title: It's still important, just doesn't hurt.
abstract: Radial artery catheterization results in local vascular injury to the artery and at times subsequent arterial occlusion, yet even in patients with abnormal collateral testing ischemic hand injury remains essentially unseen. Careful serial examinations of neuro-muscular function of the hand in patients undergoing transradial catheterization demonstrate that even in the case of radial occlusion and an abnormal collateral test, hand function is not altered after the procedure. While radial artery occlusion may not result in functional ischemic findings, the occlusion itself results in lost future opportunity for vascular access or conduit use and further understanding on how to prevent this sequalae continues to be a priority.
authors.affiliation: MS Hershey Medical Center, Penn State University, College of Medicine, Heart & Vascular Institute, Hershey, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Rhian E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.affiliation: MS Hershey Medical Center, Penn State University, College of Medicine, Heart & Vascular Institute, Hershey, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Ian C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Gilchrist
mesh_terms: D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D002404:Catheterization; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia; D017534:Radial Artery; D016896:Treatment Outcome