European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Background: Over the past three decades, Transradial-Access (TRA) has revolutionized cardiac catheterization, demonstrating superior safety and outcomes compared to other access points. The European Society of Cardiology has now endorsed TRA as a viable alternative to traditional methods. Challenges during TRA can arise despite its success, making a comprehensive assessment of forearm artery anatomy essential. Forearm artery angiography (FA) has emerged as a valuable tool to improve procedural success and reduce complications. In this study, we retrospectively analyze the impact of FA on a diverse patient population, aiming to enhance TRA's effectiveness and safety in cardiac catheterization procedures in Bangladesh. Aim of the study: This study investigates the potential for enhanced success rates of Coronary Angiography and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) by utilizing Standardized Forearm Angiography in a diverse patient population. Methods: This is a prospective comparative study, a total of 480 patients were enrolled and analyzed in this study. The study was conducted at the Department of Cardiology, Apollo Imperial Hospital, Chittagong, Bangladesh. It analyzed 480 consecutive patients who underwent Coronary Angiography (CA), with or without Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI). The study spanned one year, from January 2022 to December 2022.  Result: In this prospective study, 480 patients were analyzed, and various characteristics of the study population were examined. The average age of patients was 71.4 years, 71% male and 29% female. The study focused on forearm artery access, with 54.17% having right forearm access and 45.83% left forearm access. The most common access type for left forearm artery access was the distal radial artery, while the proximal radial artery dominated right forearm access. Arterial hypertension was the most prevalent variable, followed by diabetes mellitus and active smoking. The most common clinical indication for medical procedures was "Suspected CAD or chronic coronary syndrome." Etiological factors leading to medical conditions were also analyzed, with "Failure to achieve arterial puncture or introduce arterial sheath" being the most common factor, followed by "Kinking" and "Atherosclerotic occlusion." Conclusion: The retrospective analysis showcased promising results, indicating that standardized forearm angiography may lead to enhanced success rates in coronary angiography and PCI among a diverse patient population. This non-invasive approach could offer improved diagnostic accuracy and procedural outcomes, warranting further investigation and consideration for broader clinical implementation.