A vein bypass first versus a best endovascular treatment first revascularisation strategy for patients with chronic limb threatening ischaemia who required an infra-popliteal, with or without an additional more proximal infra-inguinal revascularisation procedure to restore limb perfusion (BASIL-2): an open-label, randomised, multicentre, phase 3 trial.

BACKGROUND: Chronic limb-threatening ischaemia is the severest manifestation of peripheral arterial disease and presents with ischaemic pain at rest or tissue loss (ulceration, gangrene, or both), or both. We compared the effectiveness of a vein bypass first with a best endovascular treatment first revascularisation strategy in terms of preventing major amputation and death in patients with chronic limb threatening ischaemia who required an infra-popliteal, with or without an additional more proximal infra-inguinal, revascularisation procedure to restore limb perfusion. METHODS: Bypass versus Angioplasty for Severe Ischaemia of the Leg (BASIL)-2 was an open-label, pragmatic, multicentre, phase 3, randomised trial done at 41 vascular surgery units in the UK (n=39), Sweden (n=1), and Denmark (n=1). Eligible patients were those who presented to hospital-based vascular surgery units with chronic limb-threatening ischaemia due to atherosclerotic disease and who required an infra-popliteal, with or without an additional more proximal infra-inguinal, revascularisation procedure to restore limb perfusion. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either vein bypass (vein bypass group) or best endovascular treatment (best endovascular treatment group) as their first revascularisation procedure through a secure online randomisation system. Participants were excluded if they had ischaemic pain or tissue loss considered not to be primarily due to atherosclerotic peripheral artery disease. Most vein bypasses used the great saphenous vein and originated from the common or superficial femoral arteries. Most endovascular interventions comprised plain balloon angioplasty with selective use of plain or drug eluting stents. Participants were followed up for a minimum of 2 years. Data were collected locally at participating centres. In England, Wales, and Sweden, centralised databases were used to collect information on amputations and deaths. Data were analysed centrally at the Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit. The primary outcome was amputation-free survival defined as time to first major (above the ankle) amputation or death from any cause measured in the intention-to-treat population. Safety was assessed by monitoring serious adverse events up to 30-days after first revascularisation. The trial is registered with the ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN27728689. FINDINGS: Between July 22, 2014, and Nov 30, 2020, 345 participants (65 [19%] women and 280 [81%] men; median age 72·5 years [62·7-79·3]) with chronic limb-threatening ischaemia were enrolled in the trial and randomly assigned: 172 (50%) to the vein bypass group and 173 (50%) to the best endovascular treatment group. Major amputation or death occurred in 108 (63%) of 172 patients in the vein bypass group and 92 (53%) of 173 patients in the best endovascular treatment group (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1·35 [95% CI 1·02-1·80]; p=0·037). 91 (53%) of 172 patients in the vein bypass group and 77 (45%) of 173 patients in the best endovascular treatment group died (adjusted HR 1·37 [95% CI 1·00-1·87]). In both groups the most common causes of morbidity and death, including that occurring within 30 days of their first revascularisation, were cardiovascular (61 deaths in the vein bypass group and 49 in the best endovascular treatment group) and respiratory events (25 deaths in the vein bypass group and 23 in the best endovascular treatment group; number of cardiovascular and respiratory deaths were not mutually exclusive). INTERPRETATION: In the BASIL-2 trial, a best endovascular treatment first revascularisation strategy was associated with a better amputation-free survival, which was largely driven by fewer deaths in the best endovascular treatment group. These data suggest that more patients with chronic limb-threatening ischaemia who required an infra-popliteal, with or without an additional more proximal infra-inguinal, revascularisation procedure to restore limb perfusion should be considered for a best endovascular treatment first revascularisation strategy. FUNDING: UK National Institute of Health Research Health Technology Programme.

