Comparison between transauricular and transfemoral arterial access for hepatic artery angiography in a rabbit model

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of transauricular arterial access and compare the procedure time needed for hepatic artery angiography via transfemoral versus transauricular arterial access in a rabbit model. Materials and Methods: This study was approved by the research animal care and use committee. Twenty rabbits were divided into transfemoral (n = 10) and transauricular access groups (n = 10). The procedure consisted of shaving the hair, obtaining intraarterial access, performing hepatic artery angiography, and repairing the access site. A MannWhitney U test was used to compare the two groups in terms of the total procedure time and the time needed for each step. Results: Hepatic artery angiography was technically feasible in all animals in both groups. The time required for shaving was 55 seconds ± 9.9 in the transfemoral access group; shaving was unnecessary in the transauricular access group. The times needed to obtain intraarterial access, perform hepatic artery angiography, repair the access site, and perform the entire procedure in the transfemoral and transauricular access groups were as follows: 503.3 s ± 211.8 and 97 s ± 83.3 (P <.001), 229.6 s ± 90 and 310.7 s ± 211 (P =.705), 305.5 s ± 80.6 and 90 s ± 0 (P <.001), and 1,038 s ± 265.9 and 497.7 s ± 256.9 (P = 0.001), respectively. Conclusions: Hepatic artery angiography is technically feasible via transauricular arterial access. The major advantages of transauricular arterial access versus transfemoral arterial access include a procedure time reduced by the omission of shaving and surgical cutdown.