Transkatheterial

Transkatheterial is an adjective used in medicine to describe procedures, diagnostics, or therapies performed through a catheter, typically inserted into the vascular system and navigated to a target site. The term is synonymous with transcatheter or catheter-based techniques and is distinguished from open surgical approaches. It is employed across multiple specialties, including interventional radiology, interventional cardiology, and neurointerventional surgery.

Common transkatheterial procedures cover a broad range of indications. Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) targets liver tumors by delivering chemotherapy directly into the arterial supply followed by embolization. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR or TAVI) treats aortic stenosis with a catheter-delivered valve. Catheter-based embolization, tumor devascularization, and uterine fibroid embolization are other examples. Cardiac catheterization with percutaneous intervention, such as angioplasty and stenting, and various catheter-guided valve repairs or replacements, also fall into this category.

Technical aspects. Transkatheterial interventions are typically performed through percutaneous vascular access, often via the femoral or radial artery, and guided by imaging such as fluoroscopy and angiography. Specialized devices include guidewires, catheters of varying diameters, balloons, stents, embolic agents, and delivery systems for devices like valves or occluders. The choice of approach depends on the target lesion, anatomy, and therapeutic goal.

Indications, benefits, and risks. Catheter-based techniques offer less invasive alternatives to open surgery, shorter recovery times, and the ability to target specific areas with imaging guidance. Risks include vascular injury, bleeding, infection, contrast-related nephrotoxicity, stroke, and device-related complications. Clinicians weigh benefits against potential complications for each patient.

Nomenclature and history. While transkatheterial remains encountered in some languages, the terms transcatheter or catheter-based are more common in English-language literature. The development of percutaneous techniques has roots in early vascular catheterization and angioplasty, contributing to broad adoption across medical specialties.