Transulnar cardiac catheterization and percutaneous coronary intervention: techniques,transradial comparisons,anatomical considerations,and comprehensive literature review

Ulnar arterial access for cardiac catheterization and intervention is an alternative approach compared with radial or femoral access. Ulnar access is infrequently performed since the radial artery is readily palpable and is commonly used worldwide to minimize vascular complications from femoral access. Nevertheless, ulnar access provides a suitable access site in patients who are poor candidates for femoral access, have pre‐existing radial occlusion, radial artery hypoplasia or hyperplasia from prior radial artery procedures, radial stenosis, radial loops, radial tortuosity, small radial arteries, and/or have future need for radial graft for dialysis or coronary artery bypass graft. Furthermore, femoral access is the standard default option if radial access fails. Consequently, learning ulnar access provides a suitable forearm alternative to avoid femoral access when deemed high risk or undesirable. This review discusses the techniques of ulnar access, advantages and disadvantages of ulnar versus radial access, the clinical trials on ulnar cardiac catheterization and its associated complications.     

Effectiveness of ulnar artery catheterization after failed attempt to cannulate a radial artery

Transradial artery catheterization has become an accepted alternative approach to performing diagnostic and interventional coronary procedures. However, its usefulness can be limited by access site failure. We report on 12 patients in whom there was failure to cannulate the radial artery. Angiograms of the hand were performed on all patients through the ulnar sheath to determine the possible mechanism of failure to cannulate the radial artery and to determine the source of the blood supply to the hand. Irrespective of the mechanism of failure, each of the 12 procedures was subsequently successfully completed using the ipsilateral ulnar artery approach.     

A novel technique for simultaneous hemostasis of ipsilateral radial and ulnar artery access sites

With the increased use of transradial artery access (TRA) for diagnostic and coronary interventional procedures, crossover to the ipsilateral ulnar artery after TRA failure is being reported more frequently. A major challenge with ipsilateral transradial and ulnar artery access is achieving efficient patent hemostasis of both the radial and ulnar arteries at the completion of the procedure. In this report, we describe two cases of failed TRA with subsequent ipsilateral ulnar artery access. A novel and practical technique of simultaneous patent hemostasis of both the ipsilateral radial and ulnar artery access sites is described, using a QuikClot^® Radial^® hemostasis pad and a TR Band^®.     

Interruption of blood flow during compression and radial artery occlusion after transradial catheterization.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the possible relationship between compression after transradial catheterization and radial artery occlusion. Background: Radial artery occlusion is an important concern of transradial catheterization. Interruption of radial artery flow during compression might influence the rate of radial artery occlusion at follow-up. METHODS: A prospective study including 275 consecutive patients undergoing transradial catheterization was conducted. Arterial sheaths were removed immediately after procedures and conventional compressive dressings were left in place for 2 hr. The pulse oximeter signal in the index finger during ipsilateral ulnar compression was used for the assessment of radial artery flow. RESULTS: Radial artery flow was absent in 174 cases (62%) immediately after entry-site compression. After 2 hr of conventional hemostasis, radial artery flow was absent in 162 cases (58%) before bandage removal. At 7-day follow-up, 12 patients (4.4%) had absent pulsations and radial artery flow was absent in 29 cases (10.5%). Patients with an occluded radial artery at follow-up had significantly smaller arterial diameters at baseline (2.23+/-0.4 mm vs. 2.40+/-0.5 mm; P=0.032) and more frequently had absent flow during hemostasis (90% vs. 54%, P<0.001). Stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that absent flow before compressive bandages removal was the only independent predictor of radial artery occlusion at follow-up (OR=6.7; IC 95%: 1.95-22.9; P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Flow-limiting compression is a frequent finding during conventional hemostasis after transradial catheterization. Absence of radial artery flow during compression represents a strong predictor of radial artery occlusion.     

Same wrist intervention via the cubital (ulnar) artery in case of radial puncture failure for percutaneous cardiac catheterization or intervention: The multicenter SWITCH registry

Aims

The radial approach is safer than the femoral for percutaneous coronary procedures. However its feasibility is lower, mainly for technical issues, often related to failure to puncture or cannulate the radial artery. The ulnar approach is a valid alternative to radial. We aimed to test the incidence, feasibility and safety of a direct homolateral ulnar approach in case of failed radial sheath insertion.

