Patient description: An 82-year-old woman comes to the emergency department because of chest pain and shortness of breath after being awakened in the morning by stabbing substernal chest pain radiating to the left shoulder and jaw. The patient had hypertension, renal-artery stenosis with chronic renal insufficiency, hypercholesterolemia, osteoporosis and dementia. Blood pressure was 199/108 mm Hg, respiratory rate 18 bpm, oxygen saturation 98% on ambient air. The heart sounds were rapid and with no murmurs. CK-MB was 10.9 ng/ml, CK was 89 U/l, CK index was 12.2% and Troponin T was 0.40 ng/ml. An EKG showed sinus regular tachycardia of 119 bpm, with ST-segment elevations up to 3 mm in V1, V2, and V3. A chest radiograph showed low lung volumes and right basilar subsegmental atelectasis. Coronary angiography showed no stenosis or clinically significant disease. Left ventriculography revealed akinesis of the anterior wall, hypokinesis of the apical and distal inferior walls, and compensatory hyperkinesis of the basal anterior and basal inferior walls. A transthoracic echocardiogram showed severe segmental left ventricular dysfunction involving the septum, anteroseptal territory, and apex. The overall left ventricular systolic function was mildly impaired and there was mild mitral regurgitation.

Clinical trial eligibility criteria: eligible ages (years): 18.0-999.0,  Acute Coronary Syndrome Non-ST-segment elevation ACS patients [ischemic symptoms suspicious of non-ST-segment elevation ACS (unstable angina or non-ST-segment elevation AMI) defined as clinical presentation compatible with a new manifestation of worsening of chest pain characteristic of ischemia, at rest or at minimum effort, lasting more than 10 minutes, and at least one of the following items: (a) ECG changes compatible with new ischemia (ST segment depression of at least 1 mm, or transient ST segment elevation, or ST segment elevation ≤ 1 mm, or T wave inversion > 2 mm in at least 2 contiguous shunts); (b) cardiac enzymes (CK-MB or troponin T or I) above the upper normality range limit; (c) patients > 60 years of age without ECG or myocardial necrosis markers changes, however with previous documentation of coronary atherosclerotic disease (CAD), confirmed by previous hospitalization due to AMI, previous percutaneous or surgical myocardial revascularization procedure, significant CAD confirmed by coronary angiography, or positive functional test for myocardial ischemia] Intention to submit patient to early invasive strategy consisting of coronary angiography immediately followed by PCI, when applicable, in the first 72 hours after admission Signed informed consent Patient eligible for transradial and transfemoral coronary angiography and PCI, being pre-requisites: (a) palpable radial artery with normal Allen test or/and oximetry tests, (b) familiarity of the operator with the radial and femoral techniques using AngioSeal, (c) agreement of the operator to use the access route determined by the randomization process  Less than 18 years of age Pregnancy Chronic use of vitamin K antagonists or direct thrombin inhibitors, or oral Xa-factor antagonists Hypersensitivity to antiplatelet and/or anticoagulant drugs Active bleeding or high bleeding risk (severe liver failure, active peptic ulcer, creatinine clearance < 30 mL/min, platelets count < 100.000 mm3) Uncontrolled systemic hypertension Cardiogenic shock Previous myocardial revascularization surgery with ≥ 1 internal mammary or radial artery graft Documented chronic peripheral arterial disease preventing the use of the femoral technique Severe concomitant disease with life expectancy below 12 months