Neuroendovascular interventions for intracranial posterior circulation disease via the transradial approach: technical case report

Abstract

Objective and importance: To describe our experience with the transradial approach for posterior circulation neurointerventional procedures. To the best of our knowledge, this approach has not been described previously for intracranial neuroendovascular procedures.

Clinical presentation: The clinical and imaging characteristics as well as periprocedural outcomes of patients treated for intracranial posterior circulation disease via the transradial approach were analyzed retrospectively.

Intervention: Between January 1 and October 21, 2003, four patients with posterior circulation disease (aneurysm, n = 1, and atherosclerotic stenosis, n = 3) were treated via the transradial approach because of tortuous brachiocephalic anatomy. Procedural success was 100%, and there were no procedural complications. No technical difficulties were encountered.

Conclusion: The transradial approach is an alternative to the femoral approach for posterior circulation neuroendovascular intervention. This approach has several advantages over other approaches, and the vasculature can be less tortuous than that encountered during the femoral approach. These factors can result in increased device trackability and procedural ease.