Use Of Transradial Access Research Articles

Application of transradial and transfemoral accesses during hepatic artery chemoembolization in the treatment of patients with malignant liver neoplasms

Introduction Malignant neoplasms of the liver are one of the most common pathologies in oncology. Chemoembolization of the hepatic artery is currently widely used in the treatment of unresectable liver tumors. Transradial vascular access is actively used in interventional cardiology due to fewer local vascular complications. At the same time, until recently, chemoembolization of the hepatic artery was more often performed via transfemoral vascular access.The aim of the work is a comparative analysis of the results of transradial and transfemoral vascular accesses for the purpose of hepatic artery chemoembolization.Material and methods The data of 69 patients who underwent 212 hepatic artery chemoembolization procedures for malignant neoplasms in the liver were analyzed. The group of transradial access included 107 (50.5 %) interventions, the group of transfemoral access – 105 (49.5 %). The groups were comparable in terms of the main initial clinical and anamnestic data.Results Chemoembolization of the hepatic artery was successfully performed in 98.1 % in the transradial access group and 99 % in the transfemoral access group (p = 1.0). The total duration of intervention, time spent on catheterization of the target artery and radiation exposure were significantly shorter in the transradial access group than in the opposite group. The incidence of local vascular complications was not significantly different between the groups: 11 (10.3 %) and 12 (11.4 %) cases, respectively (p = 0.79). According to the results of patient interviews, the use of transradial access was accompanied by significantly less discomfort associated with the procedure.Discussion Traditionally, embolization of peripheral arteries is performed via transfemoral access, and the total incidence of local vascular complications (large subcutaneous hematomas, false aneurysms, arterovenous fistulas, etc.) is relatively high. According to the results of studies, it is possible to reduce the incidence of local vascular complications without increasing the cost of the procedure by performing the same interventions using transradial access.Conclusion Transradial vascular access has a number of significant advantages over transfemoral access, and therefore can be recommended as a priority for performing hepatic artery chemoembolization.

Use of Transradial Access to Install Two Sequential Stents for Pseudoaneurysms along the Celiac Artery and Common Hepatic Artery Axes.

Transfemoral access is the most common method for stenting visceral aneurysms. Over the years, transradial access has gained tremendous traction in interventional procedures due to many reported benefits, including increased patient comfort, decreased procedural cost, and reduced rates of procedural complications, among others. Moreover, transradial access can serve as a valuable alternative when transfemoral access may be contraindicated. Here, we successfully utilized transradial access to sequentially place two stents for pseudoaneurysms in the celiac artery and common hepatic artery.

Analysis of treatment cost differences in patients undergoing femoral versus radial access in outpatient diagnostic cerebral arteriograms.

Outpatient diagnostic cerebral arteriograms are the most common procedure in neuroendovascular surgery, and the use of transradial access for these studies is growing. Although transradial access has been associated with lower hospital costs for elective diagnostic and interventional neuroendovascular procedures, no study has compared transfemoral access and transradial access costs for a homogenous population of patients undergoing outpatient diagnostic cerebral arteriogram. In this single-center retrospective study, the Value Driven Outcomes database was used to evaluate treatment costs for patients who underwent outpatient diagnostic cerebral arteriogram from January 2019 to December 2022. Propensity-score matching was performed to reduce confounders. Costs from each encounter were subcategorized into imaging, supplies, pharmacy, procedures, labs, and facility costs. After matching, 337 patients each for transradial access and transfemoral access were available for analysis. A total of 118,992 cost data points were associated with all encounters. Overall, per-visit costs were 15.2% cheaper for patients who underwent transradial access versus transfemoral access (p < 0.001). Most of the cost difference was due to supplies (35.2% cost difference, p < 0.001) and procedure costs (9.3% cost difference, p < 0.001). No statistical differences were observed between the two approaches in imaging, pharmacy, labs, and facility costs (all p > 0.05). Costs for outpatient diagnostic cerebral arteriogram were lower in patients who underwent transradial access versus transfemoral access because of supply and procedure costs. Understanding reasons for cost differences in common procedures is important for creating strategies to reduce overall healthcare costs. Additionally, addressing the cost differences of newer techniques may increase the likelihood that they are more readily implemented by hospitals and providers.

