Comparison of radial and femoral approaches in percutaneous coronary intervention

Objective: To analyze the advantages and disadvantages of percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI) via the radial artery or femoral artery.Methods: One hundred and fifty-seven cases undergoing coronary angiography(CAG) and/or PCI were divided into two groups:radial approach group(98 cases) and femoral approach group(59 cases).The rates of success and complication were observed and compared statistically.Results: The success rate of CAG in the radial artery group and femoral artery group was 95.92% and 98.31%,respectively;and the success rate of PCI in the radial approach group and the femoral approach group was 94.87% and 96.15%,respectively(P>0.05);the incidence of local complication in the radial approach group was significantly lower than that in the femoral approach group(5.1% vs 27.1% and 7.7% vs 46.2%) (P<0.01).Conclusions: PCI via the radial artery or the femoral artery has a similar success rate,but PCI via the radial artery has a lower incidence of local complication.