Patients undergoing transradial cardiac catheterization were randomized in a double-blind fashion to a topical combination of nitroglycerin + lidocaine or placebo ointment. The primary endpoint was change in radial artery size. Secondary endpoints included radial artery spasm and radial artery patency.
86 patients were enrolled (43 allocated to treatment group and 43 to placebo group). Patients underwent ultrasound of the radial artery at baseline and before the catheterization. Complications were rare: one hematoma (placebo group) and one radial artery occlusion (placebo group). Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were similar. The baseline radial artery cross-sectional area (CSA) was similar in both groups (4.95 ¡À 0.24 mm2 in placebo group and 5.14 ¡À 0.34 mm2 in the treatment group). However, the final CSA decreased to 4.66 ¡À 0.25 mm2 in the placebo group and increased to 5.78 ¡À 0.38 mm2 in the treatment group (p = 0.02), which corresponded to a decrease in CSA by ? 5.6 ¡À 2.1 % and an increase in CSA by 16.5 ¡À 4.2 % (p < 0.0001), respectively.
Pre-procedural administration of topical mixture of nitroglycerin + lidocaine increases the size of the radial artery in patients undergoing transradial cardiac catheterization.
NCT01155167