Topical Nitroglycerin for Radial Access Optimization: Supporting Vascular Access in Patients at Risk for Acute Heart Failure

<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Radial artery spasm (RAS) is a frequent complication during invasive angiography using the transradial approach, leading to patient discomfort and procedural challenges. While intra-arterial nitroglycerine (NTG) effectively reduces RAS after sheath inser...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Adrian Sebastian Zus, Simina Crișan, Silvia Luca, Daniel Nișulescu, Mihaela Valcovici, Oana Pătru, Mihai-Andrei Lazăr, Cristina Văcărescu, Dan Gaiță, Constantin-Tudor Luca
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Medicina
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/6/1016
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849432230453051392
author Adrian Sebastian Zus
Simina Crișan
Silvia Luca
Daniel Nișulescu
Mihaela Valcovici
Oana Pătru
Mihai-Andrei Lazăr
Cristina Văcărescu
Dan Gaiță
Constantin-Tudor Luca
author_facet Adrian Sebastian Zus
Simina Crișan
Silvia Luca
Daniel Nișulescu
Mihaela Valcovici
Oana Pătru
Mihai-Andrei Lazăr
Cristina Văcărescu
Dan Gaiță
Constantin-Tudor Luca
author_sort Adrian Sebastian Zus
collection DOAJ
description <i>Background and Objectives</i>: Radial artery spasm (RAS) is a frequent complication during invasive angiography using the transradial approach, leading to patient discomfort and procedural challenges. While intra-arterial nitroglycerine (NTG) effectively reduces RAS after sheath insertion, preprocedural prevention strategies are limited. This study evaluates the efficacy of topical NTG in improving radial artery puncture success and reducing RAS incidence. <i>Materials and Methods:</i> In a randomized, double-blind single-center study 100 patients undergoing angiography were pretreated with either topical NTG or placebo. Outcomes assessed included RAS incidence, radial artery puncture success, number of attempts, procedural duration, patient discomfort, and complications. RAS was evaluated angiographically and clinically, with additional subgroup analyses for diabetic and smoking patients. <i>Results</i>: Topical NTG significantly reduced RAS incidence (53.2% vs. 73.6%; <i>p</i> = 0.0349) and increased radial puncture success on the first attempt (89.4% vs. 77.4%; <i>p</i> = 0.0488). Diabetic patients particularly benefited from NTG application, with lower RAS rates (36.4% vs. 76.2%; <i>p</i> = 0.0296). No significant differences were observed in procedural duration, patient discomfort, or complication rates between groups. The placebo group demonstrated a higher incidence of diffuse RAS (<i>p</i> = 0.0109). <i>Conclusions:</i> Preprocedural topical NTG application is a safe, non-invasive intervention that improves radial artery access success and reduces RAS, especially in high-risk subgroups such as diabetics. These findings support its potential as a procedural optimization tool in cardiovascular interventions, particularly in patients with heart failure, who often require repeated and reliable vascular access.
format Article
id doaj-art-d217c9150d364ff4922ecdf504761bcb
institution Kabale University
issn 1010-660X
1648-9144
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Medicina
spelling doaj-art-d217c9150d364ff4922ecdf504761bcb2025-08-20T03:27:25ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X1648-91442025-05-01616101610.3390/medicina61061016Topical Nitroglycerin for Radial Access Optimization: Supporting Vascular Access in Patients at Risk for Acute Heart FailureAdrian Sebastian Zus0Simina Crișan1Silvia Luca2Daniel Nișulescu3Mihaela Valcovici4Oana Pătru5Mihai-Andrei Lazăr6Cristina Văcărescu7Dan Gaiță8Constantin-Tudor Luca9Cardiology Department, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaCardiology Department, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaCardiology Department, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaInstitute of Cardiovascular Diseases Timisoara, 300310 Timisoara, RomaniaCardiology Department, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaCardiology Department, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaCardiology Department, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaCardiology Department, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaCardiology Department, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaCardiology Department, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Radial artery spasm (RAS) is a frequent complication during invasive angiography using the