Transradial percutaneous iliac intervention, a feasible alternative to the transfemoral route

Abstract

Background: Percutaneous angioplasty for atherosclerotic iliac disease is commonly performed via the femoral and/or brachial route. In the coronary field a transradial approach has been shown to reduce both major and minor access site bleedings, in experienced hands. However, this route has not yet been well studied for the majority of peripheral interventions, like those involving the iliac arteries.

Methods: We investigated the feasibility and safety of a transradial approach in a consecutive series of patients undergoing percutaneous iliac intervention at our center, comparing it to a similar series of patients treated with a transfemoral approach in the same period. Endpoints of the study were procedural success, duration of procedure and event free survival at one month.

Results: From our database we enrolled 42 patients undergone iliac percutaneous interventions (21 with a transradial and 21 with a transfemoral approach); the 2 populations had similar baseline characteristics. Procedural success was achieved in all of our patient population. Among the secondary study endpoints analyzed we observed similar duration of the procedure and one-month clinical follow up. Technical aspects of the transradial approach are discussed.

Conclusions: A transradial approach is feasible for the treatment of atherosclerotic iliac disease and does not increase procedural time in experienced hands. Further studies are needed to confirm if this approach is as safe as the transfemoral one.