Efficacy of use of Intraarterial Verapamil Through the Radial Sheath to Reduce Radial Artery Occlusion after Transradial Catheterization

Abstract

ransradial approach (TRA) has become popular and widely adopted over the last decade, with TRA now being used in a growing variety of patients. Despite TRA increasing acceptance, radial artery occlusion (RAO) continues to be one of the limitations of transradial access and potentially limits the radial artery as an access site in the future. Several strategies have been used to decrease the incidence of RAO including the use of anticoagulation, use of intraarterial nitroglycerine, use of smaller sheath, maintenance of patency during hemostasis, or shortening the duration of compression. It is known that Intra-arterial administration of vasodilating agents with different mechanisms of action (i.e., verapamil 2.5mg and nitroglycerin 200mic) prior to inserting the sheath has been shown to reduce the incidence and severity of radial artery spasm during the procedure. Currently, there is no data whether vasoactive pharmacological therapy such as verapamil administered intra‐arterially at the end of the procedure may reduce the incidence of RAO.