Subcutaneous Nitroglycerin to Facilitate Trans-radial Access. (NITRAD-Sub)

March 16, 2026 updated by: Daniel Coutiño-Castelán, Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia Ignacio Chavez

Subcutaneous Administration of Nitroglycerin to Facilitate Trans-radial Access in Coronary Procedures: a Randomized Clinical Trial (NITRAD-Sub Study).

Femoral artery approach to perform coronary procedures is considered the standard technique for vascular access due to optimal catheter control, lower thromboembolic complications and immediate access due to the large diameter of the artery. Trans-radial approach has been shown to reduce major bleeding complications, vascular complications related to the site of puncture, including death from all causes, and to prevent post-procedure limb rest, greater comfort for patients, immediate ambulation, early discharge and reduction of costs. Previous studies have shown that intravenous, topical and intraarterial use of nitroglycerin produces vasodilation of the radial artery. Extravascular (subcutaneous) administration of nitroglycerin is extremely effective in restoring the radial pulse, and allows adequate cannulation.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Suspended

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Unlike femoral access, the trans-radial approach to coronary angiography requires a greater learning curve for the inexperienced interventionist, and demands a greater technical challenge than the femoral approach, which leads to a high incidence of failures and complications, mainly in the initial stages of their formation. Some explanations for procedural failure include inability for radial artery puncture, vessel tortuosity, and radial spasm. Radial spasm has been reported from 5 to 30% in experienced centers, with a decrease to 2.5% when associated with the administration of nitrate added to local anesthesia. Although radial spasm is infrequent and usually occurs once the artery is cannulated or during manipulation of the catheters, it can sometimes occur before cannulation due to multiple unsuccessful attempts to cannulate the artery, which can also produce pain in the patient.

The investigators will conduct an experimental, placebo-controlled, longitudinal, prospective, double-blind, parallel arm clinical trial. Patients will be randomized to receive 1:1 an intervention or placebo. Intervention group will receive a subcutaneous "cocktail" with 0.5 ml of 500 mcg of nitroglycerin + 1 ml of 2% simple lidocaine. Placebo group will receive a subcutaneous injection with 0.5 ml of 0.9% saline solution + 1 ml of 2% simple lidocaine.

The investigators hypothesize that the maneuver (subcutaneous infiltration of local anesthetic together with nitroglycerin) will facilitate radial access in terms of fewer punctures until the insertion of the arterial introducer, shorter access time, lower incidence of radial spasm, and lower crossover rate to femoral access, compared with placebo. In terms of safety, the investigators do not believe that the maneuver represents a risk to the patient in terms of incidence of hypotension or headache. In fact, the investigators believe that the maneuver will provide less pain at the site of puncture referred by the patient due to the less number of unsuccessful punctures.

For the calculation of the required sample, since the incidence of our primary end-point of a compound of crossover to femoral access and/or access site-related vascular complications has not been reported so far, the sample will be calculated with the rate of events obtained in our center at 6 months of recruiting patients. For this calculation, the proportional difference formula with an alpha value of 0,05 and a beta value of 0,20 will be used to have a statistical power of 80%. The investigators estimate that 1,500 patients will be required in a 11-month period.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
1400

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Mexico
    • Tlalpan
      • Mexico City, Tlalpan, Mexico, 04480
        • Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia Ignacio Chavez