Methods and results

Five operators collected their 1-year activity (diagnostic and interventional) with focus on entry site. Entry site choice was left to operators' discretion. In case of failed radial sheath insertion, an attempt to cannulate the homolateral ulnar artery was mandated, if ulnar pulse was present. All patients in whom this attempt was performed were followed until discharge.Out of 2403 procedures (1271 interventions), the final successful entry site was radial in 66.5%, femoral in 31.0%, ulnar in 2.1% and brachial in 0.4%. Radial failure occurred in 117 patients (6.9%). In 75 patients, the radial failure was not due to sheath insertion (which was successful), but to lack of catheter support or to tortuosity of the subclavian/brachial arteries. In the remaining 42 (35.9% of all radial failures), a homolateral ulnar approach was attempted. A successful cannulation of the ulnar artery occurred in 36 patients (85.7%) with further performance of the complete procedure. Concerning local complications, 1 radial pseudo-aneurysm (treated with additional compression) occurred, while no cases of early hand ischemia were reported.

Conclusions

In this multicenter registry, in case of failed radial sheath insertion, switching directly to the homolateral ulnar artery for percutaneous coronary procedures is feasible and it appears to be safe, without cases of symptomatic hand ischemia.     

Percutaneous ulnar artery approach for coronary angiography: a preliminary report in nine patients.

The radial artery approach is becoming more popular for diagnostic cardiac catheterization and interventional procedures because of its lower incidence of access site complications and decreased patient discomfort after the procedure. However, Allen's test reveals inadequate blood supply through the ulnar artery to the hand, and therefore the approach does not seem to be suitable in 10%-30% of patients. Here we demonstrated a new percutaneous ulnar artery approach for coronary angiography in nine patients. We succeeded in obtaining an entry site into the left ulnar artery in seven patients. The average time for cannulation and that for catheterization procedure were comparable with those of the radial approach previously reported from other laboratories. Complications such as bleeding, loss of an ulnar pulse, ulnar nerve injury, and the formation of an aneurysm or fistula were not observed in any patient. The ulnar approach may be another technique that decreases patient discomfort and risk, while preserving the radial artery as a potential coronary bypass graft for surgical myocardial revascularization. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2001;53:410-414.     

Altered Hand Temperatures Following Transradial Cardiac Catheterization: A Thermography Study

BackgroundThere is concern about potential detrimental effects of transradial access (TRA) on radial artery structure, endothelial and hand function. This thermography study evaluated TRA impact on hand microvascular perfusion.Methods and resultsWe prospectively measured hand thermography, radial and ulnar artery size and blood flow velocities in both catheterization and non-catheterization hands at baseline and 30-days after TRA in 158 patients. There were no differences in radial or ulnar arterial diameters or velocities pre- and post-TRA in catheterization and non-catheterization hands (p = NS). The absolute total hand thermography values post-TRA were increased in both catheterization and non-catheterization hand (pre-TRA 30.4 ± 2.9 vs. post-TRA 31.6 ± 2.6 p < 0.01; pre-TRA 30.2 ± 2.9, post-TRA 31.6 ± 2.6 p < 0.01, respectively). After ulnar artery occlusion, hand temperatures decreased in both catheterization and non-catheterization hands, both pre- and post-TRA and were similar in the catheterization and non-catheterization hands (p = NS). Total hand temperature decreased with ulnar artery occlusion and was significantly attenuated post-TRA (p < 0.001 both catheterization and non-catheterization hands).ConclusionsTRA is associated with temperature changes in both catheterization and non-catheterization hands at one month after the index procedure. These changes likely represent a systemic response to local TRA stimulus.     

