Feasibility and Safety of the Distal Transradial Access for Noncardiac Intervention

Distal transradial access through the anatomical snuffbox has been highlighted in recent research because it provides extremely low invasiveness. It has demonstrated its feasibility and safety for cardiac intervention. However, its characteristics for noncardiac intervention are not well known. This report aims to demonstrate the feasibility and safety of noncardiac intervention with distal transradial access, with identification of practical devices for procedures.

This retrospective study was conducted from May 2021 to December 2021 with consecutive patients who underwent distal transradial access for noncardiac intervention. This study analyzed patient physical information, procedural details, technical success rates, and distal transradial access-associated complications.

Nine patients (7 females, 2 males) aged 48-69 years (median: 57) were enrolled in this study. This study assessed 11 noncardiac procedures, such as transarterial infusion chemotherapy for head and neck malignancies (n = 4), embolization of visceral artery aneurysm (n = 2), embolization of renal angiomyolipoma (n = 2), percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (n = 1), bronchial artery embolization (n = 1), and diagnostic angiography (n = 1). The introducer sheath size was 4-6 French. Catheters respectively having nine tip shapes were used. Reverse curve catheters were used only in two cervical procedures. The technical success rate was 91% (10/11). Of the 11 procedures, only 1 (bronchial artery embolization) required conversion to transfemoral access. There was no complication associated with distal transradial access. Ultrasound evaluation after treatments revealed patent radial arteries in all patients.

Results revealed that distal transradial access is feasible with commercially available catheters and is safe for various noncardiac interventions.