Radial approach for percutaneous coronary intervention.

The transradial approach for percutaneous coronary intervention (both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures) has gained progressive acceptance in the last years. Transradial access has been shown, also, to have several advantages over transfemoral approach; the radial artery is easily compressible, thus bleeding is controllable and hemorrhagic complications are significantly reduced. Furthermore, periprocedural bleeding and vascular complications after percutaneous coronary intervention are associated with worse clinical outcomes and increased short and long - mortality. With increasing experience and availability of dedicated equipment this technique is now being increasingly used for complex catheter intervention. The main purpose of this review is to highlight the benefits, complications and problems with transradial approach compared with conventional transfemoral approach.