Transradial cardiac catheterization in elderly patients

The safety and efficacy of transradial cardiac catheterization in elderly patients is unknown. This study examines procedure success rates for transradial catheterization in appropriately selected patients < 70 (n = 195) and ≥ 70 (n = 83) years old. Elderly patients were less likely to be selected for the transradial approach (46% vs. 61%; P = 0.05). Although patients ≥ 70 years old were more often female (39.7% vs. 24.1%; P = 0.008) and had a smaller body surface area (1.89 ± 0.18 vs. 2.01 ± 0.24 m2; P = 0.001), procedure success rates did not differ (95.1% vs. 94.8%; P = NS). Procedure‐related variables including procedure time (15.4 ± 12.6 vs. 16.1 ± 11.6 min; P = NS), amount of radiographic contrast (90.1 ± 31.9 vs. 86.4 ± 29.8 cc; P = NS), and number of catheters used (1.5 ± 0.9 vs. 1.5 ± 0.7; P = NS) were similar between groups. We conclude that transradial catheterization can be safely and effectively performed in selected elderly patients. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 51:287–290, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.