Transbrachial angiography: an effective and safe approach.
BACKGROUND
Description of the technique of the transbrachial catheter diagnostics, retrospective evaluation of the technical success rate and the complications.


METHODS
In a period of 8 years the transbrachial approach was used in 2555 patients, 1734 men and 821 women with an average age of 62.9 years. The investigation was done with outpatients in approximately 90% of the cases. Usually, the preferred arm was not punctured. For the diagnostics F4 and F5-catheter sheaths and selective catheter and/or plain catheters were used.


RESULTS
12 times (0.47%) the investigation did not succeed technically. The image quality of the vascular representations was diagnostically sufficient. The total complication rate amounted to 0.47%. The following complications appeared: four dissections in the site of puncture, one embolism into arteries at the forearm, three transitory ischemic attacks, four haematoma at the site of puncture.


CONCLUSIONS
The transbrachial catheter diagnostics is a little invasive, efficient and low-risk method, which is practicable in out-patients.
Basche
S
S
Department for Diagnostic Radiology, HELIOS Clinical Center Erfurt GmbH, Germany. sbasche@erfurt.helios-kliniken.de
Eger
C
C
Aschenbach
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015984:Causality; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007269:Injections, Intra-Arterial / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011677:Punctures / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*
D003287:Contrast Media