Heart catheterizations are typically performed using an incision in the femoral artery in the groin to access the heart with a narrow catheter. This procedure usually requires a patient to lie flat on his/her back for several hours after the procedure to prevent bleeding from the artery. This often requires an overnight hospital stay.
Physicians at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital now offer an innovative alternative procedure for some patients. Transradial cardiac catheterization uses the wrist for catheter insertion, instead of the femoral artery, which results in:
Less discomfort
Reduced recovery time
Significantly lower risk of bleeding complications
The ability to walk in and out of the procedure room without the need for prolonged bedrest
Most patients find transradial cardiac catheterization easier to tolerate, but it is especially beneficial to those with low back pain, arthritis, obesity, peripheral vascular disease and others for whom flat bedrest is uncomfortable. Patients with complex conditions and those who require larger catheters may be better served by the femoral catheterization.
Three cardiologists perform transradial cardiac catheterization at Good Samaritan Hospital:
