ABSTRACT
Introduction/Purpose Over the past few years, transradial access for neurointerventions has gained more popularity due to extrapolated interventional cardiology data, patient preference and early reports of feasibility using this approach. Our aim was to evaluate the incidence of periprocedural stroke in patients undergoing radial versus femoral access for diagnostic cerebral angiograms. Materials and Methods Retrospective review of our prospectively maintained neurointerventional database and identification of all patients who underwent a diagnostic cerebral angiogram between May 2019 and July 2021. These patients were further divided into radial versus femoral access. Patients in whom postprocedural stroke symptoms were identified were recorded. In those patients, symptoms and NIHSS were collected. Pertinent laboratory values and procedural data was reviewed, including COVID status, platelet count, INR, GFR, vessels catheterized, amount of contrast used, and fluoroscopy time. Patient imaging work-up for stroke symptoms was reviewed, if available. Results A total of 1238 diagnostic cases were performed between table 1 for a detailed overview. Conclusion In our experience, transradial access for diagnostic cerebral angiograms was associated with a low but not neglectable incidence of periprocedural strokes when compared to the traditional femoral approach. Patient vascular anatomy should be evaluated prior to selection of vascular access and patients should be made aware of the possibility of a slightly higher possibility of periprocedural stroke with transradial access. (Figure Presented).