Utility of transradial approach for peripheral vascular interventions

This review demonstrates the feasibility of the transradial approach (TRA) to address different peripheral vascular lesions. The TRA has long been used to address practically all coronary artery lesion subsets. It has shown significant benefits when compared with transfemoral approach (TFA), particularly a reduction in puncture-site related bleeding complications. TRA can be utilized effectively to address peripheral vascular lesions, including the renal, iliac, subclavian, carotid, vertebrobasilar, and superficial femoral systems. Utility of TRA for addressing peripheral vascular lesions using different techniques has been discussed in detail. Advantages and limitations of the TRA are highlighted, and the results of different studies using TRA for peripheral interventions are discussed. The pros and cons of TRA versus TFA for peripheral procedures are also demonstrated. The TRA is an effective alternative for TFA to address most peripheral vascular lesion subsets. However, there is a need for the development of radial-specific hardware to track bulky devices.