Rate of late radial artery occlusion following cardiac catheterization at Jordan University Hospital

Abstract

Lay abstract Background: Certain complications might arise after heart catheterization through the hand, a procedure during which a catheter (long thin tube) is inserted into a blood vessel in the hand and threaded through to your heart. Occlusion (closure and blockage) of the blood vessel of the used hand is a common side effect of the procedure, and can occur a long time after the procedure takes place. Some scientists think that more people have blockage of the blood vessels soon after the procedure, rather than later on, possibly due to reopening of the vessel with time. Materials & methods: In this study, we evaluated the percentage of occluded blood vessels in patients who underwent catheterization several months earlier. We examined the blood vessels used for catheterization and collected data from patients who had the procedure 7-18 months before the study. Result & conclusion: Thirteen patients (8.8%) had occlusion of their blood vessels which was associated with symptoms of pain and numbness. Our study further supports the idea that symptoms after catheterization could be related to decreased blood supply of the hand due to occlusion of the blood vessels used for the catheterization. Background: A recanalizing-process might decrease the incidence of radial artery occlusion (RAO) at a late assessment postcatheterization opposed to an early assessment. In this study, we evaluated the rate of RAO at a late postcatheterization period. Materials & methods: A retrospective case-control design was adapted including 148 patients who underwent trans-radial cardiac catheterization 7 to 18 months ago. The primary outcome was to assess RAO at the mentioned period while the secondary outcomes were to assess risk factors and symptoms associated with occlusion. RAO was assessed by Doppler ultrasound. Result: Thirteen patients (8.8%) had RAO in a median follow-up time of 13 months. Hand disability as measured by QuickDash score was significantly associated with RAO. Conclusion: This study adds a new insight on late RAO after coronary catheterization in Jordan and the region. Our findings support an ischemic mechanism contributing to long-term hand dysfunction.