Rates of the Trans-radial Approach in Elective and Emergency Coronary Angiography in Iraq: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background and aims The trans-radial access is becoming the default approach in many cardiac centers worldwide. Data from the Middle East, including Iraq, on the trends and rates of the use of trans-radial access are scarce. The aim of this study is to determine the rates of trans-radial approach (TRA) versus transfemoral approach (TFA) in patients with coronary artery syndromes undergoing coronary angiography and/or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in Iraq. Methods In this multicenter prospective study, we collected 885 cases of coronary artery disease undergoing coronary angiography/PCI from three main cities of the Kurdistan Region in Iraq from 2022 to 2023. Results Of the total sample, 57.2% were diagnostic coronary angiography and 42.8% were PCI, 57.1% of all cases were TFA and 42.9% were TRA, and 64.3% of PCI cases were performed through TFA. Eghty-two percent of total emergency PCI included (primary PCI) cases underwent the procedure through the TFA, and only 18% of such cases were through the TRA. The overall crossover rate between both approaches happened in 14 (3.6%) cases. Conclusions Despite its main benefits, the radial access use in the Cath lab is yet underused in our region. Further steps in training programs are indicated to popularize the use of radial access among interventional cardiologists in addition to transfemoral access.

Access Site Selection and Outcomes for Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Interventions: Insights from the VA CART Program.

There has been increasing use of transradial access (TRA) for non-chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). There are limited data on TRA for CTO PCI. The objectives of this study were to assess the temporal trends in the use of TRA versus transfemoral access (TFA), identify procedural and lesion characteristics associated with the use of TRA and TFA, and evaluate the association of access site with procedural complications and technical success among veterans undergoing attempted CTO PCI. We performed a retrospective analysis of veteran patients who underwent attempted CTO PCI to compare outcomes between TRA and TFA. Patients who had undergone attempted PCI of at least 1 CTO were included. Propensity score matching was used to evaluate the composite primary outcome of major procedural complications, in-hospital bleeding, or 30-day mortality and the secondary outcome of procedural success. In total, 4609 patients underwent attempted CTO PCI during 2010-2017. Rates of TRA for CTO PCI increased significantly, from 7% in 2010 to 38% in 2017 (P trend < .01). A greater percentage of CTO lesions in the TFA group was calcified and >20.0 mm in length. TRA was not associated with a reduction in the composite primary outcome (TRA 3.3% vs TFA 4.0%, P = .47) or procedural success (TRA 66.6% vs TFA 65.7%, P = .74) compared with TFA. In this retrospective analysis of patients who underwent attempted CTO PCI, the proportion of TRA for CTO PCI has increased over time but was not associated with a greater safety or procedural success than TFA.

Outcomes of Radial Versus Femoral Access in Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Prior to Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

The safety and feasibility of radial access in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) prior to transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has not been studied. This study included consecutive patients who underwent PCI within 30 days before TAVR at Mayo Clinic. Vascular access was left to the discretion of the operator. Baseline demographics, procedural data, PCI outcomes, and subsequent transfemoral TAVR outcomes were extracted from patient charts. A total of 331 patients were included in this study, with 107 patients undergoing PCI via radial access (rPCI), and 224 via femoral access (fPCI). Mean age was 80.6 years and 35.6% were females (35.5% rPCI vs 35.3% fPCI). More patients in the fPCI group had previous coronary artery bypass graft surgery (13.1% rPCI vs 34.4% fPCI; P<.001). Fluoroscopy time (13.36 minutes vs 18.86 minutes; P<.001) and contrast use (115 mL vs 140 mL; P<.01) were lower in the rPCI group than in the fPCI group. Crossover rate from radial to femoral was 6.5%. There were more access-site hematomas in the fPCI group (2.8% rPCI vs 14.3% fPCI; P<.001), with no statistically significant rate of other access-related complications. There was no difference in stroke, myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, or unplanned surgery. There was no difference in bleeding or stroke between both groups during subsequent transfemoral TAVR. Radial access for pre-TAVR PCI is feasible and safe and is associated with a lower rate of access-site hematoma. This study supports the increased use of transradial access for pre-TAVR PCI.

Radial Artery Access for Acute Coronary Syndromes: a Review of Current Evidence.

To review the evidence supporting the use of transradial access (TRA) for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in acute coronary syndromes (ACS). There have been five major randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and two recent meta-analyses comparing outcomes of TRA and femoral access (FA) in ACS. Additional studies have explored the impact of TRA on STEMI door-to-balloon (D2B) times, TRA in high-risk ACS patients, the potential conflict between TRA and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery employing the radial artery, and distal radial artery (DRA) access. TRA is associated with a reduction in net adverse clinical events, major bleeding, acute renal injury, and access site complications compared to FA in ACS patients undergoing PCI. TRA is not associated with significant delays in STEMI D2B times that impact patient outcomes. Further studies are needed to evaluate the role of TRA in high-risk ACS patients, the interplay between TRA and radial artery CABG, and use of DRA in ACS.

