A RANDOMISED controlled trial has found that elastic compressive dressings are a safe, cost-effective, and efficient alternative to the TR Band for maintaining radial haemostasis following transradial coronary intervention.
Transradial coronary intervention has become increasingly popular due to its safety profile and benefits such as reduced access site complications and earlier patient discharge. However, the use of radial compression devices like the TR Band adds to the overall cost of the procedure. This study aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of elastic compressive dressings with gauze swabs and crepe bandages to the TR Band for maintaining radial haemostasis after cardiac procedures.
In this prospective, partially blinded, randomised clinical trial, 402 patients were randomly assigned to receive either a TR Band or an elastic compressive dressing following cardiac intervention. The primary outcome was haemostasis time and the occurrence of haematoma. The elastic dressing group achieved haemostasis significantly faster than the TR Band group (83.8 ± 142.8 min vs. 116.3 ± 122.7 min, p = 0.017). There were also significant differences in the incidence of haematoma (8% elastic dressing vs. 18.4% TR Band, p = 0.003) and postprocedural pain (0.84 ± 1.2 elastic dressing vs. 1.39 ± 1.4 TR Band, p ≤ 0.001). While the elastic dressing group had a higher incidence of early radial artery occlusion (7 patients vs. 2 patients), this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.09).
These findings have important implications for clinical practice. Elastic compressive dressings offer a cost-effective alternative to the TR Band, potentially reducing overall procedure costs while maintaining safety and efficacy. The shorter haemostasis time and reduced incidence of haematoma could lead to earlier patient discharge and improved patient comfort. However, the slightly higher rate of early radial artery occlusion in the elastic dressing group, although not statistically significant, warrants further investigation in larger studies. Future research should focus on long-term outcomes and potential refinements to the elastic dressing technique to further optimise its use in transradial coronary interventions.
Katrina Thornber, EMJ
Reference
Daralammouri Y et al. A randomized controlled trial comparing elastic compressive dressing and the TR band after transradial coronary intervention. Journal of Interventional Cardiology. 2025;2025(1):2864005.
