Novel oral anticoagulants in the treatment of radial artery occlusion

Transradial access of the vascular system for coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention has become the primary approach in several cardiac catheterization laboratories across the world. The paradigm shift from transfemoral access has been driven by improved outcomes in patients undergoing these cardiac procedures by transradial access. Radial artery occlusion is the most common vascular complication of transradial coronary procedures. Only a few studies have reported on the optimal treatment of radial artery occlusion, with ulnar artery compression and anticoagulation, especially with low-molecular-weight heparin, having shown the best results. In this case series, four patients who were found to have evidence of post-cardiac catheterization radial artery occlusion on ultrasound imaging were treated with a 30-day course of apixaban. Three of the four patients showed complete resolution of radial artery occlusion with addition of apixaban to current standard therapeutic strategies. This case series shows that treatment with novel oral anticoagulants can be an alternative and more convenient option compared to subcutaneous injection of low-molecular heparin for anticoagulation in patients with post-coronary angiography radial artery occlusion.