Further advancement in the percutaneous revascularization of coronary chronic total occlusions: the redefined "minimalistic hybrid approach" algorithm.

A careful angiographic assessment of a chronic total occlusion (CTO) is essential for optimal procedural planning. In the classic hybrid approach, the insertion of two guiding catheters at the beginning of the intervention is recommended. This is fundamental to perform simultaneous double injection, to achieve complete visualization of the coronary circulation and to choose the best starting strategy between antegrade wire escalation (AWE), antegrade dissection and re-entry (ADR) and the retrograde techniques (retrograde wire escalation [RWE] and retrograde dissection and re-entry [RDR]). In the hybrid algorithm the set-up is the same, regardless of the chosen first strategy, and therefore routinely uses double access. Because revascularizations of CTOs commonly require large bore catheters (7-8 French) to ensure high back-up support, the femoral arterial access is preferred by most of the operators. However, the use of a double access, large introducer sheaths and femoral approach are associated with a greater risk of access-related complications and even the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events. We have previously proposed an algorithm, called "minimalistic hybrid approach," which aims to limit the routine use of dual injection, and to favor the use of trans-radial access and smaller (6-7 French) guiding catheters. In this algorithm the chosen starting strategy depends on the complexity of the lesion assessed by J-CTO Score and on the presence of favorable contralateral interventional collateral circulation. However, this novel algorithm proved to have some limitations, such as the non-specific evaluation of CTOs with ipsilateral collateral circulation and the too arbitrary choice of the starting strategy based on a J-CTO Score cut-off. These considerations led to the development of an "updated" minimalistic hybrid approach algorithm that considers the type of collaterals (ipsilateral or contralateral) and the a-priori choice of the hybrid technique, with the highest chance of success in that specific CTO lesion (independently from the J-CTO Score). One important aspect that makes this algorithm unique is its "dynamicity:" not only for the technique to be used, as in the classic hybrid algorithm (shifting between AWE, ADR, RWE and RDR), but also for the set-up, with access site and French size to be adapted during the PCI to the technique adopted. We believe that this novel approach could further improve the safety of CTO-PCI without losing its current efficacy.

Outcomes following PCI in CABG candidates during the COVID-19 pandemic: The prospective multicentre UK-ReVasc registry.

ObjectivesTo describe outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients who would usually have undergone coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).BackgroundIn the United Kingdom, cardiac surgery for coronary artery disease (CAD) was dramatically reduced during the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Many patients with “surgical disease” instead underwent PCI.MethodsBetween 1 March 2020 and 31 July 2020, 215 patients with recognized “surgical” CAD who underwent PCI were enrolled in the prospective UK‐ReVasc Registry (ReVR). 30‐day major cardiovascular event outcomes were collected. Findings in ReVR patients were directly compared to reference PCI and isolated CABG pre‐COVID‐19 data from British Cardiovascular Intervention Society (BCIS) and National Cardiac Audit Programme (NCAP) databases.ResultsReVR patients had higher incidence of diabetes (34.4% vs 26.4%, P = .008), multi‐vessel disease with left main stem disease (51.4% vs 3.0%, P < .001) and left anterior descending artery involvement (94.8% vs 67.2%, P < .001) compared to BCIS data. SYNTAX Score in ReVR was high (mean 28.0). Increased use of transradial access (93.3% vs 88.6%, P = .03), intracoronary imaging (43.6% vs 14.4%, P < .001) and calcium modification (23.6% vs 3.5%, P < .001) was observed. No difference in in‐hospital mortality was demonstrated compared to PCI and CABG data (ReVR 1.4% vs BCIS 0.7%, P = .19; vs NCAP 1.0%, P = .48). Inpatient stay was half compared to CABG (3.0 vs 6.0 days). Low‐event rates in ReVR were maintained to 30‐day follow‐up.ConclusionsPCI undertaken using contemporary techniques produces excellent short‐term results in patients who would be otherwise CABG candidates. Longer‐term follow‐up is essential to determine whether these outcomes are maintained over time.

