Transradial Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Despite advances in antithrombotic and antiplatelet therapy, bleeding complications remain an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). Many bleeding events are related to the access site. Transradial access (TRA) PPCI is associated with significant reduction in bleeding and vascular complications and reduced cardiac mortality compared with the transfemoral approach (TFA). High-risk patients might particularly benefit from TRA. Radial skills providing procedural times and success rates comparable with those of the TFA are strongly recommended before using this technique in the STEMI PPCI setting.