Summary

The MATRIX trial in patients with acute coronary syndrome who were being managed invasively found that transradial access reduced the occurrence of a net composite end point that included bleeding and efficacy, as well as death and major bleeding, when compared with transfemoral access. Bivalirudin did not reduce the occurrence of either of the co-primary composite end points, but exploratory analyses found that death and bleeding were reduced with bivalirudin when compared with unfractionated heparin.