Due to the ageing population and raised life expectancy, elderly patients are increasingly referred for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) during acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Bleeding complications are not infrequent during ACS, occurring in 2-5% of patients with prognostic and economic consequences. In particular, periprocedural bleeding and vascular complications are associated with worse clinical outcome, prolonged hospital stay and increased short- and long-term mortality, especially in elderly patients with acute coronary syndromes. We report the case of an 83-year old female referred to our hospital because of non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction with high bleeding risk and unsuitable radial artery undergoing tran-sulnar sheathless PCI during bivalirudin infusion. The clinical, technical, pharmacological and prognostic implications are discussed.
Keywords: acute coronary syndrome; bivalirudin; elderly; sheatless guiding catheter.; transradial PCI.