Cardiologists Repair The Heart Through The Wrist
Friday, 15 January 2010
Type: Articles
Category: Cardiac
A new approach to common cardiac procedures called transradial angiography might lead to reduced patient complications and recovery time and decreased hospital costs.
Cardiologists at the University of Illinois and Jesse Brown VA medical centers are among the first in the Chicago area to offer the approach to heart angiograms and clearing blocked arteries.
In the procedure, a catheter is threaded through the small radial artery in the wrist rather than the larger femoral artery in the groin.
"It's a simple change that has a dramatic impact on the experience and recovery of the patient," said Dr. Adhir Shroff, assistant professor of cardiology at UIC.
Although complications from standard catheterization through the groin are low, occurring in only 2 percent to 9 percent of patients, the transradial approach can reduce bleeding -- the most common complication, particularly among women and the elderly -- to under 1 percent. It also eliminates much of the discomfort associated with the procedure.
Following a standard angiogram and angioplasty through the femoral artery, the patient needs to lie still on his or her back for four to six hours. This can be very uncomfortable for elderly patients with back problems, Shroff said. Walking can be uncomfortable for days.
In contrast, patients who have the procedure done via the wrist can immediately sit up, eat, and walk without pain, said Shroff.
The transradial procedure has been widely adopted in Europe, where up to 60 percent of procedures are now done this way.
Source
University of Illinois at Chicago
|
 |
|
|
|