ABSTRACT
The authors reviewed their experience with 31 patients with transaxillary abdominal and lower limb arteriography; with particular attention to technical difficulty or any complication related to the procedure. The indication/or transaxillary approach were aortic occlusion or stenosis [20/31] common or external iliac occlusion or stenosis [7/31], abdominal aortic aneurysm [2/31], iatrogenic abdominal aortic dissection [1/31] and bilateral femoral artery aneurysm [1/31]. Technical difficulties are minimal using single pigtail catheter technique. Difficulties in catheterization can be overcome by the use of catheter exchange technique and thin safety J guide wire [0.028, 0.025 inch]. Only one patient out of 31 had minimal insignificant axillary haematoma from the procedure. It was concluded that the use of minicatheters [5F] with minimal catheter exchange and adequate manual compression after catheter withdrawal until complete haemostasis minimize the risk of complications