Noncoronary transradial angioplasty with coronary equipment: a less invasive technique

Consensus document on the radial approach in percutaneous cardiovascular interventions: position paper by the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions and Working Groups on Acute Cardiac Care** and Thrombosis of the European Society of Cardiology

Radial access use has been growing steadily but, despite encouraging results, still varies greatly among operators, hospitals, countries and continents. Twenty years from its introduction, it was felt that the time had come to develop a common evidence-based view on the technical, clinical and organisational implications of using the radial approach for coronary angiography and interventions. The European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI) has, therefore, appointed a core group of European and non-European experts, including pioneers of radial angioplasty and operators with different practices in vascular access supported by experts nominated by the Working Groups on Acute Cardiac Care and Thrombosis of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Their goal was to define the role of the radial approach in modern interventional practice and give advice on technique, training needs, and optimal clinical indications.

Feasibility of trans-radial approach in percutaneous intervention for upper arm dialysis access

BACKGROUND

This retrospective study evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of trans-radial intervention for upper arm dialysis access.

METHODS

This study retrospectively reviewed 165 trans-radial interventions performed for upper arm dialysis access in 101 patients. Sixty-nine patients had arteriovenous graft (AVG), and 32 had arteriovenous fistula (AVF). Balloon angioplasty was performed in 66 stenotic dialysis accesses and 99 thrombosed dialysis accesses. Thrombosed dialysis access was further managed by additional balloon thrombectomy with or without urokinase injection.

RESULTS

Procedural time was 46.7 +/- 25.5 minutes. Anatomic and clinical success rates were 89.7% and 84.2%, respectively. The rate of complications, most of which involved lesion rupture with contrast-media extravasation and distal embolism, was 9.7%. Pretreatment stenosis was more severe (p = 0.01) and the prevalence of total occlusion was higher (p < 0.01) in the AVG group than the AVF group. The success rate and complication rate did not statistically differ (p = 0.59). Additionally, the thrombosed group had a lower success rate (p = 0.02), a higher complication rate (p < 0.01) and a longer procedural time (p < 0.01) than the stenotic group.

CONCLUSIONS

Comparison with previous studies employing the traditional approach reveals that trans-radial intervention has a comparable success rate, procedural time and complication rate for upper arm dialysis access. Therefore, trans-radial intervention is a safe and feasible technique for upper arm dialysis access.

Transradial approach for noncoronary angiography and interventions

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the feasibility and safety of a transradial approach for non-coronary angiography and interventions.

BACKGROUND

Generally, the transradial approach is used for coronary angiography and intervention around the world, and experiences have been widely reported. However, few large studies have examined the transradial approach for vessels other than the coronary or cerebral artery.

METHODS

Subjects comprised 329 patients who underwent a total of 400 procedures (285 abdomens, 68 pelvises, and 47 lower limbs) with transradial angiography and interventions between January 1999 and June 2006. Normal Allen test results were confirmed before all procedures. A 130- or 150-cm long 4F catheter modified to our own design was used for angiography and interventions such as transarterial embolization or transarterial chemotherapy.

RESULTS

Radial artery access was unachievable in 19 of the 400 procedures (4.8%). The radial artery was injured during 1 procedure (0.2%). In the remaining 380 procedures, sufficient angiography was obtained to grasp the condition of indispensable vessels for diagnosis and interventions scheduled in advance succeeded. Total transradial technical success rate in the series was 95%. Frequency of complications such as radial injury or radial spasm was 1.8%. No cases of local hematoma, hand ischemia, or cerebral infarction were encountered.

CONCLUSION

The transradial approach was useful for non-coronary angiography and interventions and offers the advantages of low risk and reduced stress on patients.

Percutaneous Treatment of Dysfunctional Brescia-Cimino Fistulae Through a Radial Arterial Approach

BACKGROUND

Dysfunctional Brescia-Cimino fistulae contribute to significant morbidity in hemodialysis patients. These fistulae normally are treated through a retrograde venous approach. There are no data regarding a transradial approach. Furthermore, measurement of pressure reduction in the radial artery appears to be useful.

