Efficacy and Safety of Right Versus Left Transradial Approach for Invasive Coronary Procedures in Octogenarian Patients

From 2006 to 2012, 3,153 invasive coronary procedures in octogenarian patients were performed by transradial approach (TRA) as initial route of access at our center. The initial approach was RRA in 2,905 patients (92.1%) and LRA in 248 patients (7.9%). Subclavian tortuosity was more frequent in the right side (16.5% vs 8.6%; p=0.02), but procedural failure rate was similar in RRA and LRA groups (RRA 6.8% vs LRA 6.7%; p = 0.97). Mean procedural time, mean fluoroscopy time and dose area product were similar in both groups. Vascular complication rate was 2.1% and 2.2% with RRA and LRA, respectively (p=0.80).