The brachial artery method to transluminal coronary angioplasty

The development of a brachial artery guiding catheter for (percutaneous) transluminal coronary angioplasty is described. Three-hundred angioplasty procedures were attempted with 196 (65%) via the branchial and 104 (35%) via the femoral artery. The coronary stenosis was crossed in 202 attempts (67%); in 138 via the brachial (70%) and 64 via the femoral artery (62%). A successful angioplasty occurred in 117 via the brachial (85%) and in 50 via the femoral artery (78%). Successful angioplasty of the left anterior descending artery was equally effective with either technique. Successful angioplasty of the right coronary artery was more difficult (P less than 0.05) using the femoral artery. An unsuccessful angioplasty with one technique was occasionally overcome by use of the other technique. No brachial artery complications were encountered. The brachial method to transluminal coronary angioplasty is an acceptable and complementary alternative to the femoral technique. Those laboratories contemplating percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty may desire to utilize both approaches.