The Los Angeles Times (4/5, Maugh) reports, "Performing angioplasty and angiography through the radial artery of the arm is as effective as the traditional method of entering through the femoral artery of the groin, but has fewer complications and is more comfortable for the patient," according to findings presented at the American College of Cardiology meeting. "And for rescue operations performed while the patient is suffering a heart attack caused by a complete blockage of a coronary artery," the researchers said using the "radial artery is superior."
According to MedPage Today (4/4, Neale), the "30-day rate of death, MI, stroke, or non-CABG-related major bleeding occurred was 3.7% in the radial group and 4% in the femoral group." The findings from the "7,000-patient RIVAL trial" were published in The Lancet on the same day they were presented at the ACC meeting. The study was also covered by the Wall Street Journal (4/4, Winslow, subscription required) and HeartWire (4/4, O'Riordan). For a clinical perspective on this article, go to CardioSource.org.
Posted by Steven Almany M.D.
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