Achieve success with radial access
It’s time for a new approach
Introduced in the late 1980's1, the radial approach to cardiac catheterization is increasingly replacing the femoral approach for use with both diagnostic and interventional procedures. This growth in acceptance has been driven by patient safety as well as healthcare cost considerations.
Compared with the femoral approach, for example, radial cardiac catheterization significantly reduces the incidence of bleeding and other vascular complications2 which can lead to higher rates of morbidity and mortality. As a result, it speeds up recoveries, shortens hospital stays and lowers the cost of care. Reduced resource utilization during radial procedures also creates savings.
Advances in technique and technology have led to radial use in over 50 percent of all procedures worldwide and recent healthcare legislation requiring improved outcomes with lower costs have positioned it for rapid acceptance in the U.S.
- 1. Rao, Sunil V. "The Transradial Approach to Percutaneous Coronary Intervention." Journal of the American College of Cardiology 55.20 (May 18, 2010): 2187-95.
- 2. Vavalle, John P. "The Impact of Radial Access on PCI Complications." Cardiac Interventions 4.2 (March/April 2010): 34-37.
