Effectiveness of enoxaparin for prevention of radial artery occlusion after transradial cardiac catheterization

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of enoxaparin for prevention of radial artery (RA) occlusion after transradial access for diagnostic and interventional cardiac procedures. RA occlusion is a potential complication of transradial cardiac catheterization. Conventionally, unfractionated heparin is used for prevention of RA occlusion. Effectiveness of low molecular weight heparins for prevention of this complication has not been tested before. Fifty transradial catheterizations were performed for diagnostic and/or interventional cardiac procedures in 39 patients. All the patients received 60 mg enoxaparin through the radial sheath at the beginning of the procedure for prevention of RA occlusion. RA patency was evaluated by Doppler examination. Patients were assessed for postprocedural RA occlusion at discharge and 5.5 ± 2.8 days follow-up. RA occlusion was detected after 2 of the 50 transradial accesses, yielding a RA occlusion rate of % 4. In this study we found a low rate of RA occlusion with use of enoxaparin during transradial access. Enoxaparin is safe and effective in transradial procedures with a RA occlusion rate comparable to use of unfractionated heparin.