A risk-adjusted and anatomically stratified cohort comparison study of open surgery, endovascular techniques and medical management for juxtarenal aortic aneurysms-the UK COMPlex AneurySm Study (UK-COMPASS): a study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: In one-third of all abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs), the aneurysm neck is short (juxtarenal) or shows other adverse anatomical features rendering operations more complex, hazardous and expensive. Surgical options include open surgical repair and endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) techniques including fenestrated EVAR, EVAR with adjuncts (chimneys/endoanchors) and off-label standard EVAR. The aim of the UK COMPlex AneurySm Study (UK-COMPASS) is to answer the research question identified by the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA) Programme: 'What is the clinical and cost-effectiveness of strategies for the management of juxtarenal AAA, including fenestrated endovascular repair?' METHODS AND ANALYSIS: UK-COMPASS is a cohort study comparing clinical and cost-effectiveness of different strategies used to manage complex AAAs with stratification of physiological fitness and anatomical complexity, with statistical correction for baseline risk and indication biases. There are two data streams. First, a stream of routinely collected data from Hospital Episode Statistics and National Vascular Registry (NVR). Preoperative CT scans of all patients who underwent elective AAA repair in England between 1 November 2017 and 31 October 2019 are subjected to Corelab analysis to accurately identify and include every complex aneurysm treated. Second, a site-reported data stream regarding quality of life and treatment costs from prospectively recruited patients across England. Site recruitment also includes patients with complex aneurysms larger than 55 mm diameter in whom an operation is deferred (medical management). The primary outcome measure is perioperative all-cause mortality. Follow-up will be to a median of 5 years. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study has received full regulatory approvals from a Research Ethics Committee, the Confidentiality Advisory Group and the Health Research Authority. Data sharing agreements are in place with National Health Service Digital and the NVR. Dissemination will be via NIHR HTA reporting, peer-reviewed journals and conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN85731188.

Infusion techniques for peripheral arterial thrombolysis.

BACKGROUND: Acute limb ischaemia usually is caused by a blood clot blocking an artery or a bypass graft. Severe acute ischaemia will lead to irreversible damage to muscles and nerves if blood flow is not restored in a few hours. Once irreversible damage occurs, amputation will be necessary and the condition can be life-threatening. Infusion of clot-busting drugs (thrombolysis) is a useful tool in the management of acute limb ischaemia. Fibrinolytic drugs are used to disperse blood clots (thrombi) to clear arterial occlusion and restore blood flow. Thrombolysis is less invasive than surgery. A variety of techniques are used to deliver fibrinolytic agents. This is an update of a review first published in 2004. OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of infusion techniques during peripheral arterial thrombolysis for treatment of patients with acute limb ischaemia. SEARCH METHODS: The Cochrane Vascular Information Specialist searched the Cochrane Vascular Specialised Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL databases and World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and ClinicalTrials.gov trials registries to 20 October 2020. We undertook reference checking to identify additional studies. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included all randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing infusion techniques for fibrinolytic agents in the treatment of acute limb ischaemia. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We used standard methodological procedures as recommended by Cochrane. We assessed the risk of bias in included trials using the Cochrane 'Risk of bias' tool. We evaluated certainty of evidence using GRADE. For dichotomous outcomes, we calculated the odds ratio (OR) with the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). We were not able to carry out meta-analyses due to clinical heterogeneity, so we have reported the results and performed the comparisons narratively. The main outcomes of interest were amputation-free survival or limb salvage, amputation, mortality, vessel patency, duration of thrombolysis, and complications such as cerebrovascular accident and major and minor bleeding. MAIN RESULTS: Nine studies with a total of 671 participants are included in this update. Trials covered a variety of infusion techniques, dosage regimens, and adjunctive agents. We grouped trials according to types of techniques assessed (e.g. intravenous and intra-arterial delivery of the agent, 'high-' and 'low-dose' regimens of the agent, continuous infusion and 'forced infusion' of the agent, use of adjunctive antiplatelet agents). We assessed the certainty of evidence as very low to low due to the limited power of individual studies to deliver clinically relevant results, small and heterogeneous study populations, use of different inclusion criteria by each study in terms of severity and duration of ischaemia, considerably different outcome measures between trials, and use of different fibrinolytic agents. This heterogeneity prevented pooling of data in meta-analyses. No regimen has been shown to confer benefit in terms of amputation-free survival (at 30 days), amputation, or death. For vessel patency, complete success was more likely with intra-arterial (IA) than with intravenous (IV) infusion (odds ratio (OR) 13.22, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.79 to 62.67; 1 study, 40 participants; low-certainty evidence); radiological failure may be more likely with IV infusion (OR 0.02, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.38; 1 study, 40 participants; low-certainty evidence). Due to the small numbers involved in each arm and design differences between arms, it is not possible to conclude whether any technique offered any advantage over another. None of the treatment strategies clearly affected complications such as cerebrovascular accident or major bleeding requiring surgery or blood transfusion. Minor bleeding complications were more frequent in systemic (intravenous) therapy compared to intra-arterial infusion (OR 0.03, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.56; 1 study, 40 participants), and in high-dose compared to low-dose therapy (OR 0.11, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.96; 1 study, 63 participants). Limited evidence from individual trials appears to indicate that high-dose and forced-infusion regimens reduce the duration of thrombolysis. In one trial, the median duration of infusion was 4 hours (range 0.25 to 46) for the high-dose group and 20 hours (range 2 to 46) for the low-dose group. In a second trial, treatment using pulse spray was continued for a median of 120 minutes (range 40 to 310) compared with low-dose infusion for a median of 25 hours (range 2 to 60). In a third trial, the median duration of therapy was reduced with pulse spray at 195 minutes (range 90 to 1260 minutes) compared to continuous infusion at 1390 minutes (range 300 to 2400 minutes). However, none of the studies individually showed improvement in limb salvage at 30 days nor benefit for the amputation rate related to the technique of drug delivery. Similarly, no studies reported a clear difference in occurrence of cerebrovascular accident or major bleeding. Although 'high-dose' and 'forced-infusion' techniques achieved vessel patency in less time than 'low-dose' infusion, more minor bleeding complications may be associated (OR 0.11, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.96; 1 study, 72 participants; and OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.17 to 1.32; 1 study, 121 participants, respectively). Use of adjunctive platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonists did not improve outcomes, and results were limited by inclusion of participants with non-limb-threatening ischaemia. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There is insufficient evidence to show that any thrombolytic regimen provides a benefit over any other in terms of amputation-free survival, amputation, or 30-day mortality. The rate of CVA or major bleeding requiring surgery or blood transfusion did not clearly differ between regimens but may occur more frequently in high dose and IV regimens. This evidence was limited and of very low certainty. Minor bleeding may be more common with high-dose and IV regimens. In this context, thrombolysis may be an acceptable therapy for patients with marginally threatened limbs (Rutherford grade IIa) compared with surgery. Caution is advised for patients who do not have limb-threatening ischaemia (Rutherford grade I) because of risks of major haemorrhage, cerebrovascular accident, and death from thrombolysis.