Practice and long-term outcome of unprotected left main PCI: real-world data from a nationwide registry

Background Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is increasingly performed in significant left main (LM) lesions. Left untreated, the prognosis is poor, but PCI and coronary bypass surgery (CABG) behold risks as well. Additional long-term outcome data might guide future treatment decisions. Methods Between 2012 and 2019, all 6783 patients who underwent LM PCI were prospectively enrolled in a national registry. Patients with prior CABG or prior LM PCI, and patients presenting in cardiogenic shock or after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest were excluded. From the remaining 5284 patients, baseline and procedural data as well as long-term survival were assessed. Results The annual rate of LM PCI increased from 422 (2.2% of PCIs) in 2012 to 868 in 2018 (3.0%). By 2018, 71% of the interventional cardiologists performed at least 1 LM PCI a year, though only 5 on average. Use of transradial access (TRA) in LM PCI increased from 20.4% in 2012 to 59.5% in 2019. All-cause mortality was 6.0% at 30 days and 18.5% at a mean follow-up of 33.5 months. Independent predictors of higher long-term mortality were older age, diabetes, multivessel disease, an urgent indication, a suboptimal angiographical result, and non-exclusive use of drug-eluting stents. TRAand higher operator and centre LM PCI experience were independent predictors of a lower long-term mortality. Conclusion LM PCI is associated with high short- and long-term mortality. Use of TRA and higher expertise in LM PCI were associated with better survival.

Comparison between femoral access versus radial access in primary percutaneous coronary interventions

Introduction The femoral approach for coronary angiography and angioplasty is used by most interventional cardiologists in both elective and primary Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures. The use of transradial access has been increasing worldwide as it has fewer access site complications. Aim In this study, the author compared femoral versus radial approaches in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing primary angioplasty. Patients and Methods The study population consisted of 100 patients who presented to the author's center with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. The author divided the study population into two groups: group A that consisted of 50 patients in whom primary PCI was done through the transfemoral route and group B that consisted of 50 patients in whom primary PCI was done through the transradial route. The author compared complications in both groups. Results The author found that there was no significant difference between both groups regarding complications, namely, the major hematomas, the minor hematomas, the bleeding complications, pseudoaneurysm of the femoral artery, and loss of radial artery. Conclusion Under the light of the obtained results, the following conclusion could be drawn: first, both transfemoral and transradial approaches are feasible for performing primary angioplasty; second, there is an insignificant difference between the femoral approach and radial approach in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing primary PCI regarding complications, and third, operator should use the approach that is mastered.

Further advancement in the percutaneous revascularization of coronary chronic total occlusions: the redefined "Minimalistic Hybrid Approach" algorithm

A careful angiographic assessment of a chronic total occlusion (CTO) is essential for optimal procedural planning. In the classic hybrid approach, the insertion of two guiding catheters at the beginning of the intervention is recommended. This is fundamental to perform simultaneous double injection, to achieve complete visualization of the coronary circulation and to choose the best starting strategy between antegrade wire escalation (AWE), antegrade dissection and re-entry (ADR) and the retrograde techniques (retrograde wire escalation [RWE] and retrograde dissection and re-entry [RDR]). In the hybrid algorithm the set-up is the same, regardless of the chosen first strategy, and therefore routinely uses double access. Because revascularizations of CTOs commonly require large bore catheters (7-8 French) to ensure high back-up support, the femoral arterial access is preferred by most of the operators. However, the use of a double access, large introducer sheaths and femoral approach are associated with a greater risk of access-related complications and even the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events. We have previously proposed an algorithm, called "minimalistic hybrid approach," which aims to limit the routine use of dual injection, and to favor the use of trans-radial access and smaller (6-7 French) guiding catheters. In this algorithm the chosen starting strategy depends on the complexity of the lesion assessed by J-CTO Score and on the presence of favorable contralateral interventional collateral circulation. However, this novel algorithm proved to have some limitations, such as the non-specific evaluation of CTOs with ipsilateral collateral circulation and the too arbitrary choice of the starting strategy based on a J-CTO Score cut-off. These considerations led to the development of an "updated" minimalistic hybrid approach algorithm that considers the type of collaterals (ipsilateral or contralateral) and the a-priori choice of the hybrid technique, with the highest chance of success in that specific CTO lesion (independently from the J-CTO Score). One important aspect that makes this algorithm unique is its "dynamicity:" not only for the technique to be used, as in the classic hybrid algorithm (shifting between AWE, ADR, RWE and RDR), but also for the set-up, with access site and French size to be adapted during the PCI to the technique adopted. We believe that this novel approach could further improve the safety of CTO-PCI without losing its current efficacy.

