TRANSRADIAL CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY AND ANGIOPLASTY IN CHINESE PATIENTS

Radial artery punctures for diagnostic coronary angiography or coronar y balloon angioplasty were performed in 211 patients with a success ra te of 98% (207 patients), In the four failed transradial accesses, the procedure was accomplished via the transfemoral route. Major local va scular complications included one arteriovenous fistula, one pseudoane urysm, and one ischemic contracture of the right hand. Reduced radial pulses were noted in 25 (12%) patients at follow-up without ischemic m anifestations, Transradial diagnostic coronary angiography was success fully completed in 184 (98%) of 187 patients. The technical success fo r balloon angioplasty was obtained in 73 (97%) of 75 patients. Clinica l success was observed in 68 (91%) patients; balloon angioplasty resul ted in one nonfatal myocardial infarction and four late deaths (3 card iac and 1 stroke), We believe that transradial catheterization for dia gnostic coronary angiography and balloon angioplasty in our relatively small built Chinese population is a safe and practical alternative ap proach. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.