Abstract

Transradial peripheral vascular intervention: challenges and opportunities

Author(s): AG Truesdell, GA Delgado, SW Blakeley & WB Bachinsky

Endovascular therapy for the interventional treatment of peripheral vascular disease is becoming increasingly prevalent. Radial access is replacing femoral access for coronary intervention owing to its superior safety profile. These parallel advances forecast a future paradigm shift to routine transradial peripheral vascular intervention. This review highlights the technical challenges preventing immediate adoption of transradial peripheral vascular intervention, describes the technical aspects of the procedure in different anatomic beds utilizing currently available equipment, details the procedural, morbidity, and possible mortality benefits inherent to transradial access, reviews the available scientific evidence, and recommends a framework for successful transition to a radial strategy for peripheral vascular intervention.