Transradial access for thrombectomy in acute stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveTransradial access has recently been gaining more popularity in various neurointerventional procedures. To this day, a systematic review and meta-analysis investigating the outcomes of transradial access for mechanical thrombectomy in acute stroke have not been performed. MethodsPubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases were systematically searched. Studies published in the last ten years reporting on the use of transradial access for acute stroke intervention were eligible. The DerSimonian–Laird random effects model was used, and the primary endpoints included puncture to reperfusion time, end mRS, TICI reperfusion, mortality, and access site complications. ResultsA total of 515 records were identified. Fourteen observational studies reported on the use of radial access for thrombectomy, with 10 of these studies (n = 309) included in the meta-analysis. Mean puncture to reperfusion time associated with the transradial access was 46.864 ± 6.601 min. Favorable end mRS of ≤ 2 was reported in 37.1 % ± 7.3 % of patients. TICI ≥ 2B was achieved in 84.6 % ± 3.4 % of patients. All-cause mortality was observed in 9.3 % ± 4.8 % of patients. Transradial access had low complications with only 1.4 % ± 0.7 % of stroke cases. When the transradial studies were compared to the contemporary randomized clinical trials using the standard transfemoral access, no significant differences were found in all of these primary outcomes. ConclusionThis meta-analysis study demonstrates that transradial access for mechanical thrombectomy in acute stroke may be a feasible and safe alternative. Future prospective studies are needed to validate these results.

Comparison of acute kidney injury with radial vs. femoral access for patients undergoing coronary catheterization: An updated meta-analysis of 46,816 patients.

Trans-radial access for percutaneous coronary intervention or angiography has gained popularity amongst interventional cardiologists. Radial access is also thought to reduce the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in the immediate post-operative period. The purpose of the present study was to perform a comprehensive updated systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the incidence of AKI following the radial vs. femoral route of coronary catheterization. An electronic literature search of the PubMed, BioMed Central, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Google Scholar databases up to 1st January 2020 was performed. A total of 14 studies were included, 2 of which were randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and 6 studies utilized propensity score matching. Comparison of the data of 21,479 patients in the radial group and 25,337 patients in the femoral group indicated a reduced incidence of AKI with the radial route [odds ratio (OR):0.66, 95% CI: 0.54-0.81, P<0.0001, I2=74%]. Similar results were obtained with sub-group analyses for RCTs (OR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.77-0.98, P=0.02, I2=0%), retrospective studies (OR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.36-0.90, P=0.02, I2=86%) and propensity score-matched studies (OR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.48-0.83, P=0.0009, I2=45%). Multivariable-adjusted ORs of AKI for the radial vs. femoral route were extracted from non-RCTs and pooled for a meta-analysis, which also demonstrated similar results (OR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.57-0.88, P=0.002, I2=70%). Within the limitations of the study, the present results indicate that, as compared to femoral access, the use of trans-radial access for coronary catheterization is associated with a significantly reduced incidence of AKI. A reduction of AKI by ~34% may be expected with the use of radial access.

Vascular access and radiation exposure during percutaneous coronary procedures.

In the cardiology community, the use of transradial access for percutaneous coronary procedures is progressively increasing all around the world overtaking the use of transfemoral access. The advantages of the transradial access are based on a significant reduction in bleeding and vascular events compared to the femoral access and on a reduction in mortality in the setting of acute coronary syndromes. However, in recent years a slight but significant increase in radiation exposure for patients and operators associated with the radial approach has been detected, increasing concerns about possible long term increased stochastic risk. In particular interventional cardiologists are among physicians performing interventional procedures using X-rays, those exposed to the highest radiation dose during their activity and this exposure is not without possible long-term clinical consequences in term of deterministic and stochastic effects. All the operators should be aware of these risks and manage to reduce their radiation exposure. In this review we analysed the differences in term of radiation exposure comparing the radial and the femoral access for percutaneous coronary procedures. Then, we discussed the possible clinical consequences of these differences and finally we showed the available tools aimed to reduce the operator radiation exposure. In particular the use of adjunctive protective drapes placed on the patient might reduce operator radiation exposure in up to 81% of the dose.

