Snuffbox to the rescue: distal transradial approach for cardiac catheterisation after failed ipsilateral radial puncture

Distal Radial Access: Is There a Clinical Benefit?

For decades, the femoral artery has been the most common vascular access for diagnostic and therapeutic endovascular procedures. However, over the past 20 years, radial access has been gaining popularity, as it is a safer and allows practical access with more benefits. Recently, the new distal radial access has proven to be an equal or perhaps even safer vascular access for diagnostic and therapeutic coronary and noncoronary interventions. Today, this access should be in the arsenal of every interventional surgeon.

Distal Transradial (Snuffbox) Access for Coronary Catheterization: A Systematic Review

Distal transradial access, through puncture of the radial artery at its course in the anatomical snuffbox, has emerged recently as an alternative approach for coronary catheterization. Several advantages of this approach seem promising and several studies are trying to elucidate its features. This review provides an overview of the snuffbox approach for coronary catheterization and summarizes the key results of the research conducted so far.

Distal Transradial Access for Coronary Angiography and Interventions

Coronary angiography is one of the most common procedures done in the United States and in other developed countries. For decades, the femoral artery has been the most common vascular access site utilized for this procedure. However, the radial access has been gaining popularity for being a safer and yet practical vascular access with substantial benefits. More recently, the novel distal transradial approach has proven to be an equally or perhaps safer vascular access for diagnostic and interventional coronary and noncoronary procedures. This technique should be in every interventional cardiologist's arsenal.

Distal Radial Access: A Review Article

Transradial approach (TRA) for coronary angiography and interventions has been increasingly used over the last decades and has become the default strategy in the majority of catheterization laboratories worldwide. Recently, a novel transradial access site, the distal radial access (DRA), has been proposed as an alternative to traditional TRA. Several case reports and case series have been published on this new approach over the last year showing overall good success rates. Aim of this review is to present the possible benefits and drawbacks of DRA and offer guidance on its successful use.