Background
Transfemoral and transradial are two common approaches for performing cardiac catheterization, while there is no consensus on which one is superior to the other.
Aim
This paper aimed to compare the effect of transfemoral and transradial approaches on patient's outcomes in terms of back pain, vascular complications, and urinary discomfort in those undergoing diagnostic cardiac catheterization.
Methods
A secondary data analysis method was used.
Results
The results showed that transradial access could significantly reduce back pain compared to femoral access. While no significant difference was found for vascular complications and urinary discomfort between the two methods.
Conclusion
The findings of this study indicate that transradial approach could reduce patients' back pain without increasing the incidence of vascular complications. Additionally, with early mobility, nursing care time could be reduced. Thus, it can be used as an alternative approach for the transfemoral approach.