Sheathless transradial intervention using standard guide catheters

Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions

Abstract
Objectives:
Our aim was to report our preliminary experience performing complex transradial interventions using a sheathless technique with standard large bore nonhydrophilic guiding catheters.

Background:
A major limitation of transradial percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the inability to use large guides because of the relatively small size of the radial artery.

Methods:
We identified consecutive patients who had transradial PCI between September 2009 and March 2010 using large-bore guides (7 or 8 Fr) with a sheathless technique.

Results:
Ten patients were identified (90% men, mean age 68.8 ± 9.8 years). Indications for PCI were stable angina (60%) and acute coronary syndrome (47wQbNPTDJp9hMYdvogK2hAUiHsGeiybwaWe36bwtRQ3UTpYV7YuZ8FV5j9nauFCWwcjM6dTzpL5s2N79Rp5unwdMvc8ZKUOne patient had a chronic total occlusion, one had a saphenous vein bypass graft lesion requiring filter wire placement prior to intervention, and one patient required rotational atherectomy. In the majority of patients (60%) a 7-Fr guiding catheter was used for the intervention; 8-Fr guide catheters were used four patients. PCI was unsuccessful in one vessel; this was a completely occluded obtuse marginal which could not be crossed. There were no radial artery access site complications and in no case was cross-over to a femoral artery access site required. One minor coronary complication occurred.

CONCLUSIONS: Sheathless transradial PCI using standard large-bore guiding catheters is a safe and effective method for treatment of complex lesions

Volume 76, Issue 7, pages 911–916, 1 December 2010