Successful percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion via the radial artery

Area of Science:

• Interventional Cardiology
• Vascular Access Techniques

Background:

• Radial artery (RA) access is increasingly preferred for percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs).
• Femoral access is often favored for complex PCI cases like chronic total occlusions (CTOs) and bifurcation lesions due to perceived limitations of the radial approach.

Observation:

• A case involving a chronic total occlusion (CTO) of the right coronary artery is presented.
• The CTO was successfully treated using percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) via the left radial artery (RA).

Findings:

• This case demonstrates the feasibility of treating a complex CTO lesion using the radial artery (RA) approach.
• Short CTO lesions without adverse prognostic factors can be successfully managed with PCI via RA access.

Implications:

• The radial artery (RA) approach can be a viable option for complex chronic total occlusion (CTO) interventions, even in cases where femoral access is unavailable.
• Interventional cardiologists should consider RA access for CTO revascularization when indicated, particularly for shorter, less complex lesions.