Radial arterial access of the forearm and hand.

Aim:

The common site for the radial artery catheterization is located at the distal third of the forearm and this was proven to be feasible and relatively safe technique. There are another sites to puncture the radial artery and both are located distally, within the anatomical snuffbox, and at the dorsal hand surface, in the vertex of the angle between the long extensor of the thumb and the second metacarpal bone. The aim of our study was to demonstrate that radial artery catheterization distally to the conventional puncture site followed by a proper local compression allows to reduce the risk of radial artery occlusion and other access-related complications.

Methods, results:

Catheterization of the radial artery was performed in 5983 patients. Radial artery of the forearm (RAF) - n=3099, radial artery of the anatomical snuffbox (RAAS) - n=2775, radial artery dorsum of the hand (RADH) - n=109. Control examination of access artery was performed at repeated procedures with the assessment of the number and success of re-catheterizations, the analysis of the "learning Curve", fluoroscopy time and Kerma. Fluoroscopy time and Kerma during catheterization of the radial artery of the forearm in the region of the radial artery in the anatomical snuffbox was comparable.  

Conclusion:

Occlusion of the radial artery was found less frequently during catheterization in the region of the anatomical snuffbox and on the dorsum of the hand. 

Posted by: Aleksandr, Radial artery hand. Comfort and safety., North-West State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov, Russian Federation (06-Apr-2017)