title: Safety of transradial diagnostic cardiac catheterization in patients under oral anticoagulant therapy.
abstract: Cardiac catheterization in anticoagulated patients is usually performed after the anticoagulation has been withdrawn, at least in the previous 48h, and sometimes bridging therapy with heparin is used.
  
  
  
  A prospective observational study including 489 patients undergoing transradial catheterization was conducted. A total of 140 patients were under acenocoumarol (group A) and they were compared with the remainder (group B) for complications after the procedure (bleeding and vascular access complications).
  
  
  
  Patients in group A were older (74±12 years vs. 68±17 years, p<0.01) and the main indication for anticoagulation was atrial fibrillation (58.6%). No complications occurred during the procedures. There were no acute bleedings just after the bandage removal. During the first 24h, only 3 (2.1%) radial occlusions in group A and 2 (0.6%) in group B (p=0.14) were recorded. Hematomas between 5 and 10cm appeared in 5% of the group A vs. 4.6% in group B. During the 1-month follow-up period, one more radial occlusion in each group was recorded and there were 4 (1.1%) additional mild hematomas in group B and none in group A (p=0.48).
  
  
  
  Performing a transradial diagnostic cardiac catheterization without removal of the oral chronic anticoagulation appears safe in patients under acenocumarol therapy.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Catheterization and Interventional Cardiology Unit, Department of Cardiology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, Albacete, Spain.
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gallego-Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Catheterization and Interventional Cardiology Unit, Department of Cardiology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, Albacete, Spain. Electronic address: arsenioinma@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Arsenio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gallardo-López
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Catheterization and Interventional Cardiology Unit, Department of Cardiology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, Albacete, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan Gabriel
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Córdoba-Soriano
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Catheterization and Interventional Cardiology Unit, Department of Cardiology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, Albacete, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez-Díez
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Catheterization and Interventional Cardiology Unit, Department of Cardiology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, Albacete, Spain.
authors.forename: Driss
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Melehi
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Catheterization and Interventional Cardiology Unit, Department of Cardiology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, Albacete, Spain.
authors.forename: María Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Barrionuevo-Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Catheterization and Interventional Cardiology Unit, Department of Cardiology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, Albacete, Spain.
authors.forename: Jesus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Mazuecos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000139:chemically induced; D006493:Heparin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017534:Radial Artery
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D006493:Heparin
keywords: Acenocumarol; Catheterization; Hematoma; Occlusion; Transradial