Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try! (Theodore Seuss Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss)

摘要

Compared to a femoral approach, radial access significantly reduces vascular access-related haemorrhages and, in STEMI patients, it generally yields better outcomes [1]. However, the feasibility, associated radiation exposure, and duration of radial approach procedures are subject to considerable variability across studies, relative to femoral access [2]. This variability has been attributed to differences in operator expertise, because proficiently accessing the radial artery requires both an adequate learning curve and a consistent ongoing procedural volume of interventions [3]. However, following Dr. Seuss' suggestion, if you look closely enough, considering the "radial approach" as a single entity is misguided. Instead, left and right radial approaches should be considered separately, because they are so different.