Acceso por vía cubital como alternativa al acceso radial para diagnóstico e intervenciones coronarias: serie de 29 pacientes

aim: to evaluate the safety and feasibility of the ulnar percutaneous approach for cardiac catheterization as an alternative to the radial access in every day practice. patients and methods: a retrospective evaluation was performed in 29 patients undergoing a coronary angiography or intervention using the ulnar approach after a failed radial attempt, between january 2009 and august 2010. a 6 french sheath was used in all patients. clinical and procedure related events were evaluated at discharge, at 30 days and in the month of august 2010. results: the 29 patients constituted 1.5% of the total number of procedures performed in the corresponding time interval. 12 of the 29 were ptcas, 6 of them in the setting of acute myocardial infarction. diabetes was present in 17.2%, hypertension in 51.7% and 51.7% were women. the procedures ended without events in every patient. no vascular or hemorrhagic complications were observed during follow up. conclusion: the ulnar approach can be safely used as an alternative to radial access for coronary angiography and intervention