Perioperative adverse events in percutaneous versus open brachial access

The objective of the present study was to compare the incidence of complications at the access site after percutaneous brachial access (PBA) and open brachial access (OBA) in the treatment of peripheral arterial disease.

From November 2016 to November 2021, all patients who had undergone peripheral artery revascularization with brachial access were included. The primary outcome was the 30-day rate of postoperative complications at the access site. The complications included hematoma, arteriovenous fistula, and pseudoaneurysms that had resulted in prolonged hospitalization and/or reintervention.

Overall, 259 procedures with brachial access had been performed (PBA, n = 101; OBA, n = 158). The baseline clinical and demographic characteristics were well-balanced between the two groups. The sheath size was larger for the OBA procedures. Complications had occurred in 11 of 101 patients (11.1%) in the PBA group and 5 of 158 patients (3.2%) in the OBA group (P = .01). The mean duration of the procedure was significantly shorter for the PBA group (73.5 ± 46.5 minutes vs 101.2 ± 60.8 minutes; P = .0001).

For patients who had undergone brachial access for peripheral vascular disease, the rate of access site-related complications was significantly lower for the patients who had undergone open access compared with that for the patients who had undergone percutaneous access.