Endovascular techniques in trauma surgery are becoming increasingly important in patient management, with procedures such as pelvic and splenic angioembolization becoming the standard of care for certain injuries. Traditionally, such interventions are performed via femoral access, although the morbidity of this approach is not insignificant (3%-10%). Transradial access (TRA) is an attractive alternative, pioneered by cardiologists with low rates of access site complications in patients undergoing coronary intervention. Recently, this technology has extended to other interventions. The aim of this study was to present the initial experience of a radial program in a busy trauma center, with specific regard to safety and complications. The medical records of trauma patients undergoing endovascular procedures via TRA between March 2018 and December 2018 were queried for procedural and postoperative data. Demography and injury characteristics were presented for the overall cohort (Table I), followed by a comparison of procedural data and complications between laterality (Table II). Continuous variables were compared using a two-tailed t-test and categorical variables were compared using a χ2 test. Over a 9-month period, 65 patients received 81 interventions via TRA, most commonly solid organ or pelvic angiography/embolization. Access success was achieved in all but two patients (n = 63, 96.9%) who had hypoplastic radial artery anatomy and who underwent ulnar access. Overall complication rate was 4.6% with no difference observed between laterality (n = 3; P = .512). One patient with an admission a Glasgow Coma Score of 3 and coagulopathy developed radial artery thrombosis after pelvic angiography via a right TRA. Another patient with penetrating injuries to the head and neck developed an acute cerebrovascular attack after internal carotid artery stenting via left TRA. One patient with a pelvic crush injury developed acute kidney injury after undergoing pelvic angioembolization, with full resolution within 2 weeks. Mortality was seen in seven patients (10.8%), owing to hemorrhagic shock or multiorgan failure (n = 3 [42.8%] and n = 4 [57.1%], respectively). There were no cases of postprocedural access site bleeding, hematoma, pseudoaneurysm, vascular injury, intraoperative arrhythmia, arteriovenous fistula formation, or infection. TRA is a feasible and low-risk alternative for endovascular intervention in the trauma patient. It yields good technical success with low morbidity. Although larger studies are needed to establish the full efficacy of TRA at the multi-institutional level, this single-institution study demonstrates the legitimacy of an alternative means for endovascular intervention in the trauma patient.Table IDemographic data, comorbidities, injury patterns, and physiology of the cohortVariableDemographic data Age, years44.5 ± 18.5 Male sex55 (84.6) Height, cm173.5 ± 8.9 BMI25.6 ± 5.7Comorbidities HTN13 (20) DM11 (16.9) PAD4 (6.2) CKD3 (4.6)Injury characteristics Blunt57 (87.7) Penetrating8 (12.3) ISS23 ± 11 Pelvic fracture12 (18.5) Hostile groin11 (16.9)Physiology GCS <88 (12.3) SBP (at puncture)120.9 ± 25.2 Coagulopathy9 (13.8)BMI, body mass index; CKD, chronic kidney disease; DM, diabetes mellitus; HTN, hypertension; ISS, Injury Severity Score; GCS, Glasgow Coma Score; PAD, peripheral arterial disease.Values are number (%) or mean ± standard deviation Open table in a new tab Table IIProcedural data based on lateralityaVariableTotalRightLeftP valueN653332Target artery/organ Splenic artery34 (52.3)19 (29.2)15 (23.1).269 Hepatic artery7 (10.8)5 (7.6)2 (3.1).500 Celiac Artery5 (7.6)1 (1.5)4 (6.1).121 Iliac arteries10 (15.4)5 (7.6)5 (7.6).681 Renal artery1 (1.5)0 (0)1 (1.5).400 Lower extremity8 (12.3)4 (6.1)4 (6.1).601 Subclavian Artery4 (6.1)3 (4.6)1 (1.5).530 Internal carotid artery1 (1.5)0 (0)1 (1.5).455 Aorta5 (7.6)2 (3.1)3 (4.6).552Intervention Solid organ angiography8 (12.3)4 (6.1)4 (6.1).556 Solid organ AE36 (55.4)19 (29.2)17 (26.1).541 Visceral vessel angiography6 (9.2)1 (1.5)5 (7.6).107 Pelvic angiography4 (6.1)1 (1.5)3 (4.6).371 Pelvic AE7 (10.8)4 (6.1)3 (4.6).667 Lower extremity angiography8 (12.3)5 (7.6)3 (4.6).667 Lower extremity AE1 (1.5)1 (1.5)0 (0).750 Upper extremity angiography1 (1.5)1 (1.5)0 (0).750 Cervical vessel angiography3 (4.6)2 (3.1)1 (1.5).700 Carotid stenting1 (1.5)0 (0)1 (1.5).500 Aortography6 (9.2)4 (6.1)2 (3.1).429Outcomes Procedural success63 (96.9)31 (93.9)32 (100.0).254 LOS8.0 (4.0-15.0)6.5 (3.0-15.5)8.5 (4.0-15.5).909 Mortality7 (10.8)4 (6.1)3 (4.6).518 Complications3 (4.6)2 (3.1)1 (1.5).512AE, Angioembolization; LOS, length of stay.aAll proportions are presented as number (percent), with comparisons using a χ2 test. Open table in a new tab
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