Vasospasms of the radial artery after the transradial approach for coronary angiography and angioplasty

We examined vasospasins of the radial artery after a transradial approach was used for coronar angiography orangioplasty. In forty-eight patients (39 males and 9 females), arteriography of the radial artery was initially performed just after the transradial approach was used for coronary angiography and/or angioplasty. Then, five months later, a second arteriography of the radial artery was obtained after a transbrachial approach was used for coronary angiography. First and second arteriographies were compared to evaluate vasospasnis of the radial arlery. In the present Study, more than 75% stenosis in the radial artery, 25-75% stenosis, and less than 25% stenosis were tentatively defined as severe spasms, moderate spasins, and mild spasins, respectively. In arteriographic Studies on the radial artery, twenty-four patients (50%) had severe radial artery spasms, eleven patients (23%) had moderate spasins, and thirteen patients (27%) had nuld spasms. The diameters of both the proximal and distal radial arteries in the severe spasm group were significantly smaller than those in the mild and moderate spasm aroups (proximal site: severe group 2.39 +/- 0.70 mm Versus Mild group 2.98 +/- 0.46 mm, P < 0.05, and moderate group 2.96 +/- 0.77 mm, P < 0.05, distal site: severe group 2.26 +/- 0.60 mm versus mild group 2.73 +/- 0.47 mm, P < 0.05, and moderate group 2.86 +/- 0.71 min, P < 0.05). We concluded that vasospasins of the radial artery occurred in most patients after the transradial approach. Furthermore, severe radial spasins were strongly correlated with the size of the diameter of the artery.