A safer, less invasive route to heart treatment
A new and better option to diagnostic and interventional cardiac procedures is currently offered at The Medical City (TMC). Started in April 2010, transradial access for catheterization is now the access of choice for cardiac catheterization at TMC Cardiovascular Center. In the first quarter of this year alone, 87.4 percent of coronary procedures performed at the center were done via the transradial approach.
Dr. Paolo Prado, interventional cardiologist at TMC Cardiovascular Center, explains that transradial access to catheterization is obtained by puncturing the radial artery at the underside of the wrist using a small needle through which a fine wire is inserted into the blood vessel to guide the insertion of a small plastic tube called a sheath. The sheath keeps blood from spurting out of the artery and allows other devices to go into the body’s cardiovascular system. Coronary angioplasty or the mapping of the heart arteries and opening of blocked arteries can be performed from the access site.
“It is by choice that I do all my cases via radial. While it takes more effort to do cases via the radial access, it translates to patient comfort and safety,” Dr. Prado said.
Most doctors are trained in the femoral access, which used to be the preferred route for coronary procedures. The femoral access is obtained by puncturing the femoral artery in the groin. Today, the radial artery default access to angiography and coronary intervention has gained the support of other interventional cardiologists at TMC.
“With transradial cath, there is a lower risk of bleeding at the incision site (wrist) and less or virtually no complication compared with femoral access where the risk of bleeding in the groin is high, requiring blood transfusion and even surgery.” Dr. Prado stressed.
A most cost-effective benefit of transradial catheterization is the fact that after the procedure, a patient can move around, walk to the bathroom, and drive home. Early ambulation and discharge translate to significant savings for the patient. Taking around 15 to 30 minutes only, transradial procedure may actually be done as an outpatient procedure in lowrisk patients or those with no other serious illnesses that require in-hospital monitoring.
“Most patients can go through catheterization through the wrist as long as there is a good pulse,” Dr. Prado said.
The transradial approach to cardiac procedures underscores efforts at TMC Cardiac and Vascular Catheterization Laboratory to further improve the quality of patient care as well as enhance patient experience in terms of comfort, safety, and cost.