Interest in radial access (RA) for non-coronaric interventional procedures is gradually increasing with mounting evidence of its safety and feasibility (1).
Compared to transfemoral access,
it has shown improved post-procedure hemostasis and patient satisfaction,
decreased haemorrhagic complications,
sedation requirements,
recovery times,
and procedure-related costs (2)(3,4).
Reasons for under- use of TRA outside the cardiac catheterization laboratory may include operator unfamiliarity,
a lack of appropriate training,
equipment limitations such as inappropriate catheter length and shape,
and the initial learning curve (1) (5).
RA has a steep learning curve and is technically challenging because of the anatomical complexities,
such as subclavian artery tortuosity and radio-ulnar loops.
More catheter exchanges are reguired,
with consequent increase of procedure time and radiation dose,
as well as of the amount of contrast used (6).
Recent data suggest that the exposure time using RA approaches transfermoral access time as the experience of the operator increases (7).
However,
transradial access is not widely and consistently taught in fellowship programs (8).
Animal models continue to provide a high-fidelity training model with blood flow,
although their different anatomy,
ethical issues and high costs are known limitations.
Human cadaveric models provide more relevant anatomy and anatomical variation in which,
for the purposes of RA and arterial endovascular procedures,
the human Thiel cadaver has no accurate alternative animal model in terms of anatomy,
vessel geometry,
calibre and physiological conditions (9,10).
Thiel cadavers with the addiction of extracorporeal flow are a recent option for interventional radiology training (11).
Their perfect anatomy,
retention of flexibility,
colour,
tone,
extended durability,
negligible infection hazard and the vascular patency make them a robust,
reproducible,
high-quality model that is ethically sound,
to train multidisciplinary teams in complex endovascular interventions (11).
The aim of the present study is perhaps to introduce a human cadaveric model for training endovascular interventions through RA.