Recent data about trans-radial approach showed its usefulness in achieving the high procedural success rate and low local complications even though the size of the radial artery is small compared to that of the femoral artery. Therefore, we want to evaluate the size of the radial artery and the feasibility of the trans-radial coronary angiography as a routine technique.

Trans-radial coronary angiography (TRCA) was successful in 619 cases. The size of the radial artery was measured using 2D-ultrasonography. TRCA was tried with 4 Fr catheters. We divided the cases into two groups; early phase, 106 cases and late phase, 513 cases and compared the procedure time, catheter number used, and complications between 2 groups.

The size of the radial artery was 2.7±0.4 mm in diameter and this of the men was larger than that of women (p 0.05). TRCA was performed successfully in 513 cases among 521 cases of late phase (98.5%) and crossover to femoral artery occurred in 8 cases (1.5%). The fluoroscopic time and total procedure time of the late phase (6.5±4.0 min, 22.9±11.3 min) were significantly lower than those of early phase (11.5±6.3 min, 31.2±13.7 min) (p<0.01). The average number of catheters used for coronary angiography was 1.8±1.0. There were 6 cases (1%) of radial artery occlusion and 1 case (0.2%) of radial artery perforation without hand ischemia.

Based on the adequate size of the radial artery, high success rate and low complications, TRCA might be a safe and become a routine diagnostic technique.