METHODS

We retrospectively examined 50 interventions to treat 49 patients (17 men, 32 women; mean age, 61.8 +/- 10.6 years) with Brescia-Cimino fistulae. Inclusion criteria were patients with palpable radial arteries and dysfunctional end-to-side Brescia-Cimino fistulae. Patients with infected fistulae, contrast allergy, upper-arm/synthetic graft/central-vein stenosis, and end-to-end Brescia-Cimino fistulae were excluded from the study. Radial arterial pressures before and after angioplasty were compared as a surrogate of stenosis relief. Anatomic and clinical success rates were calculated.

RESULTS

Sixty-five stenoses and 4 total occlusions were treated through radial access. All radial punctures were successful, except in 1 patient. Most lesions were located in the cephalic vein (87%). Mean length of treated lesions was 4.1 +/- 2.8 cm. Mean pretreatment diameter of lesion stenoses was 76.7% +/- 12.1%. Mean posttreatment diameter stenosis was 22.6% +/- 8.2% (P < 0.001). Systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressures recorded from the radial artery decreased from 130 +/- 40, 60 +/- 18, and 87 +/- 27 to 88 +/- 40, 43 +/- 18, and 60 +/- 26 mm Hg (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001), respectively. The anatomic success rate of the transradial approach was 91.3%. The clinical success rate of the transradial approach was 96%.

CONCLUSION

The transradial approach is a feasible and highly effective approach to treat dysfunctional Brescia-Cimino fistulae. Measuring blood pressure reduction through the radial artery appears promising as a hemodynamic evaluation method.

Transradial intervention for native fistula failure

The native radiocephalic (Brescia-Cimino) fistula is usually constructed with an anastomosis of the cephalic vein and radial artery. Catheter interventions for native fistula failure have until now been performed via the transcephalic or transbrachial approach. Transradial intervention for native fistula failure was prospectively evaluated for a selected consecutive 11 patients. Six patients had a single lesion and 5 patients had double lesions. Twelve lesions were stenotic and 4 were occlusive with thrombus. Balloon angioplasty alone was successful in 10 lesions. In thrombosed fistulas, 2 lesions underwent manual catheter-directed thrombo-aspiration and 2 further lesions underwent a combination of catheter-directed thrombo-aspiration and mechanical thrombectomy. Cutting Balloon angioplasty was performed for 3 resistant venous stenoses and for 1 radial artery stenosis. Technical and clinical success were achieved in all patients. No vessel rupture or perforation was observed in this study, nor was distal embolization in the radial artery or symptomatic pulmonary embolism. No radial artery occlusion or fistula infection was seen during the follow-up. The primary patency rates were 82% at 3 months and 64% at 6 months. Transradial intervention for native fistula failure is considered safe and feasible in a selected population; yet requires further validation.

Transradial approach for percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting in the treatment of chronic mesenteric ischemia

Chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI) occurs in the presence of slowly progressive, long-standing stenoses of the visceral arteries secondary to atherosclerosis. Angioplasty and stenting are emerging as therapeutic alternatives to surgery in treating CMI. The transradial approach is an attractive alternative access for performing stenting in CMI at improved safety and ease. A case of CMI treated with stenting of the visceral arteries by both transradial and femoral approaches is presented here. The main difficulty in accessing the celiac and mesenteric arteries through the femoral approach is the angle between the aorta and these vessels, which often leads the operator to use multiple catheters. The main advantage of the radial approach (as well as the brachial one) is that it allows easy coaxial alignment of the catheter with the artery. The main problem is the inadequate length of the currently available catheters. The radial approach eliminates the risk for vascular complications and permits early ambulation.

Less invasive PTCA of a gastroepiploic artery combining the transradial approach and 5 Fr guiding catheter: a case report

The gastroepiploic artery has been successfully used as an arterial conduit in selected patients undergoing CABG with acceptable immediate and long-term results. Myocardial ischemia may occur during the follow-up period as a result of spasm, occlusion, or stenosis at the anastomosis site. Because of tortuosity and in order to avoid graft spasm and to obtain good extra backup support, we require low-profile wide-lumen guiding catheters for deep intubation and increased procedural success. In the case presented here, a gastroepiploic graft stenosis was treated by balloon angioplasty performed through a less invasive approach combining transradial access and use of 5 Fr guiding catheter.