In plain language
In a randomized trial of coronary procedures, radial access gave interventional cardiologists roughly twice the thorax radiation dose of femoral access, and patients slightly more fluoroscopy time and dose-area product (DAP). Wrist and head doses did not differ.
At a glance
- Type of study
- Original research, Randomized trial
- Who was studied
- Interventional cardiologists, Patients
- Size
- n = 777 procedures
- Summary based on
- the abstract
What it found
Operator thorax dose was higher with radial than femoral access, and noninferiority of radial access was not shown.
Key figures: 77 μSv vs 41 μSv; p = 0.02; p for noninferiority = 0.843
The difference in operator dose persisted after normalizing for fluoroscopy time or DAP.
In the full MATRIX population, fluoroscopy time and DAP were higher with radial access.
Key figures: 10 min vs 9 min (p < 0.0001); 65 Gy·cm2 vs 59 Gy·cm2 (p = 0.0001)
Wrist and head doses did not differ between radial and femoral access.
Thorax operator dose did not differ significantly between right and left radial access.
Key figures: 84 μSv vs 52 μSv; p = 0.15
Limits to keep in mind
The radiation sub-study included only 18 expert operators and 777 procedures. Thorax dosimetry may not reflect dose under protective garments or to other team members, and the abstract does not report country or shielding details.
Related research summaries
- Two Central Nervous System Tumors in One Catheter Lab: Time to Rethink Radiation Protection (2026, Retrospective cohort study)
- Factors Contributing To Radiation Dose For Patients And Operators During Diagnostic Cardiac Angiography (2018, Retrospective cohort study)
- Operator radiation exposure during transradial coronary angiography: Effect of single vs. double catheters (2017, Randomized trial)
- Reduction of radiation exposure during complex interventions for chronic total coronary occlusions: Implementing low dose radiation protocols without affecting procedural success rates (2017, Retrospective cohort study)
- Determinants of operator and patient radiation exposure during cardiac catheterization: Insights from the RadiCure (RADIation reduction during cardiac catheterization using real-timE monitoring) trial (2015, Randomized trial)
How this summary was made
ORSIF prepared this summary with AI assistance from the abstract of the paper. A program then checked that the passage supporting each finding appears word for word in that source. A person has not yet reviewed each summary, so read the original before relying on a number. ORSIF summarizes research and does not endorse any product or company. Report a problem with this summary.
Prepared November 3, 2026.