The long-term incidence and predictors of radial artery occlusion following a transradial coronary procedure

Background: Radial artery occlusion (RAO) is an infrequent complication of transradial coronary procedures (TRA). To our knowledge, there is no satisfactory data regarding the late term incidence and predictors of RAO in the literature. Our aim was to establish the long-term incidence of radial artery occlusion and investigate its predictors. Methods: This was a single center prospective study. A total number of 409 consecutive patients undergoing their first TRA were recruited. Clinical and procedural data were all recorded. Doppler ultrasound examination was performed at 6-15 months following the intervention. Results: RAO was detected in 67 patients and 342 patients maintained radial artery patency. The overall RAO incidence was 16.4% at late term. Patients with RAO were younger than the patients with patent radial arteries (55.9 +/- 9.7 vs. 59.1 +/- 9.4 years, p = 0.014). The incidence of RAO in hypertensive patients (9.8%) was lower (p < 0.001) than the observed incidence (23%) in non-hypertensive patients. RAO group had higher rate (28%, p = 0.027) of post-procedural access site pain. Regression analysis revealed that hypertension was negative while post-procedural access site pain was positive independent predictors for RAO. In addition, the relative risk for RAO also increased significantly (p < 0.001) when the ratio of sheath/artery diameter (S/A) was > 1. Conclusions: The present study reveals that the long-term incidence of RAO is 16.4%. Hypertension, post-procedural access site pain and S/A ratio > 1 are independent predictors of RAO at late term.