Femoral Versus Radial Artery Catheterization for Invasive Arterial Pressure Monitoring in Cardiac Surgery Patients: the FERARI Randomized Superiority Study
Femoral Versus Radial Artery Catheterization for Invasive Arterial Pressure Monitoring in Cardiac Surgery Patients: the FERARI Randomized Superiority Study
Background: Acute circulatory failure, often presenting as arterial hypotension, is a major contributor to postoperative morbidity and mortality. Accurate blood pressure (BP) monitoring is essential for timely therapeutic intervention, particularly in patients undergoing major surgery. Among invasive BP measurement sites, the radial artery is commonly used due to its accessibility and ease of catheterization. However, physiologically, the radial artery may underestimate central arterial pressure compared to the femoral artery, especially in patients receiving vasopressors or in critical conditions. This discrepancy can lead to overtreatment with vasopressors and associated complications. Current literature on the accuracy of radial versus femoral BP monitoring is outdated and based solely on observational studies. There is a lack of high-quality randomized data to inform clinical guidelines.
Hypothesis: Femoral arterial pressure monitoring, by offering more accurate hemodynamic data, reduces the need for vasopressor support, particularly norepinephrine, compared to radial artery monitoring.
Primary Objective: To compare the effect of femoral versus radial invasive BP monitoring on the proportion of patients requiring norepinephrine from anesthetic induction to postoperative day 7 (D7) following elective cardiac surgery. Norepinephrine treatment is defined by continuous intravenous administration of norepinephrine for more than 1 minute.
Secondary Objectives :
To compare the following outcomes between the two strategies within the first 7 postoperative days: incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) according to KDIGO criteria, incidence of cardiac complications (arrhythmias requiring treatment, myocardial injury (troponin >99th percentile or >20% rise from baseline), myocardial infarction, cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrest), vaso-inotropic score (VIS), duration of any vasopressor therapy (days), ICU and hospital length of stay (days), all-cause mortality at day 7 and day 30, total duration (hours/days) and maximal dose of norepineprhine therapy, intraoperative hypotension episodes (MAP<65 mmHg > 5 min), incidence of arterial catheter-related complications (hematoma, bleeding, infection, thrombosis, arterial occlusion, malfunction, dislodgement).
Primary Endpoint: The proportion of patients receiving continuous intravenous norepinephrine from anesthesia induction to postoperative day 7.
Secondary Endpoints:
AKI occurrence or need for renal replacement therapy; cardiac complications: atrial/ventricular arrhythmias requirinf treatment, myocardial injury (troponin >99th percentile or >20% rise from baseline), myocardial infarction (biomarker elevation + ECG or echocardiographic abnormalities), cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrest; maximum VIS in the OR, ICU admission, and day 1; intraoperative hypotension episodes (MAP<65 mmHg > 5 min); total norepinephrine support duration (in hours); duration of any vasopressor therapy; arterial line complications: malfunction, dislodgement, hematoma, thrombosis, infection, bleeding, arterial occlusion; ICU and hospital length of stay (days); all-cause mortality at day 7 and day 30
Study Design: A prospective, multicenter (Besançon and Dijon University Hospitals), randomized, superiority, single-blind, intention-to-treat clinical trial in adults undergoing elective cardiac surgery. Patients are randomized to femoral or radial artery catheterization for continuous BP monitoring.
Sample Size: Based on an expected norepinephrine use rate of 70%, a 15% absolute risk reduction, α = 0.05, and power = 90%, 162 patients per group are required. Accounting for 5% data loss, 340 patients will be enrolled.
Study Arms:
Radial group: invasive BP monitoring via radial artery catheterization Femoral group: invasive BP monitoring via femoral artery catheterization The arterial line is placed under ultrasound guidance in the operating room and maintained postoperatively in the ICU or critical care unit until no longer clinically indicated.
Eligibility Criteria Inclusion: adults patients ≥18 years undergoing elective on-pump cardiac surgery with informed consent.
Exclusion: emergency surgery, use of dual arterial lines, heart transplantation, mechanical circulatory support, contraindications to radial/femoral catheterization, legal or ethical inability to consent.
Study Timeline Inclusion period: 36 months Patient follow-up: 7 days post-surgery Total study duration: 36 months
Data Collection: Clinical data are collected by research staff using an electronic case report form (e-CRF) via CleanWeb™ software.
Expected Impact: There are currently no guidelines specifying the optimal site for invasive BP monitoring. This study aims to provide robust evidence on whether femoral BP monitoring improves clinical outcomes, reduces vasopressor use, and minimizes adverse events. Positive findings could inform future practice guidelines and lead to broader investigations in other clinical settings.
