Strategies to overcome challenges of transradial coronary angiography and intervention

Abstract

The transradial approach has become the preferred route for performing coronary angiography and interventions. Several studies reported that radial access is associated with significant reduction in vascular complications compared with the femoral access. This technique allows also early ambulation, improves the patient's well-being, and is less expensive. One important limitation of radial access is that coronary engagement from transradial approach is more challenging than transfemoral approach. The increased susceptibility of the radial artery to spasm, the radial-brachial artery tortuosities, and the subclavianaorta curves make catheter advancement and coronary artery cannulation difficult. Hereby, we suggest several techniques for recognising and overcoming potential challenges during transradial coronary angiography.

Keywords

• cardiac catheterization
• radial artery
• coronary arteries
• cardiac catheters