Historically, the majority of coronary procedures have been performed via the femoral artery. However, since the inception of the transradial approach, a number of studies have confirmed that this technique is associated with a significant reduction in vascular complications, equivalent procedure times and radiation exposure to femoral procedures, the ability to perform complex coronary interventions, early ambulation and patient preference. Over the last decade, this has led to an exponential rise in the use of the transradial access site, with several potential technical challenges becoming increasingly recognised. However, with greater experience and technological advancement these potential obstacles may be overcome. The following review highlights the potential challenges and suggests several tips to assist transradial operators with recognising and overcoming these challenges.
Keywords: Transradial approach; balloon-assisted tracking; coronary intervention; radial artery anomalies; radial artery occlusion prevention; radial artery spasmolytics; sheathless guide catheters.