NEWS
RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bobbie Boyd, Director of Public Relations
& Community Outreach
Advanced Cardiac Specialists
Cell Phone: (602) 570-7069 E-mail:
bobbie.boyd@acs-im.com
TRANSRADIAL
CATHETERIZATION
New
Procedure for Patients Undergoing Cardiac Catheterization
Phoenix (June 11, 1998) - Over two
million coronary angiography diagnostic procedures are performed annually in
the United States. Contrast dye media
is injected into the coronary arteries of the heart via a catheter (tube)
usually threaded into an artery in the groin area. This is the transfemoral approach. The procedure assists cardiologists in imaging diseased arteries
that may be blocked due to build-up of fatty cholesterol deposits; and then, to
reduce the blockage.
Improvement
and miniaturization of catheter equipment now allows the radial artery
(patient’s wrist) to be used for coronary investigation and intervention
(Schneider/Namic). It is called the
transradial approach. This is a new
procedure in the United States, though it is already routinely used in some
hospitals in Europe and Canada.
The advantages of the new procedure
include:
1)
Easier access to the artery due to its superficial location in the
wrist. This may be the only access for patients suffering with severe peripheral
vascular disease, obesity or compromised femoral arteries.
2) The superficial location and smaller vessel
size allow for better hemostasis (control of bleeding) once the procedure is
completed, in comparison to the femoral artery in the groin. Significantly less entry site bleeding
complications result from using this transradial approach as compared to the
groin approach.
3)
Lack of important structures close to the radial artery, a good collateral
ulnar artery circulation and its superficial position also contribute to a low
complication rate.
4)
No flat on the back bed rest! Less complications translate into less
nursing time required, especially during the first two hours after the procedure;
less intensity of care; shorter length of stay; and lowered hospital costs - a
potential cost savings of $1,600 to $2,300.
Typically, with a transfemoral approach, six hours of complete bed rest
are required for complete stoppage of bleeding after the groin puncture. Patients must lie completely still during
this time with a weight on the groin area to stop the bleeding. This is inconvenient and especially
uncomfortable for patients with back problems.
With the transradial approach, patients may generally move about within
a short time after the procedure and many times leave the hospital the same
day, which may result in lower hospital costs.
Robert M. Siegel, M.D., Medical Director of Advanced Cardiac Specialists, performed one of the first transradial catheterization procedures in the Valley at their cardiac catheterization lab [then located] at Phoenix Memorial Hospital. While the new technology is not available for all patients, for those who do qualify, there is a high degree of success and a lower complication rate, resulting in early mobilization and discharge.