Low-angle vascular access for neurovascular procedures using the Arstasis AXERA access device.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Arstasis AXERA access device in patients undergoing neuroendovascular procedures.

Materials And Methods: A single-center retrospective study of 94 patients undergoing neurovascular procedures with the use of an AXERA arterial access device was performed. The procedures were performed with 5-6-F vascular sheaths, and hemostasis was obtained with manual compression.

Results: A total of 104 neurovascular procedures (81 diagnostic, 23 interventional) were performed in 94 subjects. Eighty-seven procedures (83%) were performed with a 5-F sheath, and 17 procedures (16%) used a 6-F sheath. Intravenous heparin was administered in 64 procedures (61%), and 32 patients (30%) were taking antiplatelet medications at the time of the procedure. Median time to hemostasis was 4 minutes with manual compression, and outpatients undergoing diagnostic angiography were permitted to ambulate at 1 hour. Complications occurred in a total of 3% of cases; these included one local hematoma (1%) and two failed procedures (2%).

Conclusions: The new AXERA arterial access device modifies the arterial puncture angle in an attempt to reduce manual compression and ambulation times.