Radial versus femoral access for left main percutaneous coronary intervention: An analysis from the Veterans Affairs Clinical, Reporting, and Tracking Program

Objectives We aimed to compare clinical characteristics and procedural outcomes of left main percutaneous interventions (LM-PCI) by transradial (TRA) versus transfemoral (TFA) approach in the VA healthcare system. Background TRA for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is steadily increasing. However, the frequency and efficacy of TRA for LM-PCI remain less studied. Methods All LM-PCIs performed in the VA healthcare system were identified for fiscal year 2008 through 2018. Patients' baseline characteristics and procedure-related variables were compared by access site. Both short- and long-term clinical outcomes were analyzed using propensity score matching. Results A total of 4004 LM-PCI were performed in the VA via either radial or femoral access from 2008 to 2018. Among these, 596 (14.9%) LM PCIs were performed via TRA. Use of TRA for LM-PCI increased from 2.2% to 31.5% over the study period. Propensity matched outcome analysis, comparing TRA versus TFA, showed a similar procedural success (98.4% for TRA vs. 97.8% for TFA; RR: 1.01 [0.98, 1.03]) and 1-year major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (25.9% for TRA vs. 26.8% TFA; RR: 0.96 [0.74, 1.25]). There were no statistically significant differences among secondary outcomes analyses including major bleeding. Conclusion Use of TRA for LM-PCI has been steadily increasing in the VA healthcare system. These findings demonstrate similar procedural success and 1-year MACE across access strategies, suggesting an opportunity to continue increasing TRA use for LM-PCI.