Hand Sensibility after Transradial Arterial Access: An Observational Study in Patients with and without Radial Artery Occlusion.

Abstract

To evaluate hand sensibility after transradial access (TRA) in patients with and without radial artery occlusion (RAO). In this study, 71 patients with and without RAO after TRA for a coronary intervention were studied (79% male, mean age 65 y ± 9). Sensibility testing of both hands was performed with the Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments test. The primary endpoint was abnormal sensibility, defined as diminished sensibility in at least 1 radial nerve-supplied dermatome. The contralateral hand served as control. The influence of TRA, RAO, and clinical characteristics on hand sensibility was evaluated. In patients with RAO, more abnormal sensibility was observed on the RAO side compared with the control hand (72% vs 17%, P < .01). In patients without RAO, more abnormal sensibility was observed in the TRA hand compared with the control hand (43% vs 10%, P < .01). When analyzing all hands separately, TRA, RAO, and diabetes were independent predictors for abnormal hand sensibility in a multivariate model (odds ratio 3.8, 95% confidence interval 1.4-9.8, P < .01; odds ratio 3.0, 95% confidence interval 1.1-8.5, P= .03; odds ratio 3.5, 95% confidence interval 1.4-8.6, P < .01). TRA and RAO are associated with diminished hand sensibility.