Transbrachial Artery as Single or Combined Approach for Complex Interventions in Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease.

Background: This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of the transbrachial approach as a single or combined procedure for complex interventions in peripheral artery disease (PAD).

Methods: Between March 2011 and April 2021, 169 patients with PAD underwent endovascular therapy via the transbrachial approach as a single or dual procedure. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the predictors of adverse events at the brachial puncture site. All demographic, clinical, and perioperative data were acquired from electronic medical records and retrospectively analyzed.

Results: Brachial artery access was used alone and in combination in 87 and 82 patients, respectively. Patients in the combined-approach group underwent more intraoperative stent implantations and had more vascular closure devices (VCD). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that hypertension was an independent factor for higher rates of brachial puncture site adverse events (odds ratio, 4.76; 95% confidence interval, 1.33-16.97; P = 0.016). Brachial artery access-site complications occurred in 26 patients, including 6 (23.1%) major and 20 (76.9%) minor entry-site complications. Entry-site complications were observed in 21 (16.8%) and 5 (11.4%) patients assigned to manual compression and VCD groups, respectively. There were no significant intergroup differences in the incidence of major or minor complications. Interestingly, patients assigned to the VCD group did not experience major entry-site complications.

Conclusions: The transbrachial approach, as a single or combined procedure, is a safe alternative to complex interventions in patients with PAD. Complications of brachial access progressively decrease with improved blood pressure control.