The distal radial approach is considered a further refinement of the standard routine radial access and provide an additional non-femoral access-site option. Patients with various orthopaedic limitations including frozen shoulders and elbows, who are unable to supinate their arm can benefit from this new arm position.
The dTRA snuffbox approach potentially can decrease the incidence of radial artery occlusion due to the two different arterial networks at the wrist, viz one superficial and another deep, connecting the radial with the ulnar artery in forming the palmar arch.
Other potential advantage of dTRA is the ability of the patient to mobilize their wrists with no increased risk for vascular complications given the direct pressure of the haemostatics band against the scaphoid bone. This approach can potentially reduce hemostasis duration. The proximal radial artery can be preserved for future procedures such as bypass grafting, or arterio-venous fistula.
Keywords
ulnar artery
one superficial
direct pressure
frozen shoulders
future procedures
potential advantage
hemostasis duration
distal radial approach
proximal radial artery
dTRA snuffbox approach
vascular complications
radial artery occlusion due
standard routine radial access
two different arterial networks
various orthopaedic limitations
