RADIAL ARTERY OCCLUSION FOLLOWING TRANSRADIAL CORONARY INTERVENTION

Objective: To determine the frequency of radial artery occlusion following transradial coronary intervention in acute myocardial infarction patients. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted at cardiology department Liaqat National Hospital Karachi from 22nd October 2016 to 21st April 2017. Patients with myocardial infarction going for coronary intervention performed through radial artery were recruited in this study. Radial artery was palpated and coronary artery intervention was performed through radial artery after procedure patient was shifted to recovery, palpate radial artery after 6hrs and then Doppler ultrasonography was performed which shows no flow, impaired flow or normal laminar flow. Results: A total of 180 patients with myocardial infarction going for coronary intervention performed through radial artery were recruited in this study. About 79% of the patients were above 4 years of age. There were 55.56% male. Diabetes and hypertension were the commonest factor followed by smoking. Frequency of radial artery occlusion following transradial coronary intervention in acute myocardial infarction was observed in 18.89% cases. With respect to age stratification, rate of radial artery occlusion was observed in the range of 14.3% to 23.7% in different age groups (p=0.734). Rate of radial artery occlusion was approximate similar in male and female (p=0.96) while rate of occlusion was significantly higher in obese (BMI >30 kg/m2) as compared to the overweight and normal cases (p=0.011). Conclusion: The use of transradial PCI is not only beneficial to reduce bleeding but also for ischemic complications and mortality in high-risk patients undergoing coronary interventions.