Fang Y, Yang C, Wang X, Zhou L, Wang H, Zeng C, China.

OBJECTIVE: Atherosclerosis is a systemic disease, in which coronary and peripheral angiographies are required to be done at the same time in a large number of patients. To shorten the procedure time, and reduce complications, we tested the feasibility and the safety of using a single 5F multipurpose catheter, via transradial approach, for coronary, cerebral and renal angiographies.

METHODS: One thousand and ninety-two patients were enrolled in the study. The procedure time, local vessel complications, duration of hospitalization, and costs were evaluated.

RESULTS: Among 1092 patients, the radial artery puncture was successful in 1081 patients, a successful coronary angiography via the radial artery was done in 1074 patients, and the remaining 18 patients had to be accessed via the femoral artery. Thus, successful angiography rate was 97.7% for the right coronary artery, 95.8% for the left coronary artery, 100% for the right cerebral artery, 95.2% for the left subclavian artery, 96.1% for the left carotid artery and 83.1% for the renal artery. The failures were caused by abnormal curvature of the aortic arch and abnormal origins of the above-mentioned arteries. There were 1460 artery stenosis lesions found in 661 patients and 624 lesions (93.3%) needed stents via the transradial approach. The mean procedure time was 20.9+/-9.3min including puncture, angiography and hemostasis time. There were 4.35% complications. No local hematoma, hand ischemia, or cerebral infraction was found in this study.

CONCLUSION: Angiography using a single 5F multipurpose catheter, via transradial approach, is associated with a short procedure time and a low rate of complications without affecting the angiography success rate.

Int J Cardiol. 2010 Jun 3. [Epub ahead of print]