Feasibility of transradial coronary angiography and angioplasty in Chinese patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical applicability, efficacy, and safety of coronary angiography and angioplasty via a transradial approach in local Chinese patients. DESIGN: Prospective case series. SETTING: Regional hospital, Hong Kong. PATIENTS: All patients undergoing coronary angiography and coronary angioplasty between 1 January and 30 June 2004. INTERVENTIONS: Transradial coronary angiography and coronary angioplasty. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Feasibility, success rate, and complications. RESULTS: A total of 268 coronary angiographies (62% of all coronary angiographies) and 118 coronary angioplasties (48% of all coronary angioplasties) were performed via a transradial approach. The procedural success rate for coronary angiography was 93.7% with a mean duration of 21.8 (standard deviation, 13.5) minutes compared with 17.9 (10.0) minutes for angiography via a femoral approach. Most (99%) patients were free from any complications. Of those patients who underwent elective transradial coronary angiography in the morning, 64% were discharged on the same day. Comparison of data in the first half of the study period with those in the second half revealed a significant increase in the percentage of coronary angiographies performed via a transradial approach (from 52% to 73%, P<0.0001), and an improved procedural success rate (from 91.5% to 95.3%, P=0.1). For transradial coronary angioplasty, the procedural success rate was 98%. A total of 246 lesions (2.08 lesions per patient) were treated with no procedure-related complications. CONCLUSIONS: Transradial coronary angiography and angioplasty are feasible in a significant proportion of local Chinese patients and achieve a high success rate and low complication rate. It tends to prolong procedural duration, but improves patients' comfort and permits earlier ambulation and discharge. The procedural success rate improves with accumulating experience.