Randomized Comparison of Distal Radial Versus Conventional Radial Access for Coronary Angiography and Intervention

Distal radial access (dTRA) represents a novel site for radial artery access in interventional cardiology, there is little data compare dTRA with conventional radial access (cTRA) in a randomized manner. It aims to randomly compare between the new distal radial access via the snuffbox and the conventional radial access for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and angioplasty procedures. The objectives of comparing both procedures are to analyze the frequency of complications in terms of occlusion, arterial spasm, hematoma, and to weigh accesses effectiveness in terms of time and attempts to puncture, crossover rate, procedure duration, hemostasis time. Candidates for coronary angiography are being randomized into the interventional group to undergo the angiography through the distal radial artery as the access site, or the control group accessing through the radial artery. Procedural and post procedural outcomes and complications are being reported while patients are in hospital. All patients undergo doppler ultrasonography within 24 hours before and after the procedure, 4 weeks after procedure.