radial artery spasm
Vasospastic reaction of the radial artery during transradial cardiac catheterization causing procedural difficulty or failure.
Full Definition
Radial artery spasm is a common complication of transradial cardiac catheterization characterized by sudden contraction of radial artery smooth muscle leading to vessel narrowing and reduced catheter maneuverability. This phenomenon can range from mild spasm causing catheter resistance to severe spasm requiring procedure conversion to femoral access. Risk factors include small vessel caliber, multiple catheter exchanges, inadequate sedation or analgesia, and insufficient antispasmodic medication. Prevention strategies include proper patient preparation, adequate local anesthesia, antispasmodic cocktails containing verapamil or nitroglycerin, and gentle catheter manipulation techniques. Severe radial spasm can cause patient discomfort and may rarely result in radial artery occlusion.
Usage
Usage note: Specify 'radial artery' rather than just 'radial' to avoid confusion with other anatomical structures.
In Context
- "Mild radial artery spasm was successfully treated with intra-arterial verapamil administration." — Cardiac catheterization report
- "Severe radial spasm necessitated conversion to femoral access to complete the procedure." — Interventional procedure note