In addition to the legs, angiography can also be done on the wrist! Don't be unaware of this now

Can cerebral angiography only be done from the legs? Of course not! We can also do it from the wrist, via the radial artery and the distal radial artery. There is no need to stay in bed after the operation, and you can even walk back to the ward, with fewer complications and more comfort.

At present, the Department of Neurology of Yiyang Central Hospital has fully carried out whole-brain angiography and intravascular treatment via radial artery approach to improve patients' surgical comfort and acceptance and reduce surgical risks.

1. What is transradial cerebral angiography?

Simply put, radial cerebral artery angiography is to insert a thin catheter through the radial artery at the wrist, slowly guide it to the brain blood vessels, and then inject contrast agent (to make the blood vessels "glow" under the imaging device) to help doctors take clear images of brain blood vessels. In this way, the condition of the cerebral artery is clear at a glance, and doctors can quickly detect lesions and make diagnoses.

Traditionally, this examination is performed through the femoral artery at the base of the thigh, but now more and more doctors prefer to perform angiography from the radial artery at the wrist. This "wrist-based" method is not only safer but also more comfortable for patients.

2. Why choose radial cerebral angiography?

Compared with traditional transfemoral angiography, transradial cerebral angiography has the following advantages:

1. Small wound and quick recovery

The puncture point of the radial artery is at the wrist, which is smaller than the thigh root. After the operation, you only need to use a compression wristband to stop bleeding, and you can usually move normally after a few hours. After angiography, patients can recover faster and do not need to stay in bed for a long time, which is very suitable for people with busy daily lives.

2. More comfortable after surgery

The puncture site of transradial artery angiography is the wrist. After the operation, the patient can move freely without restricting leg movement. There is no need to worry about leg compression and pain after the examination. The patient has a better postoperative experience, which is especially suitable for middle-aged and elderly people who are not convenient to stay in bed for a long time.

3. Convenient and safe bleeding control

The radial artery is located shallowly on the surface of the wrist and is easy to press to stop bleeding. In case of a small amount of bleeding, it can be easily stopped by gently pressing the wrist area, avoiding the problem of difficult bleeding in femoral artery angiography.

4. Reduce the risk of complications

The risk of complications from radial artery angiography is low. Because the radial artery is close to the surface, it is not easy to damage other tissues and usually does not cause severe bleeding or large hematomas. For patients with a higher risk of bleeding, radial artery angiography is safer.

3. Which diseases are suitable for transradial artery angiography?

1. Cerebral thrombosis or arterial stenosis

2. Brain aneurysm

3. Cerebrovascular malformation

IV. Postoperative precautions

After the examination, there will be a small wound on the wrist, and the doctor will apply pressure to stop the bleeding. You should avoid bending your wrist forcibly within a few hours after the operation, but it will not affect your daily activities. Try to avoid lifting heavy objects on the day after the operation and keep the wound clean. If you find abnormal swelling or pain in your wrist, you can contact your doctor in time.

Transradial cerebral artery angiography is an advanced technology for cerebrovascular examination. It is safe, comfortable and can recover quickly. The Department of Neurology of Yiyang Central Hospital has successfully carried out more than 150 cases of transradial cerebral artery angiography, bringing patients a good treatment experience and providing more treatment options for patients with cerebrovascular diseases.

Hunan Medical Chat Special Author: Cai Yi and Cai Jizhang from Yiyang Central Hospital

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(Edited by ZS)