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

Abstract

Introduction: In recent years the trans-radial approach has been increasinglyemployed as an alternative approach to percutaneous coronary intervention. Loss of radial pulsemay lead to ischemic symptoms like pain in hand, claudication etc. There is a lack of local dataregarding complication associated with trans-radial coronary catheterization. Therefore, thereis need for local study to find out the frequency of complications associated with trans-radialapproach. Objectives: To determine the frequency of loss of radial pulse in patients undergoingtrans-radial coronary catheterization. Design: Cross sectional study. Setting: Department ofCardiology, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore. Period: From 3rd June 2014 to 2nd December 2014.Methodology: All 325 cases fulfilling the inclusion/exclusion criteria undergoing coronarycatheterization were included in the study. Results: A total of 325 patients, both male and femalewith 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 remaining311 patients (95.7%) didn’t have loss of radial artery pulse. There was found no effect of genderon 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.