Abstract 1122‐000194: Incidence of Access Site Complications in Patients Receiving Tenecteplase as Bridging Therapy to Endovascular Treatment

Introduction : Mechanical thrombectomy (EVT) is the standard of endovascular care for acute ischemic stroke secondary to large vessel occlusion. Alteplase in conjunction with EVT has a strong safety profile with low incidence of complications including groin hematoma. Our objective was to evaluate the incidence of groin hematoma in EVT following bridging therapy tenecteplase (TNK) as this is not well‐described in the literature. Methods : Retrospective review of prospectively collected data for patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent mechanical thrombectomy at a University Hospital. Incidence of access site complication including groin hematoma, retroperitoneal hematoma, blood loss and femoral artery pseudoaneurysm with or without the need for surgical intervention were reviewed. Rates of use of other antithrombotic agents were also noted. Social Science Statistics was used for data analysis. Results : From October of 2020 to April of 2021, of 348 ischemic stroke patients, 16 had LVO identified on CT and received TNK prior to mechanical thrombectomy (Females = 6; age, 63.25 95% CI [54.9207, 71.5793]); Mean weight = 78kg, 95% CI [67.68, 88.32]). Five subjects (31.25%) received intra‐arterial non‐thrombolytics. None received intra‐arterial thrombolytics. Three patients (18.75%) received therapeutic heparin during the procedure. Four patients (25%) were started on non‐thrombolytic infusion during the periprocedural period. One subject (6.25%) was started on stroke nomogram heparin infusion less than 24 hours post‐intervention. One subject (6.25%) developed groin hematoma that did not require intervention. This subject received intra‐arterial non‐thrombolytics during procedure and IV non‐thrombolytics during the peri‐procedural period. Conclusions : Our single center experience with TNK outside of the clinical trial setting with concomitant use of other antithrombotics suggests safety of bridging strategy. Larger prospective ‘real‐life’ studies are required to validate our findings.

Initial experience of subcutaneous nitroglycerin for distal transradial access in neurointerventions

Background: Transradial access (TRA) for diagnostic and interventional neuroendovascular procedures has gained significant popularity in recent years due to its improved safety profile and appeal to patients compared with transfemoral access. However, risks of TRA include hand ischemia in cases of poor ulnar collateral circulation and inability to cannulate the radial artery due to its relatively small diameter. By accessing the radial artery distal to the superficial palmar arch where ulnar collateral blood flow arises, in the anatomic snuffbox, the risk of hand ischemia is theoretically eliminated. The use of subcutaneous nitroglycerin and lidocaine to improve rates of success in radial artery access has been reported in the cardiac literature, however, has yet to be described for neurointerventional procedures. We discuss our technique and report our initial experience using subcutaneous nitroglycerin and lidocaine cocktail for access to the distal transradial artery in a variety of neuroendovascular procedures. Methods: A retrospective review of our institution’s database of neurointerventional and diagnostic procedures performed using dTRA was conducted, and 64 patients were identified between February and December 2020. Patient demographics, clinical data, procedural details, and radiographic information were collected and analyzed. Results: A total of 64 patients underwent neurointerventional procedures using the subcutaneous injection for dTRA access. The procedures performed included diagnostic cerebral angiograms (n = 47), stent and balloon assisted aneurysm coiling (n = 5), flow diversion (n = 2), intra-saccular device placement (n = 1), mechanical thrombectomy (n = 1), tumor embolization (n = 1), middle meningeal artery embolization (n = 2), extracranial carotid stent placement (n = 2), and arteriovenous malformation embolization (n = 3). While no complications of hand ischemia were appreciated, the access site conversion rate was 3.1%; 2 cases required a switch to femoral artery access due to proximal vessel tortuosity and aortic anatomical variations, and not due to access site complication. Furthermore, on repeat angiograms by the same proceduralist, distal TRA (dTRA) was successful in 100% of the cases. Conclusion: dTRA using subcutaneous nitroglycerin and lidocaine is a safe and effective method for neurointerventional and diagnostic procedures.

Transradial Access for Non-Coronary Intervention: Initial Experience of Ramathibodi Hospital

Objective: To describe initial experience of transradial access (TRA) for non-coronary intervention performed at body interventional radiology unit. Materials and Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was performed and included 31 cases from 27 patients that underwent TRA in the present study’s unit between May 2018 and January 2019. All cases were pre-operatively evaluated for radial artery size by ultrasound (US) and verified palmar arch patency using Barbeau test. To proceed to TRA, the radial artery diameter must be at least 1.8 mm and the Barbeau test must not be classified in type D. The primary endpoint was success rate. Secondary endpoints were patency of radial artery and other access site complication after TRA. Results: The technical success rate was 100% without crossover to transfemoral access (TFA). Asymptomatic radial artery occlusion (RAO) was observed in four cases (12.9%) using US at 24-hour after the procedure. According to statistical analysis, none of the present studied parameters showed statistically significant association with the RAO. The other access site complication detected was pseudoaneurysm, which was found in two cases. Conclusion: TRA is a promising alternative access for non-coronary intervention. Vascular access site complications are rarely clinically significant but nevertheless still a concern. Keywords: Transradial access; Non-coronary intervention; Complication; Radial artery; Patency

