Application of the interventional limb raising management strategy (ILRMS) at radial vascular access sites in coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention: A randomized trial

To compare the effectiveness of the interventional limb raising management strategy (ILRMS) to elastic bandage compression at radial vascular access sites following coronary angiographies (CAGs) and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs). Patients with ischemic coronary heart disease whose condition was stable over three months were enrolled in this clinical study (n = 590; aged 25–80). All participants had just undergone CAG and PCI. Patients were randomized into either the ILRMS group (n = 360) or standard post-intervention care with an elastic bandage (n = 230). Overall comfort and wrist pain was assessed and the degree of index finger swelling and oxygen saturation was measured on the affected arm. All variables were measured prior to post-intervention treatment and again at six hours after CAG and PCI. We found that patients receiving ILRMS had significantly lower wrist pain scores and swelling around the index finger compared to the elastic bandage group (p < 0.05). Oxygen saturation of the index finger was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). We also found that 19.57% of the elastic bandage patients were comfortable, while ILRMS patients were significantly more comfortable (93.06%; p < 0.05). We find that ILRMS alleviates swelling and pain of the wrist more effectively than current practices and improves the degree of overall comfort of patients who undergo CAG and PCI.