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News About Radial Access
SCAI Issues Report on Increasing Use of Transradial Access in U.S., Need for Guidelines on Training and Competency
The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention (SCAI) report on transradial (wrist) access for angioplasty is the first such document published by a professional society in the U.S. Lead author, Dr. Ron Caputo, states, "...the radial technique, which many patients find more comfortable, is also safe and effective.... As this technique is used more frequently in the United States, we want to ensure it is used safely and appropriately." The 17-page report covers a wide range of topics, from patient selection to training for cardiologists.... (read more)
Upcoming Training: Advanced Transradial Course at Duke
Duke Transradial Course
On Oct. 20-21, the Duke Clinical Research Institute, in conjunction with the Univ. of Miami Miller School of Medicine and SCAI, will present the "Duke Advanced Course in Transradial Angiography and Intervention", one of the first advanced courses in this new and growing technique to be offered in the U.S.... (read more)
Go Early to TCT 2011 for Transradial Session on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 1-6pm
TCT 2011
This year's TCT in San Francisco will be offering a full afternoon session, titled "Transradial Angiography and Intervention: From Basic to Advanced " on Tuesday, November 8, 2011 from 1:00pm to 6:00pm, including over 20 presentations and roundtable discussions with the experts in the field. (go to the TCT Agenda)
Transradial Hospital
Transradial Training Opportunities
Want to start doing radials but you need help? Browse our listing of courses being offered in Transradial Angiography and Intervention (last updated September 13, 2011). If you are offering a course, you can add it to our listings.
RIVAL: Angioplasty and Stenting from the Wrist Safe and Effective
Cath Lab
The first large-scale trial comparing transradial and femoral angioplasty enrolled 7,021 patients from 158 hospitals in 32 countries. The results showed that the wrist approach was as safe and effective as the femoral -- and may have certain advantages, especially in STEMI cases.... (read more)
A Visual Tutorial to Radial Access
Transradial Technique Slideshow
Click thru this tutorial slideshow, created by Dr. Mauricio G. Cohen, now Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine..... (read more)
TCT Presentations from the Archives:
Transradial Events at TCT2009
TCT 2008
Multimedia Symposium: Transradial Access: The Advantages to You, Your Patient and Hospital
This event was originally held on October 16, 2008 as part of the 2008 Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) meeting in Washington DC. The panels consists of Dr. Jeffrey Popma, Dr. Ramon Quesada, Dr. Ron Caputo and Dr. Shigeru Saito.
External Reference Material and Bibliographic Link
A listing of journal articles and links about radial access and related topics. These are provided as a service by Angioplasty.Org, which is not responsible for the content on any external sites..... (read more)
News
Breaking news, original reporting and links to transradial access-related news stories.
• RIVAL: Angioplasty from the Wrist Safe and Effective
• SCAI Statement on The Rival Trial
• Lucien Campeau, Transradial Pioneer, Dies at 82
• Does Less Angioplasty in Women Having a Heart Attack Lead to Worse Outcomes?
• Transradial Wrist Angioplasty Safe and Effective in Treatment of Heart Attack
• Angioplasty from the Radial Artery in the Wrist is Safer, Says Study of 600,000 Patients
• Wrist Angioplasty Associated with 50% Less Blood Transfusions and Lower Mortality
• Angioplasty from the Wrist: Transradial Approach Offers Benefits to Patients and Physicians
• Click Here for All Transradial News!
Interviews with the Radial Experts
Richard R. Heuser, MD
Save Money and Reduce Complications with Wrist (Transradial) Approach
Dr. Richard Heuser discusses his upcoming course on wrist (transradial) access and why it is better for patients and may be able to impact rising healthcare costs in the U.S.... (read more)
Jack J. Hall, MD, FACC
Growing Economic Advantages of the Radial Technique
Dr. Jack Hall reviews the evolution of the transradial (wrist) technique, its implications for patient care and the potential economic benefit for healthcare in the U.S.... (read more)
Sameer Mehta, MD, FACC, MBA
Wrist Approach Preferred for Treatment of Heart Attack?