Common ground, different path: Ulnar artery access for interventional neurovascular procedures

Background Recently, radial artery access has gained popularity for interventional neurovascular procedures due to patient comfort and fewer complications. However, there are instances where the radial artery approach is not feasible. In such cases, trans-ulnar artery access (TUA) can offer an alternate route. There is limited data regarding neuro-interventional procedures performed via this approach. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and safety of trans-ulnar approach for a wide range of interventional neurovascular procedures. Materials and methods The data for all patients who underwent ulnar artery access for diagnostic or interventional neuroradiology procedures was retrospectively collected between September 2020 and March 2021. Patient demographics, procedural details, procedure success, and complications were recorded. Results During the study period, 23 patients underwent 24 trans-ulnar approach procedures. The mean age of patients was 50.1 ± 14.2 years. Fourteen diagnostic cerebral angiograms and ten interventional procedures were performed. All procedures were successfully completed via trans-ulnar approach without a switch to alternate access. No major access site complication was observed. Conclusion Ulnar artery access is a safe and feasible option for neurovascular procedures. It can be effectively utilized for diagnostic cerebral angiography and a wide range of interventional procedures.

TRIACCESS Study: Randomized Comparison Between Radial, Femoral, and Pedal Access for Percutaneous Femoro-popliteal Artery Angioplasty

Background The aim of this randomized study was to compare the success and complication rates of different access sites for the treatment of superficial artery stenosis. Methods and Results A total of 180 consecutive patients were randomized in a prospective study to treat symptomatic superficial femoral artery stenosis via radial (RA), femoral (FA), or pedal artery (PA) access. Technical success was achieved in 96.7%, 100%, and 100% of the patients in the RA, FA, and PA groups, respectively (p=0.33). Secondary access sites were used in 30%, 3.3%, and 30% of the patients in the RA, FA, and PA access groups, respectively (p=0.0002). Recanalization for chronic total occlusion was performed in 34/36 (94.4%), 30/30 (100%), and 46/46 (100%) patients in the RA, FA, and PA groups, respectively (p=0.17). The X-ray dose was significantly lower in the PA group than that in the RA and FA access groups (63.1 vs 162 vs 153 Dyn, p=0.0004). The cumulative rates of access site complications in the RA, FA, and PA groups were 3.3% (0% major and 3.3% minor), 16.7% (3.3% major and 13.3% minor), and 3.3% (3.3% major and 0% minor) (p=0.0085), respectively. The cumulative incidence of MACEs at 6 months in the RA, FA, and PA groups was 5%, 6.7%, and 1.7%, respectively. The cumulative incidence of MALEs at 6 months in the RA, FA, and PA groups was 20%, 16.7%, and 9.2%, respectively (p=0.54). Conclusion Femoral artery intervention can be safely and effectively performed using radial, femoral, and pedal access, but radial and pedal access is associated with a lower access site complication rate and hospitalization. Pedal access is associated with a lower X-ray dose than that with radial and femoral access.

The Rist radial access system: a multicenter study of 152 patients

BackgroundTransradial access (TRA) for neurointervention is becoming increasingly popular as experience with the technique grows. Despite reasonable efficacy using femoral catheters off-label, conversion to femoral access occurs in approximately 8.6–10.3% of TRA cases, due to an inability of the catheter to track into the vessel of interest, lack of support, or radial artery spasm.MethodsThis is a multicenter, retrospective case series of patients undergoing neurointerventions using the Rist Radial Access System. We also present our institutional protocol for using the system.Results152 patients were included in the cohort. The most common procedure was flow diversion (28.3%). The smallest radial diameter utilized was 1.9 mm, and 44.1% were performed without an intermediate catheter. A majority of cases (96.1%) were completed successfully; 3 (1.9%) required conversion to a different radial catheter, 2 (1.3%) required conversion to femoral access, and 1 (0.7%) was aborted. There was 1 (0.7%) minor access site complication and 4 (2.6%) neurological complications.ConclusionsThe Rist catheter is a safe and effective tool for a wide range of complex neurointerventions, with lower conversion rates than classically reported.

