A novel technique to perform cerebral angiography via the left radial approach: An 80 patients series

To demonstrate that left radial access for diagnostic cerebral angiography with Extra backup and 4F vertebral catheters is feasible and safe.

This study is a retrospective review of our prospective database on left radial access for cerebral angiography procedures, using an extra backup catheter associated with a 4Fr vertebral catheter, performed between March and September 2019. Patient demographics, procedural and radiographic metrics as well as clinical data were recorded.

Seventy five patients with mean age of 51...years (range 21...73) underwent 80 cerebral angiographies. An average of four vessels were catheterized and mean fluoroscopy times per subject and vessel were was of 13.9 and 3.3...min, respectively. One patient required crossover to transfemoral access because of radial artery spasm. There were one asymptomatic distal radial artery occlusion and one patient presenting with asymptomatic skin blanching area on the forearm, just proximal to the tip of the sheath, that spontaneously resolved within an hour.

Diagnostic cerebral angiography via left radial access is feasible and safe and allows to preserve the right radial access for future neurointerventions while providing more comfort to the right handed patient.