A comparative study on the transbrachial and transfemoral approaches for the treatment of superior mesenteric artery lesions.

BACKGROUND: Superior Mesenteric Artery (SMA) lesions present a significant challenge in endovascular surgery. Both the transbrachial (TBA) and the transfemoral (TFA) approaches have been employed for the treatment of these lesions, but the comparative effectiveness of these methods remains unclear.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients who underwent TBA and TFA at a tertiary center between June 2020 and February 2023. Key parameters including technical success, procedural details, and complication rates were examined.

RESULTS: In a study of 99 patients, 66 underwent Transfemoral Approach (TFA) and 33 underwent Transbrachial Approach (TBA). No significant age or gender differences were noted between groups. TFA procedures were longer (90.0 vs 63.5 min, p  = 0.002) and had higher fluoroscopy times (59.0 vs 43.0 min, p  = 0.02) and selective SMA times (366.0 vs 245.0 min, p  = 0.038) compared to TBA, especially with a smaller aortomesenteric angle (<90°). Technical success rates were high in both groups (TFA 97%, TBA 93.9%, p  = 0.60). Complication rates were similar between groups, with no significant predictors for access site complications identified.

CONCLUSION: Both the TBA and the TFA are effective for the treatment of SMA lesions, with TBA potentially offering advantages in terms of efficiency and patient recovery, particularly in cases with certain anatomy. No significant differences in complication rates were found between the two groups. Further research, including prospective randomized trials, is needed to confirm these findings.