Segment 2/3 Hypertrophy is Greater When Right Portal Vein Embolisation is Extended to Segment 4 in Patients with Colorectal Liver Metastases: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: In patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM), right portal vein embolisation (RPVE) is used to increase the volume of the future remnant liver (FRL) before major hepatic resection. It is not established whether embolisation of segment 4 in addition RPVE (RPVE + 4) induces greater hypertrophy of the FRL. Limitations of prior studies include heterogenous populations and use of hypertrophy metrics sensitive to baseline variables. METHODS: From 2010 to 2015, consecutive patients undergoing RPVE or RPVE + 4 for CRLM, who had not undergone prior major hepatic resection and in whom imaging was available, were included in a retrospective study. Data were extracted from hospital electronic records. Volumetric assessments of segments 2-3 were made on cross-sectional imaging before and after embolisation and corrected for standardised liver volume. RESULTS: Ninety-nine patients underwent PVE, and 60 met the inclusion criteria. Thirty-eight patients underwent RPVE, and 22 underwent RPVE + 4. Forty-five patients had undergone median 6 cycles of prior chemotherapy. Eighteen patients had FRL metastases at PVE, and 16 had undergone subsegmental metastasectomy in the FRL. Assessments of the degree of hypertrophy (DH) of segments 2/3 were made at median 35 (interquartile range 30-49) days after PVE. RPVE + 4 resulted in a significantly greater increase in DH than RPVE (7.7 ± 1.8% vs 11.3 ± 2.6%, p = 0.011). No confounding association between baseline variables and the decision to undertake RPVE or RPVE + 4 was identified. Median survival was 2.4 years and was not influenced by segment 4 embolisation. CONCLUSION: RPVE + 4 results in greater DH of segments 2/3 than RPVE in people with CLRM.

