Vascular Complications Following Transradial and Transulnar Coronary Angiography in 1600 Consecutive Patients.

BACKGROUND: Major, noncoronary complications are rarely encountered following transradial coronary procedures.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Among 1600 prospectively studied patients with complete follow-up, 7 patients experienced major complications following coronary forearm procedures corresponding to an incidence of 0.44%. We found inadvertent symptomatic intramyocardial contrast medium injection, 2 cases with compartment syndrome of which 1 was managed surgically, exertional hand ischemia due to radial artery occlusion, a large ulnar artery pseudoaneurysm, an ulnar arteriovenous fistula, and 1 critical hand ischemia due to late occlusion of the distal brachial artery.

CONCLUSIONS: Although infrequent, surveillance for major complications should be encouraged after forearm coronary procedures.