OUTCOMES OF TRANSRADIAL APPROACH IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING PRIMARY PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION FOR ACUTE ST SEGMENT ELEVATION MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

Objective: An experience to evaluate the outcomes, feasibility, effectiveness and safety of transradial approach practice in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute ST elevation Myocardial infarction in Army Cardiac Centre. Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Army Cardiac Centre, Lahore, from Jan 2020 to Mar 2020. Methodology: All patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention via transradial approach for acute ST elevation Myocardial infarction were included. Informed consent was taken signed. Demographic characteristics, risk factors, time variables like arterial access time, door to balloon time and procedural success was determined. Results: Out of enrolled patients in study, frequency of males and females were 49 (82%) and 9 (18%) respectively. The mean age was 57 ± 10.86 years ranging from 30 to 75 years. On admission, 25 (50%) were hypertensives, 20 (40%) had diabetes and 18 (36%) were smokers. The initial choice for primary percutaneous coronary intervention was transradial approach in all patients, right side 49 (98%) and left side 1 (2%). Due to failure to achieve radial access transfemoral and homolateral ulnar approach was adopted 2 (4%) and 1 (2%) respectively leading to 96% success and 4% failure for transradial access. The main infarcted artery was LAD 31 (62%) followed RCA 15 (30%) Time to arterial access time was 2 mins, door to balloon 34 mins. Eighty percent complication free transradial approach was achieved, 8 (16%) patients had pain and 2 (4%) developed hematoma. Conclusion: Our results proved Transradial approach for primary PCI as a safe, feasible and cost effective procedure.