Outcomes of Percutaneous Portal Vein Intervention in a Single UK Paediatric Liver Transplantation Programme.

INTRODUCTION: Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), with or without stent placement, has become the treatment of choice for portal vein complications (PVC) following liver transplantation. We aimed to assess long-term outcomes of intervention in paediatric transplant recipients, in a single institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 227 children received 255 transplants between November 2000 and September 2016. 30 patients developed PVC of whom 21 had percutaneous intervention. Retrospective clinical and procedural outcome data on these 21 patients were collected. RESULTS: 21 patients, with median age 1.7 years (range 0.4-16.2), underwent 42 procedures with PTA with or without stenting. 36 procedures were for PV stenosis and 6 for PV thrombosis. Treatment was with primary PTA, with stenting reserved for suboptimal PTA result or restenosis within 3 months. 28 procedures were performed with PTA and 13 with stenting. Technical success (>50% reduction in mean pressure gradient, absolute pressure gradient ≤4 mmHg or venographic stenosis <30%) was achieved in 41 procedures. Failure to recanalise a thrombosed PV occurred in 1 procedure. There were no major procedural complications. Patients were followed-up with serial Doppler ultrasound surveillance. Kaplan-Meier estimated median primary patency was 9.9 months, with primary-assisted patency of 95% after median follow-up of 45.5 months (range 11.1-171.6). CONCLUSION: With regular surveillance, excellent patency rates can be achieved following percutaneous intervention for PVC post-paediatric liver transplantation.

Mortality and Rates of Secondary Intervention After EVAR in an Unselected Population: Influence of Simple Clinical Categories and Implications for Surveillance.

INTRODUCTION: Post-EVAR surveillance has a major impact upon patients, carers and healthcare resources. We hypothesised that elective indication, on-IFU anatomy, use of a modern device or normal first CTA, or a combination of these categories, might predict a rate of secondary intervention low enough to alter current surveillance protocols. METHODS: Patients undergoing EVAR in our institution between 01.05.2007 and 28.02.2013 were assessed. Data on indication (elective, emergency), anatomy relative to IFU, device, first month CTA result, secondary intervention and mortality were obtained. Kaplan-Meier charts of mortality and freedom from secondary intervention were produced. Statistical analysis was by log-rank test and Cox proportional hazard modelling. RESULTS: 234 patients underwent EVAR (188 elective, 208 on-IFU). Most implants were Endurant (106) or Talent (98). 151 patients had a normal first CTA. By median follow-up of 38.6 months, 39 patients underwent secondary intervention. A normal first CTA and elective indication were significantly associated with reduced risk of secondary intervention (p < 0.001 and p = 0.042 respectively), but device type and placement on- or off-IFU were not. Elective placement with a normal first CTA was 93 % predictive of freedom from secondary intervention by 32 months post-EVAR. Of nine patients undergoing secondary intervention in this group, eight presented symptomatically. DISCUSSION: In optimal procedural circumstances with normal post-procedural imaging, only 7 % of patients undergoing EVAR require secondary intervention, a minority of which is driven by surveillance. These data support a change to surveillance more tailored to the individual patient, and highlight the need for further qualitative and quantitative research.

Complete Absence of Iliac Arteries in the Left Hemipelvis in a Case of Deceased Donor Renal Transplantation.

Renal transplantation is an established method of treating end-stage renal failure. Whilst the majority of procedures follow a standard technique, vascular anomalies may pose intraoperative challenges and, therefore, careful preoperative assessment is warranted. We present a unique, complex case compounded by complete absence of iliac arteries in the left hemipelvis in association with double inferior vena cava in a young recipient.

Endovascular management of extra-cranial supra-aortic vascular injuries.

Supra-aortic vessel injuries are uncommon but can be life-threatening and surgically challenging. Trauma to these vessels may be blunt or penetrating, including iatrogenic trauma following the insertion of central venous lines, which may be preventable. Recent advances in technology have resulted in endovascular therapy becoming a common first-line treatment, and interventional radiologists now play a major role in the management of these vascular injuries. We review the literature on the endovascular management of these types of injuries and describe a spectrum of case-based extra-cranial supra-aortic vascular injuries managed at our institution and the range of imaging appearances, including active contrast extravasation, traumatic vessel occlusion, true aneurysms, pseudoaneurysms, and arteriovenous fistulae.

