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Updated: Aug 29, 2026
Ultrasound Assessment of Endothelial-Dependent Flow-Mediated Vasodilation of the Brachial Artery in Clinical Research
Published on: October 22, 2014
Ultrasound imaging of the radial artery following its use for cardiac catheterization
J J Hall1, A M Arnold, R P Valentine
1St. Luke's Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53215, USA.
Insights
Transradial arterial access using 5Fr catheters is safe for cardiac angiography, with rare complications. A palpable radial pulse doesn't always confirm artery patency, but ulnar artery supply prevents ischemia.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Vascular Access
Background:
- Transradial access is an alternative to transfemoral access for cardiac procedures.
- Assessing radial artery patency post-procedure is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of transradial arterial access with 5Fr catheters for cardiac angiography.
- To assess the incidence of clinical and subclinical complications.
- To investigate the reliability of palpable radial pulse for artery patency.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of patients undergoing cardiac angiography via transradial access.
- Utilized 5Fr catheters for arterial access.
- Monitored for clinical complications and assessed radial artery patency.
Main Results:
- Transradial access with 5Fr catheters demonstrated a low incidence of clinical complications.
- Subclinical radial artery occlusion was infrequent (1 patient).
- A palpable radial pulse was not a reliable indicator of artery patency due to potential retrograde flow.
Conclusions:
- Transradial arterial access with 5Fr catheters is a safe and effective method for cardiac angiography.
- The dual vascular supply of the hand, via the ulnar artery, mitigates ischemic risk from radial artery occlusion.
Abstract:
Our experience suggests transradial arterial access with 5Fr catheters can be used for cardiac angiography with a low incidence of clinical complications, and supports the findings of previous investigators. Subclinical complications at the catheterization site were infrequent in this study (1 patient with asymptomatic radial artery occlusion). The presence of a palpable radial pulse may not be a reliable estimate of artery patency as evidenced by our patient with a palpable pulse due to retrograde flow. The theoretical advantage of the procedure is derived from the dual vascular supply to the hand. Radial artery occlusion, while uncommon, results in no ischemic sequelae in the setting of a patent ulnar artery.
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