Transulnar Catheterization in Patients with Failed Ipsilateral Transradial Access: Novel TR Band Modification for Dual-Site Hemostasis

ObjectivesThis study investigated the feasibility and safety of transulnar access (TUA) and efficacy of novel TR band modification for dual site hemostasis in patients with failed ipsilateral transradial approach.BackgroundFailed transradial access requires cross over to alternative access site. There is paucity of data on feasibility and safety of ipsilateral TUA due to concern of potential risk of hand ischemia.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed ten patients who underwent coronary angiography and intervention via ulnar artery in the setting of failed ipsilateral transradial access. Patent hemostasis for both ulnar and radial arteries was achieved with novel modification of the TR band to compress both arteries at the same level of puncture sites.ResultsTUA after failed ipsilateral transradial access was successful in all ten cases. All patients were followed within 7 days and there were no adverse complications such as ulnar artery occlusion, nerve injury, or hand ischemia.ConclusionTUA maybe a safe and viable option when cross over is necessary from failed ipsilateral transradial access. Modification of the TR band for both radial and ulnar access site can achieve patent hemostasis effectively at the level of both puncture sites.     

Transulnar versus transradial artery approach for coronary angioplasty: the PCVI-CUBA study.

OBJECTIVES: To compare in terms of efficacy and safety the transulnar to the transradial approach for coronary angiography and angioplasty. Background: Opposite to the transradial approach, which is now widely used in catheterization laboratories worldwide, the ulnar artery approach is rarely used for cardiac catheterization. METHODS: Diagnostic coronarography, followed or not by angioplasty, was performed by transulnar or transradial approach, chosen at random. A positive (normal) direct or reverse Allen's test was required before tempting the radial or the ulnar approach, respectively. MACE were recorded till 1-month follow-up. Doppler ultrasound assessment of the forearm vessels was scheduled for all the angioplastied patients. RESULTS: Successful access was obtained in 93.1% of patients in the ulnar group (n = 216), and in 95.5% of patients in the radial group (n = 215), P = NS. One hundred and three and 105 angioplasty procedures were performed in 94 and 95 patients in ulnar and radial group, with success in 95.2% and 96.2% of procedures in ulnar and radial group, respectively (P = NS). Freedom from MACE at 1-month follow-up was observed in 93 patients in both groups (97.8% for ulnar group and 95.8% for radial group), P = NS. Asymptomatic access site artery occlusion occurred in 5.7% of patients after transulnar and in 4.7% of patients after transradial angioplasty. A big forearm hematoma, and a little A-V fistula were observed, each in one patient, in the ulnar group. CONCLUSION: The transulnar approach for diagnostic and therapeutic coronary interventions is a safe and effective alternative to the transradial approach, as both techniques share a high success rate and an extremely low incidence of entry site complications. The transulnar approach has the potential to spare injury to the radial artery in anticipation of its use as a coronary bypass conduit.     

Transulnar angiography and intervention: The next frontier in vascular access?

• This study demonstrates that in a single center, single operator experience, ulnar artery catheterization is feasible, though even compared to radial access, a significant learning curve remains.
• Although ulnar access is a reasonable alternative approach to catheterization, the true benefits of ulnar access, compared to radial are unclear.
• Further large randomized multicenter, multi‐operator trials are needed to assess the true feasibility and benefit of ulnar artery catheterization.

     

Transradial cardiac catheterization in patients with prior brachial artery cutdown.

The safety and efficacy of transradial cardiac catheterization in patients with prior ipsilateral brachial cutdown is not known. Using standard techniques we performed transradial catheterization in 278 consecutive patients, of which 63 had prior brachial cutdown. All patients had a strongly palpable radial pulse and a negative Allen's test. Although patients with prior cutdown were older and had a higher incidence of hypertension and prior coronary artery bypass surgery, there was no significant difference in success rates for transradial catheterization (93.6% vs. 95.3%; P = NS). There were no periprocedural complications. Brachial artery occlusion was responsible for only two unsuccessful catheterization attempts. We conclude that, with careful preprocedural screening, ipsilateral transradial cardiac catheterization can be successfully performed in a majority of patients with prior brachial cutdown.     

