Objectives: Although a distal radial artery (DRA) approach has recently been used in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization, no studies have so far investigated the safety and feasibility of DRA in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). We aimed to investigate the incidence of conventional radial artery (CRA) occlusion and puncture site complications after DRA puncture in patients undergoing HD.
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 117 consecutive patients with HD who underwent coronary angiography or percutaneous coronary intervention via a DRA approach at our institution from September 2017 to December 2019. The primary endpoint was the incidence of CRA occlusion after DRA puncture, as assessed via vascular ultrasonography. Secondary endpoints included difficulty achieving hemostasis, DRA occlusion, aneurysm, arteriovenous shunt, and acute ischemia.
Results: The DRA puncture was successful in 106 patients (success rate: 90.5%). Because 21 patients lacked postprocedural vascular ultrasonography data, the primary endpoint was evaluated in 85 patients. CRA occlusion occurred in three patients (3.5%) following DRA puncture. DRA occlusion and aneurysm occurred in five patients (5.9%) and one patient (1.2%), respectively.
Conclusions: Catheterization through DRA is feasible in patients undergoing HD, with a clinically acceptable incidence of CRA and complications.
Keywords: angiography; conventional radial artery; coronary intervention; distal radial artery approach.