Distal transradial access in the anatomic snuffbox: comparison with the proximal transradial access in the styloid process and the transfemoral access

Background The transradial access has gained great prominence in interventional coronary procedures due to lower complication rates, especially when the radial artery is punctured distally, in the anatomical snuffbox. The objective of this study was to analyze the complication and crossover rates of the access routes in invasive coronary procedures, comparing the distal radial artery to the proximal transradial route in the styloid process and the transfemoral access. Methods This was a prospective, observational, and single-center cohort study. The results of access routes were compared, using the primary outcomes of puncture site-related complications and initial arterial access crossover. Results A total of 748 patients were included; in that, 152 (20.3%) in the Distal Transradial Access Group, 388 (51.9%) in the Proximal Transradial Access Group, and 208 (27.8%) in the Transfemoral Access Group. No complications were observed in the Distal Transradial Access Group, whereas two patients (0.5%) had mild local hematomas in the Proximal Transradial Access Group, and six participants (2.9%) had complications in the Transfemoral Access Group, with mild local hematomas in four patients (1.9%), a pseudoaneurysm in one (0.5%), and an active bleeding in one (0.5%) – all with no need for surgical intervention (p=0.01). The crossover rate was 9.2% in the Distal Transradial Access Group, 5.9% in the Proximal Transradial Access Group, and 0.9% in the Transfemoral Access Group (p=0.001). Conclusion The distal radial artery access had a lower rate of vascular/hemorrhagic complications when compared to the proximal transradial access in the styloid process and the transfemoral access. However, the crossover rate was higher when the distal radial artery access was the operator’s first choice.