title: Transradial Approach for Cardiac Catheterization in Patients With Negative Allen's Test.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy and safety of transradial approach regardless of the Allen's test results for coronary angiography and angioplasty.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prospective data collection of 1035 consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiography with or without ad hoc angioplasty through the radial approach was conducted. Baseline demographic and procedural data were recorded. Allen's test was evaluated in all subjects before the procedure and catheterization was performed from the radial approach irrespective of the results. Radial artery patency was evaluated at discharge clinically, or by Doppler examination if pulse was not palpable. A total of 256 patients (24.7%) were found to have a negative Allen's test and 779 patients (75.3%) had a positive test. The baseline and procedural characteristics were similar in both groups. No significant differences in complications were reported. Radial artery thrombosis was observed in 6.2% of the negative Allen's test group and 4.8% of the positive Allen's test group (P=.85), but this was clinically silent even in the negative Allen's test group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transradial approach for coronary angiography and ad hoc angioplasty can be performed with similar efficacy and safety regardless of the Allen's test results before the procedure.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Cardiology Department of Hellenic Red Cross Hospital, Athens, Greece. chrmn21@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maniotis
authors.forename: Michalis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koutouzis
authors.forename: Constantinos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Andreou
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lazaris
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tsiafoutis
authors.forename: Theodoros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zografos
authors.forename: Klio
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chantziara
authors.forename: Savas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nikolidakis
authors.forename: Zenon S
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Kyriakides
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D003935:Diagnostic Techniques, Cardiovascular; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006225:Hand / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014654:Vascular Patency