Radial arterial thrombosis and associated risk factors in patients undergoing radial coronary angiography

Introduction: Coronary angiography is the gold standard method for the diagnosis of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. Radial access is accepted as the gold standard for coronary angiography (CAG) and percutaneous coronary intervention in 2018 ESC / EACTS In myocardial revascularization guidelines. Radial artery thrombosis (RAT) is the most common complication of trans-radial access (TRA). In our study, we aimed to investigate the incidence of RAT and associated risk factors. Materials and Methods: A total of 150 patients who underwent coronary angiography through TRA between January 2018 and November 2018 were included to the study. Color doppler ultrasonography was performed and the proximal and distal radial flow rates were measured 4-6 hours after TRA. Demographic and laboratory data of the patient were recorded. Patients with RAT were accepted as the study group while the others compromise the controls. Results: Of these 150 patients, 20 (13.3%) of them had RAT (4 (2.7%) of them with partial occlusion, 16 (10.7%) of them with total occlusion). In the univariate analysis, female gender (OR = 2.48, 95% CI: 0.947-6.491, P = 0.064), HT (OR = 0.341, 95% CI: 0.130-0.896, P = 0.029), history of CAD (OR = 3.581, 95 % CI: 0.791-16.204, P = 0.098), antiaggregant usage history (OR = 0.378, 95% CI: 0.135-1.056, P = 0.064), compression time (OR = 1.446, 95% CI: 0.309-6.769, P = 0.069), indication for coronary angiography for the patient (elective CAG, ACS presentation) (OR = 3.581, 95% CI: 0.791-16.204, P = 0.098), hematocrit value (OR = 0.916, 95% CI: 0.829-1.012, P = 0.084), neutrophil count (OR = 1.134, 95% CI: 0.979-1.314, P = 0.093), creatinine value (OR = 0.061, 95% CI: 0.004-0.840, P = 0.097), and e-GFR ( OR = 1.024, 95% CI: 0.996-1.054, P = 0.094), were found to be statistically significant for RAT. In multivariate analysis; HT (OR = 0.224, 95% CI: 0.068-0.738, P = 0.014), antiaggregant usage history (OR = 0.278, 95% CI: 0.105-0.739, P = 0.010), compression time (OR = 2.280, 95% CI : 1.419-3.662, P = 0.001), hematocrit value (OR = 0.881, 95% CI: 0.782-0.992, P = 0.037) and creatinine (OR = 0.030, 95% CI: 0.002-0.453, P = 0.011) were found to be independent predictors for RAT. Conclusion: Radial artery thrombosis (RAT) is frequently seen after radial intervention. Conventional pulse examination in the diagnosis of RAT may mask the diagnosis of RAT. Color Doppler USG is the gold standard method for RAT diagnosis. Besides, and it can facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of RAT. It would be appropriate to keep radial band duration as short as possible since it increases the RAT rates.