Anatomical sNuffbox for Coronary anGiography and IntervEntions

Transradial approach has become the standard approach for coronary angiography (CAG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The current ESC/EACTS guidelines of myocardial revascularization support using radial approach (RA) rather than femoral approach (FA) if the operators are experts for RA. Recently, an alternative transradial access has been suggested at the anatomical snuffbox, with potential additional benefits including a reduction in radial artery occlusion rate (which allows reintervention through the same access site and potential use as a graft), a decrease in other local vascular complications, shorter hemostasis duration, patients' intra and post procedural comfort and shorter recovery time. However, the feasibility of PCI via snuffbox approach is still concerned due to the lack of data. Therefore, the aim of the study is to compare the two approaches concerning the patency of the radial artery ≥30 days after the intervention with Doppler in a randomized way. Due to the anastomosis of the distal radial artery with the superficial palmar arch, even in case of total radial artery occlusion within the anatomical snuffbox, the antegrade blood flow may be preserved and, therefore, decreased incidents of radial artery occlusion are expected in the right distal radial artery approach group. The mean diameter of radial artery at the anatomical snuffbox is 2.4 mm, whereas the mean diameter of the radial artery at the forearm is 2.7 mm, and this could potentially contribute to shorter hemostasis duration.