Appleton DL, Cooke RH, Rao SV, Jovin IS. Richmond, VA.

Abstract: Transradial percutaneous coronary intervention is associated with significant reductions in access site complications and major bleeding as compared with the transfemoral approach. Bivalirudin is now the most commonly used anticoagulant for transradial percutaneous coronary intervention in the U.S., while weight adjusted unfractionated heparin remains the most common choice outside the U.S. A growing number of reports suggest that transradial intervention may offer improved outcomes across a variety of clinical situations, including those at the highest risk of bleeding complications, such as those with acute myocardial infarction. The following review provides an overview of the studies evaluating anticoagulation in transradial percutaneous intervention and a rationale for the combination of the transradial approach to coronary interventions with an optimal anticoagulant strategy to reduce both access site and non-access site related bleeding

Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. 2013 Jun 14.