Transradial coronary angioplasty and stenting--immediate results and 3-month clinical follow-up in the first 50 patients performed at the National Heart Institute.

AIM To explore the safety and feasibility of coronary angioplasty and stenting via the radial artery in a heterogenous group of patients and to report the immediate and 3-month clinical follow-up. BACKGROUND The use of the transradial approach for coronary angiography was first described by Lucien Campeau in 1989. Based on the favourable initial results, this technique has gained widespread acceptance worldwide. Ferdinand Kiemeneij's work in transradial angioplasty and stenting has taken invasive cardiology into the exciting new era of "minimally invasive coronary intervention". METHODS AND RESULTS Fifty consecutive patients underwent Transradial Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA) with or without stenting from mid March 98-December 98. The right radial approach was utilised in 41 patients (80%) while the left in 9 patients. Ninety percent of the procedures was done on an adhoc basis. Diabetes mellitus was present in 38% of patients. Eighty percent of patients had unstable angina pectoris and 60% had a prior history of acute myocardial infarction. The commonest vessel involved was the LAD (51%) and type B lesions predominated (54%). PTCA was successful in 96%. One patient had a total LAD occlusion, which could not be wired, and another developed severe spasm during catheter manipulation. The latter had successful PTCA via the right femoral route Stents were utilised in 57% of patients. The commonest indication for stenting was suboptimal PTCA results (89%) and dissection (14%). There was no stent embolisation and all stents were successfully deployed (100%). One patient developed acute stent thrombosis necessitating repeat PTCA and another patient sustained an acute anteroseptal myocardial infarction 5 days post procedure as a result of subacute stent thrombosis and died. Two patients had successful primary PTCA. There was no bleeding or vascular complications. 60% of patients were treated on an outpatient basis. At 3-months follow up, 1 patient required CABG's for disease progression. Three patients had absent radial pulses without adverse consequence. No patient required repeat PTCA at follow up. CONCLUSION In summary, adhoc PTCA and stenting is safe and feasible in our patient population. A study on the cost effectiveness of the procedure compared to conventional femoral PTCA is warranted.