Access-site complications in ultrasound-guided endovascular thrombectomy: a single-institution retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE Mechanical endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is an increasingly relied-on treatment for clot retrieval in the context of ischemic strokes, which otherwise are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Despite several known risks associated with this procedure, there is a high degree of technical heterogeneity across both centers and operators. The most common procedural complications occur at the point of transfemoral access (the common femoral artery), and include access-site hematomas, dissections, and pseudoaneurysms. Other interventional fields have previously popularized the use of ultrasound to enhance the anatomical localization of structures relevant to vascular access and thereby reducing access-site complications. In this study, the authors aimed to describe the ultrasound-guided EVT technique performed at a large, quaternary neurovascular referral center, and to characterize the effects of ultrasound guidance on access-site complications. METHODS A retrospective chart review of all patients treated with EVT at a single center between January 2013 and August 2020 was performed. Patients in this cohort were treated using a universal, unique, ultrasound-guided, single-wall puncture technique, which bears several theoretical advantages over the standard technique of arterial puncture via palpation. RESULTS There were 479 patients treated with EVT within the study period. Twenty patients in the cohort were identified as having experienced some form of access-site complication. Eight (1.67%) of these patients experienced minor access-site complications, all of which were groin hematomas and none of which were clinically significant, as defined by requiring surgical or interventional management or transfusion. The remaining 12 patients experienced arterial dissection (n = 5), arterial pseudoaneurysm (n = 4), retroperitoneal hematoma (n = 2), or arterial occlusion (n = 1), with only 1.04% (5/479) requiring surgical or interventional management or transfusion. CONCLUSIONS The authors found an overall reduction in total access-site complications as well as minor access-site complications in the study cohort compared with previously published randomized controlled trials and observational studies in the recent literature. The findings suggested that there may be a role for routine use of ultrasound-guided puncture techniques in EVT to decrease rates of complications.

Transradial versus transfemoral access for anterior circulation mechanical thrombectomy: analysis of 375 consecutive cases

ObjectiveTo compare transradial artery access (TRA) to the gold standard of transfemoral artery access (TFA) in mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for stroke caused by anterior circulation large vessel occlusion.MethodsThe clinical outcomes, procedural speed, angiographic efficacy and safety of both techniques were analysed in 375 consecutive cases over an 18-month period in a high volume statewide neurointerventional service.ResultsThere was no significant difference in patient characteristics, stroke parameters, imaging techniques or intracranial techniques. The median time elapsed between CT scanning and reperfusion was 96.5 min (IQR 68–123) in the TFA group and 95 min (IQR 68–123) in the TRA group (p=0.456). Of 336 patients who were independent at presentation 58% (124/214) of the TFA group and 67% (82/122) of the TRA group had a modified Rankin score of 0–2 at 90-day follow-up (p=0.093). Cross-over from radial to femoral was 4.6% (4/130) compared with 1.6% cross-over from femoral to radial (4/245), but did not meet the predetermined level of statistical significance (OR 2.92, 95% CI 0.81 to 10.52), p=0.088) and did not impact median procedural speed. Adequate angiographic reperfusion, first pass reperfusion, embolisation to new territory and symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage were similar in both groups. There was a significant difference in major access site complications requiring an additional procedure. None of the TRA cases had a major access site complication but 6.5% (16/245) of the TFA cases did (p=0.003).ConclusionThis study suggests that using TRA for anterior circulation MT is fast, efficacious, safe and not inferior to the gold standard of TFA.

Comparison of different access sites (radial, brachial and femoral) for subclavian artery intervention

Introduction The primary purpose of this multicenter prospective register was to evaluate the success and complication rate of different access sites for subclavian artery intervention. Secondary purpose was to investigate the safety of the distal radial artery access for subclavian artery intervention. Methods The clinical and angiographic data of 223 consecutive patients with symptomatic subclavian and anonym artery stenosis treated via transradial (TR), transbrachial (TB) and transfemoral (TF) access between 2015 and 2019 were evaluated in a multicenter registry. The exclusion criteria of the intervention was the acute proximal subclavian artery thrombosis. Primary endpoint: angiographic outcome of the subclavian and anonym artery intervention, rate of major and minor access site complications. Secondary endpoints: procedural complications, consumption of the angioplasty equipment, cross over rate to another puncture site and hospitalization in days. Results The procedure was successful in 182/184 in TR, in 5/5 in TB and in 32/32 patients in TF group. The cross over rate in the TR, TB and TF group was 0%. Chronic total occlusion recanalization was successful in 75/77 cases in TR, and 15/15 cases in the TF group. Contrast consumption was 152±106 ml in TR, 99±22.5 ml in TB and 152±95 in TF group, respectively (p=ns). Cummulativ dose was 602±1205 mGray in RA, 455±210 mGray in BA and 1089±1674 mGray in FA group (p<0.05). Procedural complications occurred in 1/184 (0.5%) case in RA group, in 0 case (0%) in BA group and in 4/32 cases (12.5%) in the FA group (p<0.05). Major access site complication were detected in 3 patients (1.6%) in RA, in 1 patient in BA (20%) and in 1 patient in FA group (3.1%) (p<0.05). Minor access site complication were encountered in 9 patients in the RA (4.8%), in 1 patient in the BA (20%) and in 8 patients in the FA group (25%) (p<0.05). Distal radial access was used in 29 cases and proximal radial access in 155 patients. The rate of radial artery occlusion in proximal and distal radial group was 5.1% and 0% (p<0.05). Conclusions Subclavian artery intervention can be safely and effectively performed using radial access with acceptable morbidity and high technical success. Femoral and brachial access is associated with more access site complications than radial artery access. Distal radial access is associated with less radial artery occlusion than proximal radial artery access. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None