What are the advantages of the radial artery, the coronary stenting route?

  Coronary angiography and stenting can be performed via either the femoral artery or the radial artery of the upper extremity, the first one was used via the femoral artery, and in the mid-1990s the radial artery of the upper extremity was used in China. Indications for coronary angiography via the radial artery of the upper extremity: good pulsation of the radial artery and a normal Allen test.  The Allen test is performed by compressing the radial artery and ulnar artery at the same time, making the patient clench his fist and then release it, at which time the palm and fingers are seen to be pale, and if the color of the palm and fingers returns to normal within 10 seconds after releasing the ulnar artery, it indicates that there is good collateral circulation between the ulnar artery and the radial artery, and even if the radial artery is occluded after surgery, hand necrosis does not occur.  The advantages compared with the femoral artery: 1. The incidence of hemorrhagic complications is significantly reduced: because of the 6F guiding catheter, the radial artery puncture site is minimally damaged, and because the radial artery is superficial, it is easy to perform pressure bandaging to stop bleeding, which in turn makes the possibility of hemorrhagic complications significantly reduced. In fact, the literature shows that almost no bleeding complications have occurred with transradial coronary interventions.  2.Low injury: There are no large veins and nerves near the radial artery, and there is abundant collateral circulation with the ulnar artery, so it rarely causes arteriovenous fistula, nerve injury or hand ischemia.  3.No need to be bedridden: Patients can walk freely after surgery without being bedridden, avoiding back pain and urinary retention, reducing patients’ pain and significantly improving the quality of life index.  4.Shortened hospitalization time: Transradial coronary interventions do not require bed rest and greatly shorten the hospitalization time, and can even be performed on an outpatient basis, which significantly shortens the postoperative hospitalization time and total hospitalization time and is widely welcomed.  5.Lower medical cost: The hospitalization time is greatly shortened and the medical cost is lowered, in addition, there is no need to use vascular closures (about 3000 RMB each).  6.For lower limb amputation or iliac artery occlusion and severe abdominal aortic lesions (abdominal aortic aneurysm, aortic coarctation) with difficulties in trans-femoral path, coronary angiography can be performed via radial artery.