title: Transradial approach in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated with abciximab results in fewer bleeding complications: data from EUROTRANSFER registry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to investigate the safety and efficacy of transradial approach, predictors of bleeding complications, and choice of radial access site in a real-life setting using a contemporary European registry of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  There is an increasing amount of data suggesting that transradial approach is associated with less bleeding at access site and other vascular complications when compared with procedures carried out through the femoral artery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive data on STEMI patients transferred for primary PCI in hospital STEMI networks between November 2005 and January 2007 from seven countries in Europe were gathered. Patients were divided into the following two groups: radial approach - with radial access site for primary PCI, and transfemoral approach (FEM) - with femoral access site.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from a total of 1650 patients were collected in the EUROTRANSFER Registry. Abciximab was administered in 1086 patients (66%), 169 patients were assigned to radial approach group, whereas 917 to FEM group. Puncture site hematomas were more frequent in the FEM group (1.2 vs. 9.4%, P<0.001). Major bleedings requiring blood transfusion occurred similarly in both the studied groups. Independent predictors of bleeding (puncture site hematoma and major bleeding requiring transfusion) included female sex, lower weight, chronic renal failure, past stroke, and femoral access site (odds ratio=3.54).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The choice of radial access site in patients with STEMI treated with primary PCI is associated with lower local bleeding complications like puncture site hematomas and is an independent predictor of fewer bleedings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Cardiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Siudak
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zawislak
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dziewierz
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rakowski
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jakala
authors.forename: Stanislaw
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bartus
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Noworolnik
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zasada
authors.forename: Jacek S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Dubiel
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dudek
mesh_terms: D000077284:Abciximab; D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery; D006406:Hematoma / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011677:Punctures; D017534:Radial Artery; D012042:Registries; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D000077284:Abciximab