Flow and Diameter Changes of Forearm Arteries During Temporary Unilateral Reciprocal Occlusion: A Prospective Observational Study.

PURPOSE: Transradial and transulnar artery approaches are commonly used for percutaneous interventions, with considerably low risk of developing hand ischemia, for reasons that have not been fully understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in the diameter, peak systolic flow velocity (PSV), and volume flow (VF) of the radial (RA) and ulnar artery (UA) during unilateral reciprocal temporary occlusion.

METHODS: A total of 204 extremity arteries of 102 consecutive patients were evaluated using Doppler ultrasonography. At the level of the wrist, RA and UA were consecutively compressed for 60 seconds. The diameter, PSV, and VF parameters of both arteries were evaluated during unilateral reciprocal compression.

RESULTS: Compared with the baseline values, the median (interquartile range) increases in diameter, PSV, and VF were 0.2 (0.1-0.3) mm, 6.8 (1.7-17.5) cm/s, and 1.9 (0.8-10) ml/min, respectively, for RA, and 0.1 (0.1-0.3) mm, 9.4 (2.6-18.0) cm/s, and 10.0 (0.0-20.0) ml/min, respectively, for UA during reciprocal compression (p < 0.001 for all).

CONCLUSIONS: Reciprocal compression significantly increased the diameter, PSV, and VF of both arteries during reciprocal compression. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 45:197-203, 2017.