Ultrasonographic Characterizations of Radial Artery for Transradial Approach in the Saudi Population: A Pilot Study

Background The radial artery originates from the brachial artery at the level of the neck of the radius in the cubital fossa. It has multiple branches all over its course, and it is an important artery for multiple procedures across several fields. Objectives The objective of this article is to assess the size and characteristics of the radial artery in the Saudi population for the transradial approach. It aims to compare the diameters of the distal and proximal radial arteries using ultrasonography and determine the clinical significance of the findings in selecting an appropriate catheter size among different demographic groups. Additionally, the study aims to contrast the obtained results with international standards to provide a comprehensive analysis of the radial artery characteristics in the Saudi population. Methods A pilot study was conducted at a Medina region hospital in Madinah from December 2022 to July 2023. An ultrasonographic assessment of the right radial artery was performed on a sample of 45 volunteers. Results Our results showed a significantly larger mean diameter of the right ulnar artery in males compared to females. No other significant differences were observed in the characteristics of the right proximal radial artery (PRA), distal radial artery (DRA), or ulnar artery between genders. Significant differences in arterial characteristics were observed across different body mass index (BMI) categories for several parameters. Depth measurements in the right PRA displayed notable differences across age groups, and the ulnar artery showed significant variability among age categories. No statistically significant differences were found in arterial characteristics across smoking categories. Conclusion Our study on Saudi Arabian radial artery ultrasonography reveals potential clinical correlations, highlighting the influence of age and BMI on arterial characteristics. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore demographic determinants.