Methods for increasing distal radial artery diameter

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to find the maximum rate of increase in distal radial artery size. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Diameter measurements were obtained on transverse and sagittal sections of the artery with a high-frequency linear transducer (Philips ClearVue L12-4 Mhz). In the baseline evaluation, radial artery and distal radial artery diameters were measured. The patients were divided into two groups: patients with flow-mediated dilatation in Group I and patients with 30 mg Topical Nitroglycerin in Group II. Group II patients were divided into two groups 30 minutes after topical nitroglycerin; patients with flow-mediated dilatation (FDM) in Group IIa, patients with wrist warming plus FMD in Group IIb. RESULTS: A significant increase was found between baseline and second measurements in the radial artery (2.64±0.46 and 2.36±0.39 mm; p=0.02 in Group I, 2.78±0.38 and 2.39±0.25 mm; p=0.01 in Group II) and distal radial artery (2.29±0.49 and 1.93±0.37 mm; p=0.02 in Group I, 2.32±0.28 and 1.96±0.44 mm; p=0.04 in Group II) diameters. Radial (3.02±0.55 and 2.78±0.38 mm; p<0.01) and distal radial artery (2.55±0.32 and 2.32±0.28 mm; p=0.01) diameters increased compared to the second measurements in Group IIa. Radial (3.25±0.35 and 2.78±0.38 mm; p<0.01) and distal radial artery (2.88±0.12 and 2.32±0.28 mm; p<0.01) diameters increased compared to the second measurements in Group IIb. The results of the final evaluations of the two groups were compared, radial (3.02±0.55 and 3.25±0.35 mm; p=0.04) and distal radial artery (2.55±0.32 and 2.88±0.12 mm; p=0.03) diameters were found to be significantly higher in Group IIb than Group IIa. When comparing baseline and final evaluations, the radial artery diameter was increased by 37%, and the distal radial artery diameter was increased by 49% in Group IIb. CONCLUSIONS: We increased the radial artery diameter higher proportion than defined in the literature.