Comparison of Outcomes Between Radial and Femoral Access Approaches in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Catheterization at Ramathibodi Chakri Naruebodindra Hospital
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Abstract
This retrospective study aimed to compare clinical outcomes of cardiac
catheterization between radial access and femoral access in patients undergoing
cardiac catheterization from January to December 2024. Medical records of 109
patients were reviewed, including 38 patients in the radial access group and 71
patients in the femoral access group. Continuous variables were analyzed using
the Mann–Whitney U test, and categorical variables were analyzed using Fisher's
exact test. A p-value of < .05 was considered statistically significant. The results
showed that patients in the femoral access group were significantly older than
those in the radial access group (p < .001) and had a higher proportion of prior
cardiac catheterization (p = .024). For the primary outcome, there was no
significant difference in vascular access site complications between the two
groups (2.6% vs. 2.8; p = 1.000), and no major complications were observed. For
secondary outcomes, the radial access group had a significantly shorter
procedural time (p = .030), a higher rate of same-day discharge (p = .001), and a
shorter length of hospital stay (p = .002), while contrast volume did not differ
significantly between groups.
In conclusion, this study found no difference in vascular access site complications
between radial access and femoral access. Nevertheless, radial access
demonstrated advantages in procedural efficiency and reduction of hospital stay.
These findings support consideration of radial access as a preferred approach in
eligible patients.
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