A percutaneous method via the brachial artery for left heart catheterization and selective coronary angiography is described. The technique uses the sheath intended for the femoral artery, continuously infused and introduced following a particular technique. The procedure was performed with minimal complications over 18 months, with multipurpose "Schoonmaker" or preshaped catheters, in all the patients (37) in whom the femoral approach was contraindicated or failed. When a catheterization must be performed from the arm, this method, without cutdown and arteriotomy and allowing a good distal flow during the procedure, appears to have some advantages over the classical Sones technique or the percutaneous arterial axillary approach.

A705 each generic was used to estimate one month's cost of hypertension treatment; considering the maximum and minimum dosage for each generic. The affordability of treatments was calculated by comparing the total cost of medicines to the daily official minimum wage ($63.12MXN, 2013 prices) Results: The number of days' wages required to pay one month of antihypertensive therapy ranged from: 0.08-4.18 for diuretics, 0.67-1.90 for beta blockers, 1.7-3.99 for calcium channel blockers, 0.71-3.31 for ACE inhibitors and 2.38-8.11 for ARBs. ConClusions: Cost could be a substantial barrier for permanence in antihypertensive treatment, so that should be discussed measures to prevent this from happening.

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