Assessment of early radial artery injury after transradial coronary intervention by high-resolution ultrasound

BackgroundAlthough transradial coronary intervention (TRI) has been developed to minimize the bleeding and to improve the quality of life, radial artery injury is a problem. The present study was undertaken to compare the early radial artery injury after TRI between first-TRI and repeat-TRI by high-resolution ultrasound.Methods and resultsA total of 328 patients who are undergoing coronary angiogram through transradial route were included. We compared the radial artery findings between first-TRI patients (n = 268) and repeat-TRI patients (n = 60). The Radial Artery (RA) was examined by ultrasound before and one day after the procedure.ResultsIn first-TRI group, the mean RA diameter was 2.2 ± 0.35, 1.7 ± 0.37 mm before procedure and one day after the procedure p < 0.05. In repeat-TRI group, the mean RA diameter was 2.1 ± 0.6, 1.6 ± 0.36 mm before procedure and one day after the procedure respectively p < 0.05. The mean IMT of RA was 0.31 ± 0.1 mm and 0.40 ± 0.15 mm before procedure and one day after the procedure in first-TRI group. The mean intima-media thickness of RA was 0.35 ± 0.20 mm and 0.48 ± 0.17 mm before procedure and one day after the procedure in repeat-TRI group. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that diameter repeated TRI Procedure were independent predictors of Intima media thickness (IMT).ConclusionThe lumen diameters were smaller in repeat-TRI patients than in first-TRI patients due to intima-medial thickening, in the radial artery. Care should be taken when the radial artery is used as a conduit in coronary artery bypass graft surgery, particularly in patients who have undergone TRI.