transradial approach, leading to patient discomfort and procedural challenges. While intra-arterial nitroglycerine (NTG) effectively reduces RAS after sheath insertion, preprocedural prevention strategies are limited. This study evaluates the efficacy of topical NTG in improving radial artery puncture success and reducing RAS incidence. <i>Materials and Methods:</i> In a randomized, double-blind single-center study 100 patients undergoing angiography were pretreated with either topical NTG or placebo. Outcomes assessed included RAS incidence, radial artery puncture success, number of attempts, procedural duration, patient discomfort, and complications. RAS was evaluated angiographically and clinically, with additional subgroup analyses for diabetic and smoking patients. <i>Results</i>: Topical NTG significantly reduced RAS incidence (53.2% vs. 73.6%; <i>p</i> = 0.0349) and increased radial puncture success on the first attempt (89.4% vs. 77.4%; <i>p</i> = 0.0488). Diabetic patients particularly benefited from NTG application, with lower RAS rates (36.4% vs. 76.2%; <i>p</i> = 0.0296). No significant differences were observed in procedural duration, patient discomfort, or complication rates between groups. The placebo group demonstrated a higher incidence of diffuse RAS (<i>p</i> = 0.0109). <i>Conclusions:</i> Preprocedural topical NTG application is a safe, non-invasive intervention that improves radial artery access success and reduces RAS, especially in high-risk subgroups such as diabetics. These findings support its potential as a procedural optimization tool in cardiovascular interventions, particularly in patients with heart failure, who often require repeated and reliable vascular access.https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/6/1016topical nitroglycerineradial artery spasmtransradial accesscoronary angiographyheart failurenitric oxide
spellingShingle Adrian Sebastian Zus
Simina Crișan
Silvia Luca
Daniel Nișulescu
Mihaela Valcovici
Oana Pătru
Mihai-Andrei Lazăr
Cristina Văcărescu
Dan Gaiță
Constantin-Tudor Luca
Topical Nitroglycerin for Radial Access Optimization: Supporting Vascular Access in Patients at Risk for Acute Heart Failure
Medicina
topical nitroglycerine
radial artery spasm
transradial access
coronary angiography
heart failure
nitric oxide
title Topical Nitroglycerin for Radial Access Optimization: Supporting Vascular Access in Patients at Risk for Acute Heart Failure
title_full Topical Nitroglycerin for Radial Access Optimization: Supporting Vascular Access in Patients at Risk for Acute Heart Failure
title_fullStr Topical Nitroglycerin for Radial Access Optimization: Supporting Vascular Access in Patients at Risk for Acute Heart Failure
title_full_unstemmed Topical Nitroglycerin for Radial Access Optimization: Supporting Vascular Access in Patients at Risk for Acute Heart Failure
title_short Topical Nitroglycerin for Radial Access Optimization: Supporting Vascular Access in Patients at Risk for Acute Heart Failure
title_sort topical nitroglycerin for radial access optimization supporting vascular access in patients at risk for acute heart failure
topic topical nitroglycerine
radial artery spasm
transradial access
coronary angiography
heart failure
nitric oxide
url https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/6/1016
work_keys_str_mv AT adriansebastianzus topicalnitroglycerinforradialaccessoptimizationsupportingvascularaccessinpatientsatriskforacuteheartfailure
AT siminacrisan topicalnitroglycerinforradialaccessoptimizationsupportingvascularaccessinpatientsatriskforacuteheartfailure
AT silvialuca topicalnitroglycerinforradialaccessoptimizationsupportingvascularaccessinpatientsatriskforacuteheartfailure
AT danielnisulescu topicalnitroglycerinforradialaccessoptimizationsupportingvascularaccessinpatientsatriskforacuteheartfailure
AT mihaelavalcovici topicalnitroglycerinforradialaccessoptimizationsupportingvascularaccessinpatientsatriskforacuteheartfailure
AT oanapatru topicalnitroglycerinforradialaccessoptimizationsupportingvascularaccessinpatientsatriskforacuteheartfailure
AT mihaiandreilazar topicalnitroglycerinforradialaccessoptimizationsupportingvascularaccessinpatientsatriskforacuteheartfailure
AT cristinavacarescu topicalnitroglycerinforradialaccessoptimizationsupportingvascularaccessinpatientsatriskforacuteheartfailure
AT dangaita topicalnitroglycerinforradialaccessoptimizationsupportingvascularaccessinpatientsatriskforacuteheartfailure
AT constantintudorluca topicalnitroglycerinforradialaccessoptimizationsupportingvascularaccessinpatientsatriskforacuteheartfailure