Calcium channel blockers enhance sac shrinkage after endovascular aneurysm repair.

OBJECTIVE: Sac shrinkage is a surrogate marker of success after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). We set out to determine if any common cardioprotective medications had a beneficial effect on sac shrinkage. METHODS: This retrospective observational study took place at Leeds Vascular Institute, a tertiary vascular unit in the Northern United Kingdom. The cohort comprised 149 patients undergoing EVAR between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2008. Medication use was recorded at intervention (verified at study completion in 33 patients), and patients were monitored for 2 years. The main outcome measures were the effect of medication on sac shrinkage as determined by percentage change in maximal idealized cross-sectional area of the aneurysm at 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years by linear regression model, in addition to 2-year endoleak and death rates determined by a binary logistic regression model. RESULTS: After exclusions, 112 patients, who were a median age of 78 years (interquartile range, 78-83 years), remained for analysis. The median Glasgow Aneurysm Score was 85 (interquartile range, 79-92). At 2 years, mortality was 13.4%, endoleak developed in 37.5%, and significant endoleak developed in 14.3%. Patients taking a calcium channel blocker had enhanced sac shrinkage, compared with those not taking a calcium channel blocker, by 6.6% at 6 months (-3.0% to 16.3%, P = .09), 12.3% at 1 year (2.9% to 21.7%, P = .008), and 13.1% at 2 years (0.005% to 26.2%, P = .007) independent of other medication use, graft type, endoleak development, or death. CONCLUSIONS: Enhanced sac shrinkage occurred after EVAR in patients taking calcium channel blockers. This warrants further study in other centers and at the molecular level.

Ischemic skin ulceration complicating glue embolization of type II endoleak after endovascular aneurysm repair.

The optimal treatment for type II endoleaks remains unclear. The present report describes a case of ischemic skin ulceration after glue embolization of a type II endoleak with challenging access in a multiply comorbid 82-year-old woman with an expanding aneurysm sac 3 years after endovascular aneurysm repair. Embolization was performed from a proximal position with an n-butyl cyanoacrylate/Ethiodol mixture to allow flow into the endoleak because direct sac puncture was hazardous. One week after intervention, an eschar, which progressed to superficial necrosis as a result of partial nontarget delivery of sclerosant, developed over the left iliac crest. The eschar was self-limiting, with complete resolution by 6 months.

The right vertebral artery arising as a branch of the right internal carotid artery: report of a rare case.

Atypical origins of the vertebral artery (VA) are rare anatomical findings. We present an extremely rare arrangement of the cerebral circulation in a 61-year-old male patient detected on magnetic resonance angiography, where the right VA arose as a direct branch of the cervical internal carotid artery (ICA). This likely reflects the failure of the pro-atlantal artery to regress during the third to fourth week of embryological life. Although the effect of the variant on symptomology is debateable, knowledge of the potential for the VA to arise as a branch of the ICA is pertinent to radiologists and surgeons operating on the great vessels and their branches, particularly vascular surgeons undertaking carotid endarterectomy.

Massive aneurysmal dilatation of a depopulated ureteric hemodialysis xenograft.

Use of depopulated bovine ureteric xenografts for hemodialysis vascular access has recently been described. Cellular components have been removed, giving a connective tissue matrix which can be neocellularized, retaining native biomechanics. A 24-year-old male with end-stage renal disease from focal segmental glomerulosclerosis presented with particularly difficult vascular access. A depopulated bovine ureteric xenograft was implanted from the left subclavian artery to innominate vein. It became massively aneurysmal, requiring emergency embolization. Biopsy of the graft stained positive for alpha-gal. We believe this is the first reported case of massive aneurysmal dilatation of a depopulated bovine ureteric xenograft.

Percutaneous transsplenic access in the management of bleeding varices from chronic portal vein thrombosis.

Three patients with life-threatening variceal hemorrhage secondary to portal vein (PV) thrombosis underwent endovascular treatment via the transsplenic route. The indications, techniques, and early outcomes are described. Each patient had successful portal/splenic vein recanalization with or without transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation and variceal embolization with conventional catheter and wire techniques. The transsplenic approach is a useful addition to the interventional armamentarium that can be used in cases refractory to endoscopic management and unsuitable for surgical shunt procedures or conventional TIPS procedures. Longer-term follow-up will be needed to establish the durability of these procedures.

