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Upper Extremity Variant Vascular Anatomy: Navigation Techniques.
Mladen I Vidovich1, James Nolan2
1Cardiology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60613, USA.
Interventional Cardiology Clinics
|September 17, 2025
Summary
Upper limb approaches for cardiac procedures like cardiac catheterization and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are common. Understanding vascular variations in the arm is crucial for safe and successful transradial and transulnar interventions.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Vascular Anatomy
- Interventional Cardiology
Background:
- Upper limb approaches for cardiac catheterization and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are increasingly preferred over transfemoral access.
- These methods offer benefits such as reduced bleeding, enhanced patient comfort, and faster ambulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the spectrum of upper extremity vascular anomalies.
- To discuss the clinical implications of these variations for transradial and transulnar cardiac catheterization and PCI.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on upper limb vascular anatomy and its variations.
- Analysis of clinical implications in the context of cardiac catheterization and PCI.
Main Results:
- Knowledge of upper limb vascular anatomy, including congenital and acquired variations, is essential for procedural success.
- Anomalies can impact the safety and efficacy of transradial and transulnar access.
Conclusions:
- A comprehensive understanding of upper extremity vascular anatomy and its anomalies is critical for interventional cardiologists.
- Optimizing patient selection and procedural techniques based on vascular variations improves outcomes for transradial and transulnar cardiac interventions.
Keywords:
Percutaneous coronary interventionUpper extremityUpper limbsVascular anatomyVascular anomaliesMore Related Videos
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