Incidence and Predictors of Early and Late Radial Artery Occlusion after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention and Coronary Angiography: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Trans-radial access for coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has gained popularity due to its advantages over the traditional transfemoral approach. However, radial artery occlusion (RAO) remains a common complication following trans-radial procedures. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of early and late RAO along with their risk factors. Six databases, Medline (Ovid), National Library of Medicine (MeSH), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (Wiley), Embase, Scopus, and Global Index Medicus, were searched. The systematic review and meta-analysis followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Data were extracted and analyzed. Using a random-effect model, the primary endpoint was the overall incidence of RAO after invasive coronary procedures. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression were also performed to identify possible predictors of RAO. A total of 41 studies with 30,020 patients were included. The overall incidence of RAO was 13% (95% CI = 0.09-0.16). The incidence of early RAO (within 24 h) was 14% (95% CI = 0.10-0.18) in 26 studies, while the incidence of late RAO (after 24 h) was 10% (95% CI = 0.04-0.16) in 22 studies. The average incidence rates of early RAO in studies with catheter sizes of <6 Fr, 6 Fr, and >6 Fr were 9.8%, 9.4%, and 8.8%. The overall effect size of female gender as a predictor was 0.22 with a 95% CI of 0.00-0.44. Age was a potential predictor of early RAO (B = 0.000357; 95% CI = -0.015-0.0027, : 0.006). This meta-analysis provides essential information on the incidence of early (14%) and late (10%) RAO following angiographic procedures. Additionally, our findings suggest that female sex and age are possible predictors of RAO. A larger catheter, especially (6 Fr) and hemostatic compression time <90 min post-procedure, substantially reduced the incidence of RAO. The use of oral anticoagulation and the appropriate dosage of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) does reduce RAO, but a comparison between them showed no statistical significance.