Access Site and Outcomes for Unprotected Left Main Stem Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Objectives Using the British Cardiovascular Intervention Society percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) database, temporal trends, predictors, and outcomes of radial access (RA) versus femoral access (FA) for unprotected left main stem percutaneous coronary intervention (LMS-PCI) were studied. Background Data on arterial access site for LMS-PCI are poorly defined. Methods Data were analyzed from 19,482 LMS-PCI procedures performed in England and Wales between 2007 and 2014. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify predictors of access site choice and its association with outcomes. Results The frequency of FA use fell from 77.7% in 2007 to 31.7% in 2014 (p Conclusions In contemporary practice, the radial artery is the predominant access site for unprotected LMS-PCI, and its use is associated with shorter length of stay, less vascular complications, and less major bleeding than femoral access.