title: Tailored use of transradial access for above-the-knee angioplasty.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the results and complications of a single-center experience of above-the-knee angioplasty via transradial access (TRA).
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective study, 110 consecutive patients (88 men; mean age 72 years, range 37-90) referred for critical limb ischemia (26, 24%) or claudication were eligible for lower limb angioplasty via TRA (patients with TASC D lesions of the superficial femoral artery and below-the-knee lesions were excluded).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of patients (84, 76%) were treated via a left TRA. A total of 170 lesions were addressed, of which 38 (22%) were occlusions; 113 stents were positioned in 82 patients. The overall technical success rate was 91%, with a 63% success rate in occlusions and a 98% success rate in stenoses; by location, the success rates were 91% in suprainguinal lesions and 90% in infrainguinal lesions. No hemorrhagic or local complications requiring surgery were observed. At 1-month follow-up, 101 patients had a downward shift of at least one category in the Rutherford classification of symptoms (clinical success rate 92%); 18 (16%) patients had occlusion of their access radial artery, but none had symptoms or discomfort.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study demonstrates that TRA is a safe and effective approach for lower extremity arterial revascularization, at least for interventionists with longstanding experience in TRA and in selected anatomical subsets.
authors.affiliation: 1 Cardiovascular Department, San Luca Hospital, Lucca, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lorenzoni
authors.forename: Cristiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lisi
authors.forename: Anca
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Corciu
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lazzari
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bovenzi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D007511:Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D007558:Italy; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017534:Radial Artery; D011859:Radiography; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: iliac artery; occlusion; peripheral angioplasty; peripheral artery disease; radial artery access; stenosis; stent; superficial femoral artery