Low-angle vascular access for neurovascular procedures using the Arstasis AXERA access device.
PURPOSE
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Arstasis AXERA access device in patients undergoing neuroendovascular procedures.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
A single-center retrospective study of 94 patients undergoing neurovascular procedures with the use of an AXERA arterial access device was performed. The procedures were performed with 5-6-F vascular sheaths, and hemostasis was obtained with manual compression.


RESULTS
A total of 104 neurovascular procedures (81 diagnostic, 23 interventional) were performed in 94 subjects. Eighty-seven procedures (83%) were performed with a 5-F sheath, and 17 procedures (16%) used a 6-F sheath. Intravenous heparin was administered in 64 procedures (61%), and 32 patients (30%) were taking antiplatelet medications at the time of the procedure. Median time to hemostasis was 4 minutes with manual compression, and outpatients undergoing diagnostic angiography were permitted to ambulate at 1 hour. Complications occurred in a total of 3% of cases; these included one local hematoma (1%) and two failed procedures (2%).


CONCLUSIONS
The new AXERA arterial access device modifies the arterial puncture angle in an attempt to reduce manual compression and ambulation times.