Randomized comparison of radial versus femoral approach for patients with STEMI undergoing early PCI following intravenous thrombolysis.

BACKGROUND: Early percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) following thrombolysis may be beneficial in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who were admitted at a non-PCI hospital. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the radial artery as a vascular route for early PCI following thrombolysis in patients with STEMI.

METHODS: All consecutive STEMI patients within 12 hours after thrombolysis were enrolled, and eligible patients were randomly assigned to either transfemoral (TFI group) or transradial catheterization (TRI group). Several time intervals were measured. The puncture success rate and ambulation time were assessed. The vascular access-site complications were also assessed after the PCI procedure, and the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in hospital was observed.

RESULTS: A total of 119 cases were enrolled, with 60 in the TRI group and 59 in the TFI group. There were no significant differences in transfer time and total procedure time. The puncture time in the TRI group was not significantly different compared to the TFI group. The time between PCI and ambulation in the TRI group was shorter than in the TFI group. There was a trend toward lower in the incidence of bleeding complications and vascular complications in the TRI group.

CONCLUSION: TRI for STEMI patients following intravenous thrombolysis was as safe and feasible as TFI, with a trend toward lower incidence of bleeding complications and vascular complications.