Anatomical snuffbox for interventional cardiology: Hype or hope?

Abstract

Cardiovascular catheterization has traditionally been done through transradial access. Vascular complications, primarily radial artery (RA) occlusion, continue to exist despite their rarity. In recent times, interventionalists have reported using the anatomical snuffbox (ASB) or distal transradial approach for cardiac catheterization. This distal radial approach has been promoted to lower the risk of bleeding and vascular access site complications as well as RA occlusion at the forearm. This state-of-the-art review outlines the feasibility and safety of left versus right ASB in interventional cardiology.