Safety and Efficacy of Enoxaparin During Low-Risk Elective Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Intravenous unfractionated heparin (UFH) is the most frequently used anticoagulant for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Intravenous enoxaparin, a low-molecular-weight heparin, has superior pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties compared with UFH. Multiple trials have shown enoxaparin to be safe and effective in PCI. However, there has not been a contemporary study evaluating its safety and efficacy. To assess its efficacy and safety, intravenous enoxaparin during PCI through radial artery access was evaluated in PCI patients from January 2015 to December 2019. Outcomes included procedural success, all-cause mortality, ischemic complications, and bleeding complications from the time of the procedure until hospital discharge. A total of 1019 consecutive eligible patients were identified. Median age was 63 years, and 70% were men. The indication for PCI was stable and unstable angina in two-thirds of cases (77%). Few patients had myocardial infarction (MI) (2.2%) as the indication for intervention. The procedure was successful in 98.2% of cases. There were no deaths. Procedural MI occurred in 0.3% of patients. Acute stent thrombosis occurred in 0.4%. Urgent revascularization and stroke occurred in 0.1% each. Small wrist hematomas occurred in 0.3% and all were managed conservatively. There was one radial artery pseudoaneurysm. There were no cases of major bleeding. In conclusion, this single-center study showed that intravenous enoxaparin is a reasonable alternative anticoagulant for use in low-risk and elective non-MI PCI through radial artery access.