Percutaneous brachial approach for transluminal coronary angioplasty

Transluminal coronary angioplasty from the arm is performed generally with cutdown and brachial arteriotomy. We describe a brachial percutaneous technique for coronary angioplasty, almost similar to the femoral one, wtih a special focus on the prevention of induced vasoconstriction. Our preliminary results are satisfactory and without complications: 13 procedures in 11 patients have been performed over a 30 month period, with the sheaths left in place for 4–6 h after the procedure. This method could be an easy alternative to the Sones technique for operators who are essentially familiar with the femoral percutaneous arterial approach.