Initial clinical experience using the Amplatzer Vascular Plug.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The Amplatzer Vascular Plug (AVP) is a self-expanding nitinol wire mesh vascular embolization device derived from the Amplatz septal occluder. We assessed the results of vascular embolization obtained using the AVP. METHODS: A retrospective review was carried out of 23 consecutive cases of vascular embolization using the AVP in a variety of different clinical settings. The AVP was chosen to have a diameter approximately 30-50% greater than the target vessel. The device was delivered via an appropriately sized guide catheter and was released when satisfactorily positioned. Additional embolic agents were used in some cases. RESULTS: All target vessels were successfully occluded with no device malpositioning or malfunction. In 14 (61%) patients the AVP was the sole embolic material. In the remaining patients additional agents were used, particularly in preoperative embolization of highly vascular renal tumors. The AVP does not cause instantaneous thrombosis and in high-flow situations thrombosis typically takes up to 15 min. CONCLUSION: The AVP is a safe, effective embolization device that provides a useful adjunct to the therapeutic armamentarium. It is particularly suited to the treatment of short high-flow vessels where coil migration and catheter dislodgment might occur. In the majority of cases no additional embolic agents are necessary but it may take up to 15 min for complete thrombosis to occur.

Safety and efficacy of vena cava filters in trauma patients.

Pulmonary embolism (PE), due to its sudden onset, notoriously difficult diagnosis, unpredictable nature and often fatal outcome, remains one of the most feared complications in surgical practice. Trauma patients with multisystem injuries, extremity or pelvic fractures and head or spinal cord injuries often pose a significant dilemma for the surgeon because of the inability to use conventional measures such as anticoagulation therapy and compression devices. On the other hand, the incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is high among trauma patients and the attendant risk of PE is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Inferior vena cava (IVC) interruption by placement of diverse filtering devices has evolved over the past three decades. With the use of these devices, the risk of PE has been reduced dramatically. However, variable rates of complications are reported from their use. In this study, we review all the available data on IVC filter placement in trauma patients and we discuss the potential complications of IVC filters in order to understand better the risk/benefit ratio of their use.

Endovascular management of arterial conduit pseudoaneurysm after liver transplantation: a report of two cases.

We describe two cases of pseudoaneurysms in liver-transplant iliac artery conduits, which were successfully treated with endovascular stent grafting.

Hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm after liver transplantation: treatment with percutaneous thrombin injection.

Pseudoaneurysms of the hepatic artery are a rare complication of liver transplantation. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to avoid life-threatening hemorrhage. Conventional treatment consists of surgical resection and vascular reconstruction or transarterial coil embolization. More recently, percutaneous thrombin injection has been successfully used in the treatment of femoral artery pseudoaneurysms. We describe a 70-year-old woman who had a hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm after orthotopic liver transplantation, which was successfully treated by percutaneous thrombin injection.

Renal stenting from the radial artery: a novel approach.

PURPOSE: To describe the technique and feasibility of renal artery angioplasty and stenting from the radial artery. METHODS: A series of 19 patients were evaluated for transradial renal artery intervention. Procedures were performed using carbon dioxide gas (CO2) as the preferred angiographic contrast agent. Intervention was performed through a 5 Fr radial artery sheath using low-profile balloons and balloon-expandable stents. RESULTS: Nineteen patients with 26 stenosed renal arteries were considered for treatment via the radial route. A negative Allen's test precluded radial puncture in two (11%). In one patient the descending aorta could not be catheterized. Stenting from the radial route was successful in 22 renal arteries in 16 patients. On an intention-to-treat basis 16 of the 19 (84%) were treatable from the radial route. In the 17 patients with radial access technical success was 94% (16 of 17) patients and 91% (21 of 23) of renal arteries. One patient experienced a cerebrovascular event during intervention. CONCLUSION: Transradial renal artery intervention is technically feasible using low-profile angioplasty balloons and stents. This route offers advantages in renal arteries with a caudal angulation and in patients with diseases or tortuous iliac arteries.