the use of the catheter. Adjunctive devices used in this cohort included IVUS, stent delivery catheters, distal protection devices, and simple thrombectomy catheters. The rate of radial spasm was 5% and the rate of radial occlusion at 2 months was 2%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of the 6.5 Fr sheathless guide catheter system, which has an outer diameter <5 Fr sheath, as the default system in routine PCI is feasible with a high rate of procedural success via the radial artery.
authors.affiliation: Manchester Heart Centre, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mamas
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mamas
authors.forename: Savio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: D'Souza
authors.forename: Cara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hendry
authors.forename: Razwan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iles-Smith
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.forename: Magdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El-Omar
authors.forename: Farzin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fath-Ordoubadi
authors.forename: Ludwig
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Neyses
authors.forename: Douglas G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Fraser
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011677:Punctures; D017534:Radial Artery; D013035:Spasm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler