Real-world experience of the left distal transradial approach for coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention: A prospective observational study (LeDRA)

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of the left distal transradial approach (ldTRA) as a default route for coronary angiography (CAG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods and results: Between October 2017 and January 2018, 200 consecutive patients were enrolled in a single centre. The left distal radial artery was punctured with a 20-gauge venipuncture catheter needle by three expert left radial approach operators. The success rates of arterial puncture, CAG, and PCI were 95.5% (191/200), 100% (187/187), and 98.9% (86/87), respectively. Four patients scheduled for staged PCI skipped the routine diagnostic CAG. Puncture time and fluoroscopic time were 3.0±2.8 minutes and 11.3±18.4 minutes, respectively. Haemostasis time was 151.8±39.9 minutes. A total of 15 (7.9%) puncture site complications occurred, including 14 (7.4%) minor haematomas and one (0.5%) arterial dissection, in which the artery was patent at one-month follow-up. Two patients complained of left thumb numbness at one-month follow-up. No distal radial artery occlusion, perforation, pseudoaneurysm, or arteriovenous fistula occurred. Conclusions: The success and complication rates of ldTRA support the feasibility and safety of this procedure. Larger randomised comparison studies are needed to support this preliminary evidence.