Recanalization of the occluded radial artery via distal transradial access in the anatomic snuffbox

BACKGROUND: Radial artery occlusion is a common complication after coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention via the transradial access. In recent years, coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention via the distal transradial access has gradually emerged, but recanalization of the occluded radial artery through the distal transradial access has rarely been reported. CASE PRESENTATION: A 67-year-old female with arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus was admitted to the hospital due to chest pain for three hours. She was diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction. After admission, the patient successfully underwent emergency coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention through the right transradial access. Radial artery occlusion was found after the operation, and recanalization was successfully performed through the right distal transradial access before discharge. Immediately after the operation and one month later, vascular ultrasonography showed that the antegrade flow was normal. CONCLUSIONS: This report presents a case of radial artery occlusion after emergency coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention in which recanalization was successfully performed through the right distal transradial access. This case demonstrates that recanalization of a radial artery occlusion via the distal transradial access is safe and feasible.