In this episode of the BackTable Podcast, host Dr. Michael Barraza interviews guest Dr. Marcelo Guimaraes about the advantages and implementation of radial access in interventional radiology. Dr. Guimaraes is a vascular and interventional radiologist from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Dr. Guimaraes shares insights on the adoption of radial access over femoral access, emphasizing its simplicity, safety, and the clear benefits recognized by younger interventionalists. He elaborates on the importance of education, partnership with the industry, and following a standard protocol to build a successful radial access program. The doctors also cover specific topics like the RAVI Registry outcomes, patient preferences for radial access based on a study, the cost-benefit analysis, and handling various challenges such as artery spasms and loops. Dr. Guimaraes advocates for radial access as the default method for embolization therapies, highlighting its efficacy across a range of procedures and patient conditions. --- CHECK OUT OUR SPONSOR Medtronic Concerto https://mobile.twitter.com/mdtvascular --- SHOW NOTES 00:00 - Introduction 02:56 - Insights into MUSC’s Interventional Radiology Program 04:44 - Emergence of Radial Access in Interventional Procedures 07:04 - Challenges and Solutions in Setting Up a Radial Access Program 10:14 - Essential Equipment for Radial Access 22:20 - Addressing Spasm Challenges in Radial Access 30:11 - Patient Preference: Radial vs Femoral Access 32:46 - Safety and Efficacy of Radial Access: The Data 41:11 - Post-procedure Hemostasis Protocol 43:51 - Optimal Radial Artery Access Point and Best Practices --- RESOURCES How To Do The Barbeau Test - BackTable Demo: https://www.backtable.com/shows/vi/demos/how-to-do-the-barbeau-test Comparison of transradial coronary procedures via right radial versus left radial artery approach: A meta-analysis: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27037544/ Transradial Versus Transfemoral Arterial Access in Liver Cancer Embolization: Randomized Trial to Assess Patient Satisfaction (Dr. Guimaraes paper): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29150395/ An Update on Radial Artery Access and Best Practices for Transradial Coronary Angiography and Intervention in Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/HCV.0000000000000035 The RAVI registry: prospective, multicenter study of radial access in embolization procedures – 30 days follow up: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10828405/