First line transradial access for posterior circulation stroke intervention; initial 12-month experience at a high volume thrombectomy center

BackgroundThe Neurointerventional Surgery Standards and Guidelines Committee has advocated the use of transradial access in the setting of posterior circulation stroke intervention, however there is a paucity of published data on this approach. The purpose of this study is to present 12-months of prospectively collected data from a high volume thrombectomy center following the adoption of a first line transradial approach for posterior circulation stroke intervention. MethodsA range of data on patient characteristics, procedural metrics, complications and outcomes was prospectively collected between August 2018 - August 2019 following the adoption of first line transradial access for posterior circulation stroke intervention at a high volume thrombectomy center. ResultsTransradial access was successful in 22/23 cases (96%), median arteriotomy to reperfusion time was 24 min (IQR 18–40), good angiographic outcome (mTICI 2b-3) was achieved in all cases and good clinical outcome (mRs 0–2) was achieved in 61% of cases. No intracranial or radial artery access site complications occurred. ConclusionThe fast procedure times, excellent outcomes and low complication rates achieved in this prospective 12-month study indicate that transradial access is a viable first line strategy in posterior circulation stroke intervention.

THE EFFECTS OF OPERATOR EXPERIENCE ON USE OF TRANSRADIAL ACCESS IN FEMALE PATIENTS UNDERGOING PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION

Several studies have demonstrated that female sex is independently associated with a decrease use of transradial access (TRA) in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of operator experience on the use of TRA in women

L’occlusion de l’artère radiale après cathétérisme cardiaque : est-ce réellement un problème ?

The use of transradial access for cardiac procedures has increased worldwide over the past two decades. Despite the many advantages this technique offers, there remains some concern that radial artery occlusion, a potential complication of radial cannulation, might lead to significant ischemic sequelae in the hand. This paper reviews the major causes, its possible consequences and the strategies for its prevention and treatment. It appears however from multiple studies that there is little or no correlation between radial occlusion and symptomatic hand ischemia.

Transradial approach to embolization of a basilar aneurysm: a clinical case and literature review

The study objective is to present a clinical case of using transradial access for embolization of an aneurysm of the basilar artery (BA) bifurcation. Materials and methods. A patient, 67 years old, sought medical help at the I.I. Dzhanelidze Saint Petersburg Research Institute of Emergency Medicine complaining of headaches. Computed angiography of the brain had shown a large aneurysm of the BA with an absolutely wide neck. Embolization of the aneurysm using stent assistance (Y-stenting) was performed with access through the radial artery. The results were compared to data from scientific literature (about 16 cases).Results. Aneurysm embolization level was II or IIIb per the modified Raymond–Roy classification was performed. No complications were observed, blood flow in the radial artery was preserved. The patient was released on day 2 after the surgery. No signs of blood flow through the aneurysm were observed during control selective cerebral angiography 12 months later. According to literature data, transradial access is preferable only with pathology of the vertebrobasilar system, especially if standard access is impossible to form due to atherosclerotic damage of the femoral artery, angling of the aortic arch, and pathological vessel tortuosity.Conclusion. Routine use of transradial access in surgery of pathologies of the cerebral flow is not justifiable. But in some cases, this alternative access can be more effective and safer compared to the standard access. The main advantages of this access are reduced rate of complications of arterial access and possibility of early patient activization.

Transradial Approach for Left Ventricular Endomyocardial Biopsy

BackgroundLeft ventricular endomyocardial biopsy (LV-EMB) may offer a superior diagnostic yield compared with right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy (RV-EMB) in conditions predominantly affecting the LV but is underused compared with RV-EMB. Despite the steep uptake of radial approach in coronary interventions, LV-EMB is usually performed via the femoral artery in contemporary practice. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the safety and feasibility of LV-EMB via a transradial approach in a multicentre registry. MethodsOne-hundred and two patients who underwent LV-EMB via transradial approach were included. Clinical characteristics, procedural, safety and feasibility data were evaluated. ResultsLV-EMB was successfully performed via transradial access in 101 (99%) patients. Mild or moderate radial artery spasm occurred in 12 (12%) patients, but only 1 (0.98%) patient required conversion to femoral access due to severe spasm. A total of 80 (78%) patients had LV-EMB via a sheathless guide catheter. Among those, 77 (96.3%) patients had 7.5-French sheathless guides, and 3 (3.8%) patients had 8.5-French sheathless guides inserted. Radial sheaths were used in the remaining 22 patients, with 5-French sheaths in 21 of 22 patients. Heparin was administered to 93.1% of patients at a median dose of 5000 (3000–5000) IU. The remaining patients followed a provisional strategy upon patent hemostasis achievement. No access site-related complications were reported. There were no major complications (pericardial tamponade, life-threatening arrhythmia, cerebrovascular accident or death). ConclusionsIn a population of patients undergoing transradial LV-EMB, the procedural success rate was high and showed an excellent safety profile. Further studies comparing transradial and transfemoral routes may help expand the use of transradial access for LV-EMB.