Pressure-mediated versus pharmacologic treatment of radial artery spasm during cardiac catheterisation: a randomised pilot study

The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of a novel strategy to treat radial artery spasm (RAS). We conducted a prospective, randomised, single-centre, open-label trial comparing a novel strategy of pressure-mediated dilatation versus intra-arterial administration of a combination of nitroglycerine plus verapamil for the treatment of RAS. The primary endpoint was radial artery intraluminal diameter acute gain assessed by quantitative radial angiography. After screening two hundred and twenty consecutive cases, twenty patients presented with RAS and were randomised 1:1 to either strategy. Overall the mean age was 60.8±11.5 years and 53% were females. Pre-treatment angiographic characteristics were similar between the groups. The primary endpoint of radial artery acute gain was significantly greater in the pressure-mediated dilatation group (0.85±0.46 mm vs. 0.03±0.24 mm, p <0.001). Blood pressure drop was significantly lower in the pressure-mediated dilatation group (ΔBP -3.8±24 vs. -31.6±19 mmHg, p <0.001). There was one case of radial artery occlusion in the pressure-mediated dilatation group at follow-up. Short-duration pain was observed during the application of pressure. Pressure-mediated dilatation for the treatment of RAS was feasible, with superior angiographic results compared to a pharmacologic vasodilator strategy, with no impact on blood pressure. This novel approach proved to be safe and effective and should be tested in a large randomised trial