Dorsal (Distal) Transradial Access for Coronary Angiography and Intervention

Access to the arterial system through the distal or dorsal terminal end of the radial artery has recently been developed for interventional and diagnostic procedures. This technique may offer some advantages for specific patient subsets over the traditional radial approach. It may also offer advantages to the operator especially when using the left radial artery. The approach to successful dorsal radial access is described along with hemostasis. Although significant adverse events have not been described in the literature or on social media, several potential areas for vigilance are mentioned.