Acute circulatory failure or shock-typically characterized by arterial hypotension-is a major cause of ICU admission and a significant contributor to postoperative complications in surgery. This condition may result from various pathophysiological mechanisms such as arterial vasodilation, hypovolemia, or low cardiac output, frequently triggered by sepsis, inflammation, surgery, or hemorrhage. Hypotension leads to hypoperfusion of vital organs (kidney, brain, heart), significantly increasing patient morbidity and mortality. Consequently, numerous studies have focused on identifying critical blood pressure thresholds and optimizing therapeutic strategies to reduce associated organ dysfunction and mortality.
A key challenge in the management of hypotension is the accuracy of blood pressure (BP) measurement. In clinical practice, invasive arterial pressure is commonly monitored at radial, brachial, or femoral sites. The radial artery is often preferred for its accessibility and ease of catheterization. However, from a physiological standpoint, the radial artery's small diameter and peripheral location can result in discrepancies when compared to central aortic pressure-the actual pressure driving organ perfusion.
Several studies have shown that in states of shock or acute circulatory failure, radial artery pressure measurements often underestimate actual blood pressure compared to more central measurements such as femoral artery pressure. This difference is particularly pronounced in specific physiological and pathological conditions-e.g., during vasoconstrictor use-where systolic pressure gradients between radial and femoral sites may be significant.
As such, accurate blood pressure monitoring is critical in anesthesia and critical care to guide fluid resuscitation, vasopressor therapy, and interpretation of hemodynamic monitoring tools. Inaccurate measurements may lead to excessive exposure to hypotension or unnecessary administration of vasopressors, both of which carry associated risks.
Scientific literature comparing radial and femoral arterial BP monitoring is limited, outdated (mainly from the 1990s), and largely based on observational data. It is well-established that radial artery monitoring can lead to spuriously low BP readings, resulting in inappropriate hemodynamic management, including excessive fluid resuscitation or vasopressor administration.
Observational studies consistently report the following findings:
A systematic pressure gradient (at least 5-10 mmHg in mean arterial pressure) between femoral and radial sites.
The radial site underestimates femoral BP, and thus organ perfusion pressure. This gradient is more pronounced in critically ill patients, particularly those receiving vasopressors, women, or those with severe illness (e.g., refractory shock, sepsis).
These discrepancies in BP measurement are associated with overuse of hemodynamic drugs. Previous studies reported that over one-third of patients had a significant BP gradient between radial and femoral sites-often leading to excessive vasopressor administration. Other works further support this, indicating higher rates of adverse events, including acute kidney injury (AKI), and excessive vasopressor use in patients monitored at the radial site versus the femoral site.
AKI, frequently observed during shock or in surgical patients, is a key concern. In its severe form, it increases operative mortality by 3 to 8 times, lengthens ICU and hospital stays, and dramatically increases healthcare costs. Even mild AKI is a major predictor of long-term outcomes, particularly chronic kidney disease. The kidney is especially vulnerable to both hypotension and excessive vasopressor use. Multiple perioperative and ICU studies have demonstrated correlations between norepinephrine exposure (dose and duration) and increased AKI incidence.
Despite the importance of accurate BP measurement, the debate regarding the optimal site for arterial monitoring remains unresolved. Radial catheterization is less invasive and easier to perform but may result in excessive vasopressor use and associated complications. In contrast, femoral arterial monitoring may offer more precise pressure readings and thereby improve the safety and efficiency of hemodynamic optimization in critically ill or surgical patients.
The central hypothesis of this study is that invasive arterial pressure monitoring at the femoral site is associated with a reduced number of patients requiring vasopressor therapy (e.g., norepinephrine), compared to monitoring at the radial site.
While clinical guidelines address central venous access and the use of ultrasound guidance, no current recommendations specify the optimal arterial site for BP monitoring, primarily due to a lack of high-quality evidence. This study aims to fill that gap, focusing on a routine clinical practice-arterial pressure monitoring in perioperative and critical care settings.
A better understanding of the clinical implications of the measurement site could lead to more precise recommendations for invasive BP monitoring and improve patient care. Results from this trial may influence: the choice of arterial catheterization site, the use and duration of vasopressor therapy, the incidence of renal and cardiovascular complications.
Should this study demonstrate that femoral arterial monitoring improves clinical outcomes, it could lead to changes in clinical practice guidelines and initiate larger-scale investigations in various other critical care and surgical populations.
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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