Vascular Access Management in Complex Percutaneous Coronary Interventions

Vascular access is a crucial step, which every interventional cardiologist needs to be skilled with to consistently achieve excellent periprocedural outcomes. Some operators argue that it is the most important aspect of the entire intervention. Hence, careful planning of vascular access in an individualized fashion – based on the patient’s clinical status, anatomy, and technical requirements of the intervention – is the first step in securing optimal procedural safety and successful results. We briefly review multiple aspects of vascular access and management including site selection, ultrasound guidance, micro-puncture techniques, sheathless techniques, limb perfusion, clinical monitoring, large bore closure, and management of complications. Approaching every vascular access in a systematic way, even in emergent situations, allows operators to minimize the risk of complications, especially in an often severely ill patient population.