CORONARY CATHETERIZATION

FREQUENCY OF LOSS OF RADIAL PULSE IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING TRANSRADIAL CORONARY CATHETERIZATION

Abstract

Introduction: In recent years the trans-radial approach has been increasingly
employed as an alternative approach to percutaneous coronary intervention. Loss of radial pulse
may lead to ischemic symptoms like pain in hand, claudication etc. There is a lack of local data
regarding complication associated with trans-radial coronary catheterization. Therefore, there
is need for local study to find out the frequency of complications associated with trans-radial
approach. Objectives: To determine the frequency of loss of radial pulse in patients undergoing
trans-radial coronary catheterization. Design: Cross sectional study. Setting: Department of
Cardiology, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore. Period: From 3rd June 2014 to 2nd December 2014.
Methodology: All 325 cases fulfilling the inclusion/exclusion criteria undergoing coronary
catheterization were included in the study. Results: A total of 325 patients, both male and female
with positive Allens test, undergoing Trans-radial angiography for intervention were included.
Loss of radial pulse was evaluated clinically at four weeks follow up.In our sampled population,
mean age was 57.01 ± 6.8 years and 240 patients (73.8%) were male while 85 patients (26.2%)
were female. Only 14 patients (4.3%) out of 325 had loss of radial artery pulse while remaining
311 patients (95.7%) didn’t have loss of radial artery pulse. There was found no effect of gender
on outcome i.e. loss of radial pulse but older age made a person prone to loss of radial pulse.
Conclusion: It is concluded that the frequency (percentage) of loss of radial pulse is quite low
(4.3%) in our patients undergoing trans-radial coronary catheterization.