Transradial access in acute ischemic stroke intervention

J Neurointerv Surg. 2016 Mar;8(3):247-50. doi: 10.1136/neurintsurg-2014-011519. Epub 2015 Jan 5.

Abstract

Objective: To describe the feasibility and safety of transradial access (TRA) in the interventional management of acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

Methods: A retrospective review of the local institutional AIS interventional databases of three tertiary academic centers was performed and the use of TRA identified.

Results: TRA was attempted in 15 (1.5%) of 1001 patients; it was used in 12 cases due to transfemoral access (TFA) failure and in 3 as the primary strategy. The mean age was 72.3±8.6 and 46% were male. Baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 19.5±8.7, two patients (14%) received intravenous tissue plasminogen activator, and mean time from last known normal to intra-arterial therapy was 17.0±20.1 h. Five patients had anterior circulation occlusive disease and 10 had vertebrobasilar occlusions. TRA was effective in allowing clot engagement in 13 of 15 cases: one patient had a hypoplastic radial artery that precluded sheath advancement and one had chronic innominate artery occlusion that could not be crossed. Mean time to switch from TFA to TRA was 1.9±1.3 h and the mean time from radial puncture to reperfusion was 2.2±1.0 h. Modified Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction 2b-3 reperfusion via TRA was achieved in 9 of 15 patients (60%). No radial puncture site complications were noted. At 90 days, two patients (13%) had a good clinical outcome and seven (50%) had died.

Conclusions: Failure of TFA in the endovascular treatment of AIS is uncommon but leads to unacceptable delays in reperfusion and poor outcomes. Standardization of benchmarks for access switch could serve as a guide for neurointerventionalists. TRA is a valid approach for the endovascular treatment of AIS.

Keywords: Angiography; Intervention; Stroke; Technique.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Brain Ischemia / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain Ischemia / surgery*
  • Endovascular Procedures / methods*
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Radial Artery / diagnostic imaging
  • Radial Artery / surgery*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Stroke / diagnostic imaging
  • Stroke / surgery*