RESUMEN
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe thee efficacy of different ways of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for treating elderly coronary heart disease (CHD) patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 470 elderly CHD patients were classified to three age brackets (equal to or more than 85 years old, 60 to 74 years old, 75 to 84 years old). They were assigned to the transradial intervention (TRI) group (236 cases) and the transfemoral intervention (TFI) group (234 cases) according to different intervention pathways. Correlated indices and postoperative clinical efficacy were compared between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A higher successful rate of surgery was obviously got in patients 85 years old or older than 85 than in those 60 to 74 years old and 75 to 84 years old (P <0. 05). The incidence of major cardiovascular events (MACE) was reduced at post-operative 12 and 24 months in patients 85 years old or older than 85 (P <0. 05). The case number for changing intervention pathway were increased in the TRI group with statistical difference (P <0. 05). Compared with the TFI group, the case number for changing intervention pathway was increased; the time for arteriopuncture, the time for catheterization, and the time for X-ray exposure were prolonged; the time for postoperative bedding were obviously shortened; the incidence of vascular complications at the puncture site were lowered. The incidence of postoperative 12-month MACE was lowered, all with statistical difference (all P <0. 05). The incidence of MACE within postoperative 24-month MACE decreased in patients 60 to 74 years old and 75 to 84 years old (P <0. 05). The incidence of MACE within postoperative 24 months increased in patients 85 years old or older than 85 of the TRI group with statistical difference (P <0. 05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TRI can be preferably chosen for PC in treating elderly CHD patients.</p>