Evaluation of the effects of compressive dressing after interventional procedures via radial approach

Abstract

Background External compressive devices after radial puncture for cardiac catheterization and percutaneous coronary intervention aim at hemostasis, patient comfort, and safety. The objective of the study was to evaluate patients undergoing invasive coronary procedures by radial approach, in which a low-cost compressive dressing developed at the service was used, assessing its safety and the occurrence of complications. Methods Patients undergoing coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention, evaluated at the time of removal of compressive dressing and after 7 days, by means of a questionnaire addressing comorbidities, clinical picture, procedure and compression time, physical assessment of hematoma and pain, and a vascular Doppler ultrasound to evaluate radial artery occlusion. Results A total of 144 patients were evaluated, 138 of whom were followed up within 7 days. Events did not differ among diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. In the immediate evaluation after removal of dressing, an incidence of 4.2% of radial artery occlusion was observed, with pain reported by 23.6% of patients, graded at 2.9±1.7 points in the Visual Analogue Scale (intensity of zero to ten), and no major bleeding. Hematoma occurred in one patient (0.9%), classified as type III according to the EASY criteria. In the 7-day evaluation, the incidence of radial artery occlusion was 2.2%, pain was reported in 11.1% of sample (intensity 1.8±0.8), and hematoma was evident in 3.5%. Conclusion The compressive dressing proved to be a safe procedure, with a low rate of complications and a low rate of local pain in patients undergoing invasive coronary procedures via radial approach.