Distal Radial Access for Radial Artery Recanalization: Multicenter Outcomes and Stepwise Strategies to Maximize Patency.

BACKGROUND

Radial artery occlusion complicates transradial access, limiting future access and precluding bypass grafting and dialysis. Distal radial access offers a promising solution by allowing retrograde recanalization of occluded radial arteries.

OBJECTIVES

The authors sought to evaluate multicenter outcomes of radial artery recanalization though distal radial access (DRA), focusing on its safety, efficacy, and reproducibility, while identifying procedural strategies to optimize patency.

METHODS

This international registry included 110 patients with radial artery occlusion from 7 centers. Operators with substantial DRA experience (>200 procedures) performed retrograde recanalization through DRA in the anatomical snuffbox using mainly a drilling or knuckling technique to cross the occlusion and dotter dilation ("dotterization") or balloon angioplasty to dilate it. Outcomes included procedural success and radial artery patency at 31 (30-32) days.

RESULTS

Procedural success was achieved in 94% of cases (95% CI: 88%-97%), with acute complications managed conservatively. Radial artery patency at 30 days was 80% (95% CI: 72%-86%). Multivariable analysis identified sheathless approach as the only significant predictor of patency (OR: 3.07; 95% CI: 1.10-8.59), whereas use of sheaths >6-F (OR: 0.15; 95% CI: 0.02-0.97) and balloon >2.25 mm (OR: 0.10; 95% CI: 0.01-0.92) were associated with decreased patency.

CONCLUSIONS

Recanalization of occluded radial arteries through DRA is a safe, effective, and reproducible procedure with the primary benefit to maintaining the safest vascular access option. A dotterization technique using sheaths ≤6-F or, even better, a sheathless approach should be preferred as it appears to be associated with improved patency at 30 days.