Application and Validation of a transRADial Access Score (RAD-Access) in Patient Selection for Safe Radial Access in...

Objectives: To develop and internally validate a pre-treatment score for the safe selection of the best candidates for the transradial approach when performing liver cancer intra-arterial procedures. Methods: One hundred and twenty-two patients undergoing hepatic endovascular treatments via radial access between January and December 2022 were retrospectively selected to develop a prediction model. Pre-procedural imaging data were analyzed, and variables were selected to develop the RAD-access score. Intra-procedural data were analyzed to assess effective procedural complexity (ePC). The relationship between ePC and pre-procedural variables was statistically tested, and cutoff points were defined. Results: A final score (RAD-access) was created and prospectively validated on 139 patients enrolled between June and September 2023. Aortic arch diameter and angulation, left subclavian artery angulation, suprarenal abdominal aorta diameter, celiac trunk take-off angle, and radial artery diameter were the significant variables used to build the score. In the validation cohort, based on the pre-treatment RAD-access score, 69 patients underwent a transradial approach, with a significantly lower ePC rate obtained (78.2% easy, 20.3% intermediate, 1.5% complex). No major adverse events occurred. Conclusions: Pre-treatment RAD-access score provides a good prediction for the procedural complexity of the transradial approach in patients undergoing liver cancer intra-arterial treatments, identifying the best candidates for an easy and safe transradial procedure.