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Men and women older than 18 years, scheduled consecutively to perform a coronary procedure in the department of hemodynamics of the National Institute of Cardiology "Ignacio Chavez".
  • Patients may have any of the following indications for cardiac catheterization: Thoracic pain under study. Stable chronic coronary disease. Acute myocardial infarction with ST segment elevation, not perfused (without timely reperfusion therapy) with less than 4 weeks of evolution. Acute myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation, successful thrombolytic therapy, which will undergo drug-invasive therapy. Acute myocardial infarction without ST segment elevation. Unstable angina. Any acute coronary syndrome, to intervene non-infarct-related artery. Disease of any heart valve. Myocarditis or pericarditis. Dilated cardiomyopathy. Patients in renal or cardiac transplantation protocol for any etiology. Congenital heart disease that requires knowing the coronary anatomy prior to surgical correction.
  • The planned procedure can be any of the following: For diagnostic purposes (coronary angiography only, left catheterization, left and right catheterization). For therapeutic purposes: percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), with or without stent placement.
  • A priori access must be right or left radial artery.
  • Radial arterial pulse may be present or absent by palpation.
  • Modified Allen or Barbeau test should be positive (presence of collateral palmar flow).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnant.
  • Not have informed consent for the present clinical trial, or do not fully understand the meaning of informed consent.
  • With acute myocardial infarction with ST segment elevation in the first 12 hours from the onset of symptoms.
  • With any acute coronary syndrome complicated with acute pulmonary edema, cardiogenic shock and / or malignant ventricular arrhythmias.
  • In which a cardiac catheterization is planned a priori to be performed via femoral, brachial or ulnar.
  • Patients in whom first attempt of arterial puncture is performed by 2nd year interventional cardiology fellow or by physician in charge.
  • Participating in another clinical trial.
  • Be allergic or have contraindications to nitroglycerin or other nitrates.
  • Any phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor (sildenafil, tadalafil, avanafil, vardenafil) has been taken within 72 hours prior to the study.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Nitroglycerin
The intervention group will receive a subcutaneous "cocktail" with 0,5 ml of 500 mcg of nitroglycerin + 1 ml of 2% simple lidocaine.
Drug: Nitroglycerin 100 MCG/ML Injectable Solution
Previously described.
Placebo Comparator: Control
The placebo group will receive a subcutaneous injection with 0,5 ml of 0,9% saline solution + 1 ml of 2% simple lidocaine.
Drug: Saline Solution
Previously described.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Compound of crossover to femoral access and/or access site-related vascular complications.
Time Frame: Within 72 hours or at hospital discharge (whichever occurs first).
Crossover to femoral access: number of cases in which the procedure could not be completed via radial artery and access via femoral artery was changed. Access site-related vascular complications: hematoma requiring intervention as an additional compression bandage, radial perforation / dissection, hemorrhage requiring transfusion, compartment syndrome, arteriovenous fistula, pseudoaneurysm, or any complication requiring surgical intervention.
Within 72 hours or at hospital discharge (whichever occurs first).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of attempts to cannulate the radial artery (punctures).
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year.
Number of times the needle is inserted through the skin with the intention of puncturing the radial artery. This outcome measure will be assessed by interventional cardiology fellow who applies the maneuver and attempt to cannulate the artery.
Through study completion, an average of 1 year.
Time until obtaining the radial access.
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year.
Counted from the first attempt to puncture the radial artery, from the needle through the skin to the successful insertion of the introducer into the radial artery with adequate blood return.
Through study completion, an average of 1 year.
Improvement in radial pulse strength.
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year.
The interventional cardiologist fellow who will apply the maneuver, will assess the strength of the radial pulse before the administration of the maneuver and at least 1 minute after, and will record the change in pulse strength. Pulse Score: 0 - No palpable pulse. 1 - Weak pulse. 2 - Pulse of normal intensity. 3 - Very intense pulse.
Through study completion, an average of 1 year.
Loss of radial artery flow (radial artery occlusion) at 30 days.
Time Frame: At 30 days.
The maximum longitudinal and transverse diameter of the radial artery and the maximum arterial flow velocity will be measured, with the transducer placed 1 cm proximal to the styloid process using ultrasound doppler with a vascular transducer.
At 30 days.
Pain in the cannulated extremity.
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year.
It will be evaluated with a visual-analogue subjective pain scale from 1 to 10 referred by the patient. Pain will be assessed at the time of introducing the radial introducer.
Through study completion, an average of 1 year.
Radial spasm.
Time Frame: During coronary procedure.
It will be referred to as radial spasm if the patient reports pain or discomfort of any intensity at the cannulated end, at the time of manipulating, advancing and / or withdrawing any catheter through the arterial introducer. Angiographic confirmation of spasm may or may not be done. Additional intra-arterial vasodilators, or additional IV analgesics, may or may not be administered at the discretion of the operator.
During coronary procedure.
Headache.
Time Frame: During coronary procedure.
Referred by the patient during any time of the procedure in the hemodynamic laboratory. It will be recorded on a subjective-to-analogue subjective pain scale from 1 to 10.
During coronary procedure.
Hypotension.
Time Frame: In the following 10 minutes after administration of the maneuver.
Systolic blood pressure lower than 90 mmHg in the following 10 minutes after the maneuver, not related to the manipulation of a coronary artery with any device.
In the following 10 minutes after administration of the maneuver.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia Ignacio Chavez

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Director: Marco Antonio Peña Duque, MD, Director of Department of Interventional Cardiology, National Institute of Cardiology, Mexico City, Mexico.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
March 30, 2018

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
March 30, 2019

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
March 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
September 24, 2017

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 3, 2017

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
October 9, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 18, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 16, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • PT-17-044

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

IPD Plan Description

I will show the IPD during my research seminar wich is part of the program to being doctor in medical sciences to obtain a PhD degree.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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