Dr. Sameer Mehta is a pioneer in the treatment of heart attacks using percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) and has done groundbreaking work on shortening door-to-balloon times. His LUMEN course, now in its 10th year, is featuring the transradial approach for the first time.... (read more)
Sanjay Patel, MD FACC
"Patients are My Best Advocate, Best Marketing Tool for Transradial"
Using the transradial approach has made a major difference in Dr. Sanjay Patel's Houston-based practice. 2 years ago no one in his hospitals was doing radial procedures; today Dr. Patel runs monthly training courses... (read more)
Sunil V. Rao, MD, FACC
Moving Hospital from 5% to 40% Transradial in Six Months
Dr. Sunil V. Rao, Director of the Cardiac Cath Lab at the Durham (NC) VA Medical Center and author of a landmark study about transradial, discusses the current status of this approach in the U.S. and its growth... (read more)
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Jennifer Tremmel, MD
Wrist Approach for Women: Lower Bleeding Complications
Dr. Jennifer Tremmel is Clinical Director of Women's Heart Health at Stanford Clinic. Within 6 months of learning the radial technique , she was doing 100% radial, reducing complications from bleeding to near zero.... (read more)
Mehrdad Saririan, MD
Being Able to Offer Transradial is "Huge Competitive Advantage"
Dr. Mehrdad Saririan of Phoenix Dr. Saririan is a self-confessed radial evangelist, Saririan taught the technique to his chief and together they currently perform over 80% of their cases from the wrist.... (read more)
Samir B. Pancholy, MD, FACC, FSCAI
Avoiding Radial Artery Occlusion
Dr. Samir B. Pancholy has written extensively on avoiding and dealing with radial artery occlusion, one of the few complications seen in the transradial approach.... (read more)
Tak Kwan, MD
Advances in Equipment Have Made the Procedure "Friendlier"
Dr. Tak W. Kwan discussed how new catheters and equipment have made transradial easier to do and more successful in a wider range of patients.... (read more)
Mauricio G. Cohen, MD
Training the Staff is Key
Dr. Mauricio G. Cohen heads the cath lab at University of Miami and knows that learning how to perform transradial procedures is one thing, but teaching your support staff is critical to your success.... (read more)
Shigeru Saito, MD
Importance of Having a "Community of Radial Physicians"
Dr. Shigeru Saito was the first cardiologist in Japan to perform angioplasty from the wrist. Since then, the procedure has spread rapidly.... (read more)
Kirk Garrett, MD and David Cohen, MD
A Radial Team
Drs. Howard Cohen and Kirk Garratt practice at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, where the first angioplasty in the U.S. was performed...and they are dedicated "radialists".... (read more)
John T. Coppola, MD
How to Learn the Transradial Technique
Dr. John T. Coppola has been offering courses in the transradial technique ever since he learned it himself. He has specific thoughts on how to best learn this technique.... (read more)
R. Lee Jobe, MD
Reduced Vascular Complications and Happier Patients
Dr. R. Lee Jobe, Chairman of Invasive Cardiology at Wake Heart in North Carolina, is part of a dedicated radial practice.... (read more)
Jeffrey J. Popma, MD
Why I Started Doing Angioplasty from the Wrist
Dr. Jeffrey J. Popma learned the radial technique from his colleagues and has found it offers definite plusses.... (read more)
What is the Transradial (Wrist) Approach?
Radial and Ulnar Arteries
First described in 1989, the use of the radial artery in the forearm for angiography and angioplasty offers a lower complication rate and a higher degree of patient comfort. Widely used in Europe and Japan, the transradial approach is starting to gain popularity among physicians in the U.S.... (read more)
Transradial Hospital
Radial Hospital Locator
For Patients: If you are in the U.S., find a hospital near you where angiograms and angioplasty are performed through the wrist.
For Doctors: To list your practice or hospital on our Locator, sign up here....
A Patient's Experience:
"...the [angioplasty stent] procedure was carried out through the radial artery in my right wrist. I felt absolutely nothing during the whole procedure and have had more trauma and pain visiting the dentist. A 3 centimetre by 3.5 millimetre stent was inserted at 1.30pm and I walked out of hospital with my wife at 7.00pm feeling very well with no pain and no wrist bleeding. A brilliant job!" -- as posted by GeoffH, Cheshire, UK, February 26, 2011 in Angioplasty.Org's Patient Forum on "The Radial Approach"
Sunil V. Rao, MD, FACC
Quote of the Month
“We've actually noticed in the last two years a dramatic increase in the number of...patients who come to us asking for the radial approach. I think these patients talk to each other in the waiting room. And they hear from...other patients how comfortable this was and how easy it was to go through PCI with the radial approach: they're able to get up, they're able to eat right away, they didn’t have to lie in bed -- so we've seen a dramatic increase in patients coming in and asking for it.”
-- Sunil V. Rao, MD, FACC
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Duke University Medical Center
Director of Cardiac Cath Lab
Durham VA Medical Center
Durham, North Carolina
Learning from Patients:
Patient Forum
Angioplasty.Org hosts a Patient Discussion Forum for topics in interventional cardiology. In some of the most posted-to threads, patients discuss experiences and complications they have encountered , usually involving femoral access (groin/leg). While these postings represent a small percentage of all catheterizations performed, it is instructive to read these stories.
•   Patient discussions about the radial approach are posted here
•   Stories about access site complications from femoral catheterization or angioplasty are posted here
•   Comments from patients who have received Angio-Seal, StarClose or other femoral Vascular Closure Devices are posted here
This special transradial section is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from:
Medtronic Inc.
Visit Medtronic's website for more information on stents and other pioneering therapies. Medtronic, Inc., headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is the global leader in medical technology – alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life for millions of people around the world.

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