Distal vs Conventional Transradial Access for Coronary Procedures

Background: Radial artery occlusion (RAO) is a recognized complication of transradial coronary access, with reported incidence rates ranging from 5% to 30%. Distal radial access (DRA), performed at the anatomical snuffbox, has emerged as a promising alternative that may better preserve radial artery patency by maintaining antegrade perfusion through the palmar arch during hemostasis. Objective: To compare distal radial access with conventional transradial access in terms of radial artery patency and access-site outcomes in a real-world all-comers population undergoing coronary angiography or percutaneous coronary intervention. Methods: This prospective, multicenter, open-label, quasi-randomized comparative study enrolled 350 patients across three community-based hospitals in Palestine and Jordan between 2024 and 2026. Patients were allocated in a 1:1 ratio to DRA (n=183) or conventional transradial access (n=167) using an alternating sequence. The primary endpoint was radial artery patency assessed by blinded duplex ultrasonography at 24 hours and at 1 to 6 months. Secondary endpoints included access-site pain, bruising, numbness, and crossover to an alternative access site. The 24-hour outcome was analyzed by intention-to-treat and long-term outcomes by per-protocol analysis. Adjusted analyses used Firth penalized logistic regression.

NCT Number	NCT07138170
Lead Sponsor	Jordanian Research and Artificial Intelligence Group
Conditions	Radial Artery Occlusion Following Coronary Catheterization
Enrollment	350 participants
Start Date	2025-08-15
Primary Completion	2026-02-15 (estimated)
Study Completion	2026-04-29 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-05-11