冠状动脉造影术前应用高频超声评价桡尺动脉的价值

目的:探讨高频超声在冠状动脉造影术前评价桡尺动脉的价值。方法:2008年12月至2009年6月我院心内科住院患者150例在冠状动脉造影术前行双侧桡、尺动脉的彩色多普勒超声检查,检查范围包括双侧桡动脉、尺动脉、肱动脉及腋动脉。结果:150例受检者上肢动脉变异及不同程度的走行迂曲12例,管径纤细2例。走行异常及迂曲的12例中有11例成功进行了经右桡动脉冠状动脉造影术,1例行经左桡动脉冠状动脉造影术,另外管径纤细2例进行了经股动脉冠状动脉造影术。结论:冠状动脉造影术前应用高频超声检测桡尺动脉,可以为临床选择穿刺途径提供依据,提高穿刺、插管及导丝行进的成功率。     

经尺动脉途径行冠状动脉介入术的临床应用

目的:分析经尺动脉途径行冠状动脉介入术的临床应用价值和安全性。方法:回顾总结2006年6月至2007年5月51例疑似冠心病患者经桡动脉途径穿刺失败后改经尺动脉途径行冠状动脉介入术的资料。结果:47例患者经尺动脉穿刺行冠状动脉介入术获得成功,成功率92.2%,手术无冠脉开口损伤、穿刺口血肿和肌间血肿等严重并发症发生。结论:经尺动脉途径行冠状动脉介入术成功率高,无严重并发症,是一种安全、有效的冠状动脉介入检查和治疗方法。     

Safety and feasibility of transulnar cardiac catheterization

Recently, ulnar artery cannulation has been described as an alternative to the transfemoral and radial approaches to vascular access for cardiac catheterization. This study was designed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of the ulnar approach.From September 2004 through September 2006, 28 patients in a cohort study underwent cardiac catheterization by the transulnar approach. Patients were eligible if they had scheduled an elective cardiac catheterization or angioplasty procedure and displayed a palpable ulnar pulse and a positive reverse Allen's test (< 10 sec). Further, we enrolled only patients who had stable angina. After cannulation, a 5F or 6F introducer was placed inside the vessel, and cardiac catheterization or angioplasty was performed. The patients underwent clinical examination when discharged from the hospital and again at the 1-week follow up.Mean age, weight, and height of the patients were 60 +/- 14 years, 78 +/- 14 kg, and 148 +/- 55 cm, respectively, and 69% were men. Successful puncture was achieved in 93% (26/28), and in all 26 of these patients the procedure could be completed by the ulnar approach. The femoral approach was used for the remaining 2 patients. No cases of arterial spasm or loss of pulse were observed. Two patients had minor hematoma at the entry site. There were no cases of pseudoaneurysm, bleeding episodes requiring transfusion, or vascular perforation.We conclude that the transulnar approach is a safe and feasible alternative for diagnostic and therapeutic coronary intervention.     

Outcomes of transulnar and transradial percutaneous coronary intervention using ultrasound guided access in patients selected based on an ultrasound algorithm

We performed a prospective observational study of 215 patients (58 ± 11 years) and compared the outcomes of ultrasound guided ulnar (n = 98, 45.6%) vs. radial (n = 117, 54.4%) cardiac catheterization and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients selected by an ultrasound based algorithm. Primary endpoints included the number of access attempts and conversion to femoral access. Secondary endpoints included all-cause mortality, cardiac mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, repeat revascularization, stent thrombosis, in-stent restenosis, and access site complications.No significant difference was found in the primary endpoints between radial or ulnar. Ulnar access showed no significant hematomas. Therefore, ulnar PCI is a feasible alternative.     

Dynamic Doppler evaluation of the hand arteries of the patients with Raynaud’s disease

The aim of this study was the determination of blood flow characteristics and parameters in the hand arteries of patients with primary Raynaud’s phenomenon (pRP) and comparison with the results of healthy subjects. The diameter, resistive index and flow volume of the digital, ulnar and radial arteries of the patients with pRP and the control group were measured at rest and after cold provocation. The flow starting time (FST) in the digital artery and the flow normalising time (FNT) of all three arteries were also recorded after cold provocation. The diameter and flow volume of the digital and ulnar arteries of the patients were lower at rest, but resistive index was significantly high in all arteries. After cold provocation, the diameters of the radial and ulnar arteries and the flow volume of the digital arteries of the patients were significantly lower than those of the controls. The mean FST was 3.6 ± 3.8 min for the patients and 0.9 ± 1.2 min for the controls. The mean FNT was significantly longer in all the arteries of the patients; FNT cutoff times for the radial, ulnar and digital arteries were 6.5, 5.5 and 6.5 min, respectively. The measurements of the diameter, resistive index and flow volume of all the arteries measured before and after cold provocation as well as FST of the digital artery and FNT of all the arteries may facilitate in providing additional information in pRP patients.     

