Femoral Versus Radial Access for Primary PCI

Exclusion Criteria

• •1. Age \< 18 yrs
• •2. Active bleeding
• •3. Inadequate vascular access from the femoral arteries (i.e. severe peripheral vascular artery disease precluding right or left femoral approach)
• •4. Abnormal Allen's test precluding either right or left radial approach
• •5. PCI within the last 30 days
• •6. Fibrinolytic agents within the last 7 days
• •7. Warfarin, dabigatran or other oral anticoagulant within the last 7 days
• •8. Known coagulation disorder (i.e. INR \>2.0, platelets \<100,000 / mm3)
• •9. Allergy to aspirin
• •10. Participation in a study with another investigational device or drug \< four weeks
• •11. Known severe renal impairment (creatinine \>200 umol/L)\*
• •12. Known severe contrast (dye) allergy
• •13. Prior coronary artery bypass surgery
• •14. Inability to provide informed consent
• •* Bivalirudin is contraindicated in renal failure.