For patients on coumadin, is there any particular cut-off number for the PT-INR that precludes radial access?
There is data that supports the safety of transradial access for patients on oral anticoagulation. It has, therefore, become reasonable for interventionalists to continue warfarin — particularly in patients with high-risk thrombotic conditions — throughout the catheterization. Our laboratory has no “cut-off” for the INR for a transradial procedure, but we try to keep patients in their usual therapeutic range. Obviously, the physician should weigh the risks and benefits of continued warfarin in all aspects of the case, but there is data to support continued oral anticoagulation with the radial approach, and physicians are becoming more comfortable with it..
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