Optimal Hemostasis Duration for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Via Snuffbox Approach: a Prospective Observational Study

Transradial approach has been preferred for coronary angiography (CAG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) due to several advantages, including decreased associated vascular complication, patients' convenience, and early ambulation compared with transfemoral approach. With these advantages, current guidelines support that radial access is recommended for CAG and PCI in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients with and without ST-elevation if performed by an experienced radial operator. Recently, Kiemeneij introduced a distal radial artery approach, called the snuffbox approach, and several studies have been published. However, the feasibility of PCI via snuffbox approach is still concerned due to the lack of data. Moreover, optimal hemostasis duration for PCI via snuffbox approach has not been investigated, even though shorter hemostasis duration would be expected compared with the conventional radial approach as diameter of snuffbox radial artery was significantly smaller than conventional radial artery. In addition, there are few data regarding the feasibility of PCI via snuffbox approach. Therefore, the aim of the study is to evaluate the optimal hemostasis duration for PCI via snuffbox approach.