ABSTRACT
In the early 1960s, Mason Sones, the father of selective coronary angiography, described and introduced 'brachial artery cut down' as the access site method to perform coronary angiography. The common femoral artery (FA) is an elastic artery extending from the inguinal ligament to the femoral bifurcation. FA percutaneous access is gained through the Seldinger technique. After shaving and sterilisation, the groin is infiltrated with local anaesthetic. The puncture site must be recognised through anatomical landmarks and pulse palpation. The radial artery (RA) arises at the bifurcation of the brachial artery in the cubital fossa. It runs distally along the radial side of the forearm and joins the ulnar artery through the palmar arch, creating the dual circulation system in the hand. The most frequent access site complications are bleeding, pseudoaneurysm/thrombus formation, distal embolisation and the creation of arteriovenous fistula. Female sex and the antithrombotic regimen are additional risk factors.
