Comparison of right and left trans-radial catheterization for coronary angiography and intervention in patients with Acute myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical characteristics between the right and left radial approach in treating acute myocardial infarction, helping physicians make treatment strategies correctly. METHODS: The patients admitted at our institution and undergoing percutaneous coronary angiography and interventional procedures by left or right radial approach between November 2013 and July 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. The access time, compression time, ambulation time, the amount of contrast material used, fluoroscopy time, interventional procedural time, the number of catheters used, the percentage of procedures completed using the assigned approach and the major vascular complications were recorded and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in access time, compression time, the amount of contrast material used, number of catheters used as well as the time to ambulation between the two groups (p>0.05), but the fluoroscopy time and interventional procedural time were significantly longer in right radial approach group than those in left radial approach group (p<0.05). The left radial approach group presented with a higher percentage of procedures completed using the assigned approach than that of right radial approach group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The left radial approach has more advantages than right radial approach in treating acute myocardial infarction.