The Truth About Radial
Although transradial approach is gaining momentum in U.S., many hospitals have yet to discover this safer approach to cardiac catheterizations. Answer the following questions true or false to test your knowledge on radial facts and learn why this procedure is becoming more and more popular with clinicians and patients.
1. A transradial procedure is an intervention which uses the radial artery near the wrist as the main access point.
TRUE: Transradial refers to diagnostic and interventional procedures using the radial artery near the wrist, rather than the femoral artery near the groin, as the main access point for intervention.
2. Using the radial approach can improve patient outcomes and lead to reduced costs.
TRUE: Performing cardiac catheterizations through the radial artery is proven to lower the risk of vascular complications, reduce major bleeding and improve patient recovery time when compared to femoral access.
3. Radial entry can only be used to perform interventions to the heart.
FALSE: The most popular procedure for radial access is either a diagnostic heart cath or an interventional procedure such as a percutaneous coronary intervention, or PCI, so usually procedures involve the heart. But radial entry can be used to intervene in other anatomical areas such as the kidneys.
4. Either the right or the left arm can be used for radial entry.
TRUE: Either arm can be used. About 80 percent of the procedures are performed using the right arm and 20 percent with the left. Toshiba’s Infinix-i line facilitates both approaches better than any other cath lab available.
5. About 50 percent of interventions in the U.S. use the radial entry.
FALSE: The radial approach is used more than 50 percent of the time globally, but only approximately 8 percent of the time in the U.S. However, more U.S.-based hospitals are turning to the radial approach since it is easier and safer for patients. The low U.S. adoption rate is due to interventionalists being trained with the femoral approach and/or because some vascular x-ray systems do not easily accommodate this alternative procedure.
6. The radial approach is more difficult than the femoral approach.
FALSE: While the radial approach does use a smaller artery, with proper training and a system that allows for flexible positioning, like Toshiba’s Infinix-i, many clinicians find this approach easier than the femoral approach and much safer for the patient.
7. Toshiba’s Infinix-i vascular x-ray system can help make transradial procedures easier.
TRUE: The Infinix-i’s innovative 5-axis C-arm design allows for greater flexibility of positioning over the wrist to the heart, with head-to-toe and fingertip-to-fingertip coverage. By keeping the C-arm completely out of the way, it allows clinicians to position the monitor suspension into the most desirable viewing position and move the tableside control and radiation shield to either side of the table, accommodating right side or left side entry.
Tags: artery, Cardiac, catheterization, Heart, radial, transradial, x-ray
Category: Education & Training,Medical Equipment,Medical Imaging —