Management of iatrogenic radial artery perforation

The aim of this study was to evaluate a new protocol allowing coronary angiography to be performed transradially in spite of the occurrence of iatrogenic radial artery perforation during catheterization. Nine patients with iatrogenic radial artery perforation were managed conservatively by inserting a long arterial sheath in the damaged radial artery up to the brachial artery, after which the diagnostic and/or interventional procedures that had motivated transradial catheterization were completed via the protected radial artery. Radial angiography performed immediately thereafter showed no extravasation, and no major vascular complications developed during follow‐up. The day after the procedure, two patients had asymptomatic radial occlusion, but the other seven patients had normal radial pulses and reversed Allen test responses showing normal perfusion. A conservative management technique, installation of a long arterial sheath not only promotes resolution of iatrogenic radial artery perforation but also allows the procedures motivating catheterization to be completed transradially. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2004;61:74–78. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

维拉帕米在经桡动脉心脏介入治疗中的应用及安全性

目的探讨维拉帕米在经桡动脉心脏介入治疗中的应用及安全性。方法60例经桡动脉心脏介入治疗的患者，从桡动脉局部注入维拉帕米5mg，观察注入前、后心率、血压、局部和全身的变化及术中是否出现桡动脉痉挛。结果60例患者注药前后心率、收缩压、舒张压均有一定程度变化，但无显著性差异，术中未出现桡动脉痉挛，无心衰和新的房室传导阻滞出现。结论在经桡动脉心脏介入治疗时，局部注入维拉帕米5mg，可预防桡动脉痉挛，且无明显副作用，安全有效。     

Novel oral anticoagulants in the treatment of radial artery occlusion

Transradial access of the vascular system for coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention has become the primary approach in several cardiac catheterization laboratories across the world. The paradigm shift from transfemoral access has been driven by improved outcomes in patients undergoing these cardiac procedures by transradial access. Radial artery occlusion is the most common vascular complication of transradial coronary procedures. Only a few studies have reported on the optimal treatment of radial artery occlusion, with ulnar artery compression and anticoagulation, especially with low-molecular-weight heparin, having shown the best results. In this case series, four patients who were found to have evidence of post-cardiac catheterization radial artery occlusion on ultrasound imaging were treated with a 30-day course of apixaban. Three of the four patients showed complete resolution of radial artery occlusion with addition of apixaban to current standard therapeutic strategies. This case series shows that treatment with novel oral anticoagulants can be an alternative and more convenient option compared to subcutaneous injection of low-molecular heparin for anticoagulation in patients with post-coronary angiography radial artery occlusion.     

Transradial right and left heart catheterizations: a comparison to traditional femoral approach.

OBJECTIVES: This study compares the transradial versus transfemoral approach to combined right- and left-heart catheterization. BACKGROUND: Central venous access from peripheral veins has been a historically useful technique. Although the need for right-heart catheterization has been considered an exclusion for transradial catheterization, we have combined a peripheral approach to the central venous system with radial arterial access which permits bilateral heart catheterization using a transradial approach. METHODS: Over an 18-month period all right-heart catheterizations done in conjunction with arterial access were reviewed. Salvage procedures, mixed site access, and biopsy procedures were excluded. Radial procedures were performed using radial artery access and a forearm vein. Femoral procedures used femoral artery/vein. Demographics, procedural information, and postprocedural complications including those requiring vascular ultrasound or transfusion were recorded and used for comparison between groups. RESULTS: Total of 175 femoral/105 radial cases done by 4 operators met criteria for comparison. Both groups had similar procedural indications and age. Procedural durations were shorter (P < .01) with radial 70 +/- 5.0 min (+/-95% CI) vs. femoral 75 +/- 5.4 min (+/-95% CI). Crossover was noted in several patients from both groups; radial procedures (n = 2) failed due to previous shoulder trauma. Femoral crossover to radial involved difficult arterial access. Complications related to access site occurred in 12 femoral and 0 radial patients. CONCLUSIONS: Using the forearm for central venous access appears safer than using the femoral vessels. Transradial catheterizations can be done in combination with forearm venous access procedures with excellent results and enhanced patient safety.