Abstract
There might be a beneficial effect of transient ulnar artery compression in prevention of radial artery occlusion (RAO) after trans-radial catheterization.
Objective
The objective of this study was to assess, by Duplex ultrasound, the efficacy of simultaneous ulnar and radial artery compression (SURC), in prevention of RAO, compared to conventional and patent hemostasis techniques.
Four hundred and fifty consecutive patients undergoing elective trans-radial catheterization were enrolled. Patients were randomized in 1:1:1 fashion into 3 groups; conventional hemostasis (Group A, n = 150 patients), patent hemostasis (Group B, n = 150 patients), and SURC technique (Group C, n = 150 patients). RAO was assessed by duplex ultrasound at 1-h post TR band removal (primary endpoint), and at 1-month.
The primary endpoint, RAO 1-h post TR-band removal, was significantly lower among patients of group C as compared to those of group A and B (1.3%, 6.7%, and 7.3%, respectively –p = 0.03). This was still consistent at 1-month (0.7%, 8%, and 6%, respectively –p = 0.03). Multiple regression analyses revealed that lower radial artery diameter (RAD) after flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) independently predicted RAO at 1-h, while RAD at 1-h post-TR band removal was the only independent predictor of RAO at 1-month. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that RAD at 1-h post-TR band removal at cut-off ≤1.75 mm could predict RAO at 1-month with high accuracy (AUC = 0.9, CI = 0.8–1.0, p < 0.001–86% sensitivity, and 95% specificity).
A technique of SURC is associated with less incidence of early and late RAO compared to conventional hemostasis techniques.
•Radial artery occlusion remains the most common complication of transradial interventions.•Maintaining patency of radial artery is of utmost importance for repeated procedures.•Simultaneous ulnar and radial arteries compression was associated with less incidence of radial artery occlusion.•Patients with lower post-procedural Radial artery diameter were at greater risk of late radial artery occlusion.