Brachial Artery Approach for Outpatient Arteriography

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of brachial approach arteriography for outpatients, withparticular regard to safety and image quality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The angiographic findings and follow-upmedical records of 131 brachial approach arteriographies in 121 outpatients were retrospectively analysed. 5 Fpigtail catheters were used in 125 cases, and 5-F OCU-A catheters were used in three cases of renal arteriography,and three of upper extremity arteriography without catheter. RESULTS: Except for three cases of brachial arterypuncture failure, all procedures were performed successfully. One hundred and fifteen of 119 lower extremityarteriographies were visualized down to the level of the tibioperoneal artery. The non-visualized cases were threein which there was multiple obstruction at the distal common iliac artery and one with insufficient contrastamount due to renal failure. In four cases there were complications two involved arterial thrombosis, one was anintramuscular hematoma, and one an A-V fistula. CONCLUSION: For outpatients, brachial approach arteriography canreplace the femoral approach. Its image quality is excellent, there are time-cost benefits, and the rate ofcomplications is relatively low.