Single-centre Initial Experience of Transradial Access for Abdominal Interventional Radiology

Abstract

Background: Transradial access (TRA) has long been used for coronary and noncoronary angiographic procedures with substantial benefits when compared with transfemoral access, including earlier ambulation, readily achieved haemostasis, and shorter hospital stay. However, the transfemoral technique remains the mainstay of vascular access in interventional radiology. We herein present a single institution’s experience with transradial intervention and evaluates its feasibility and safety. Methods: A total of 94 TRA procedures were performed in 69 patients (16 women and 53 men) between April 2017 and May 2020. These included 68 chemoembolisations of liver tumours, 15 procedures for selective internal radiation therapy with yttrium-90, which included mapping and administration, eight renal angiomyolipoma embolisations, one uterine artery embolisation, one left internal iliac embolisation for abdominal aortic aneurysm, and one pelvic angioembolisation for trauma. Results: Mean age of the patients was 65.9 years. Technical success was achieved in 90 of the 94 cases (95.7%). Four cases (4.3%) required a change to transfemoral access (failed catheterisation of celiac axis or superior mesenteric artery, very small radial artery, and an aortic anatomical variant). Two patients (2.1%) developed small access site haematomas after the procedures. Mortality, stroke and radial artery occlusion rates at 30 days after TRA procedures were 0%. Conclusion: TRA is a safe, feasible and effective technique for abdominal interventional radiology procedures.