Coronavirus (COVID-19): latest updates and how to get care. Or use the virtual assistant below right to check symptoms.
Dignity Health Heart and Vascular Institute of Greater Sacramento offers radial artery access in cardiovascular procedures involving cardiovascular catheterization. This provides several benefits including less discomfort and less time in the hospital.
During cardiology procedures involving cardiovascular catheterization, doctors thread a long, thin tube (called a catheter) through an artery or vein in the leg or arm and into the heart. This gives the heart doctor access to the arteries in the heart.
Unlike traditional cardiovascular catheterization, radial artery access involves inserting the catheter into the patient's radial artery, which is in the wrist rather than the femoral artery in the patient's groin. This approach has several benefits:
During a radial artery access cardiology procedure, patients can expect:
Radial artery access is not available to all cardiology patients or for all procedures. To be considered a candidate, patients must:
If you are in need of a cardiovascular catheterization procedure, talk to your doctor to find out if you may be a candidate for a radial artery access procedure.