Category Archives: Transradial Approach

June 14, 2013 · 12:06 pm

Become Part of the Transradial Angioplasty Surge

Growth of Radial PCI in U.S.

Growth of radial access in U.S. since 2007, estimated to be 20% by end of 2013 (click for larger image)

This graphic shows the adoption curve for the transradial wrist approach to percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in the United States from 2007-2012. From 1.2% to 16.1% in just five years. And we estimate that by the end of 2013, TRI will account for 20% of all PCIs. That’s one in five. Pretty impressive. When was the last time a medical procedure that is less expensive, more comfortable for patients and has fewer complications, grew this quickly?

You can read more in our article, “Wrist Angioplasty Sees Unprecedented Growth in U.S.,” which reports on an important study which was published in this week’s Circulation.

Or you can do something about it and become part of this revolution by getting into the training loop. Continue reading →

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Filed under Cost Effectiveness, Meetings & Conferences, Patient Experience, Transradial Approach

May 25, 2013 · 6:53 pm

Oldest Stent Patient is Also Oldest Transradial Patient

Dr. Purshotam Lal and his 104-yr-old patient, Hari Singh

Dr. Purshotam Lal and his 104-yr-old patient, Hari Singh

Pretty amazing! Last week a 104-year-old man from Noida, India became reportedly the oldest patient ever to receive an angioplasty and stent. As reported in the Hindustan Times, Hari Singh was admitted to Metro Hospital and Heart Institute on May 16 with chest pain. Angiography showed two 100% totally occluded arteries and a 90% blockage near the origin of his Left Anterior Descending (LAD) artery.

Dr. Purshotam Lal, MD, FACC, FSCAI, who is the Director of Interventional Cardiology and Chairman, Metro Group of Hospitals, knew that his patient would probably only survive for a very short time if he did nothing. So he performed an angioplasty and stent implantation on Mr. Singh…and he went in through the left wrist, the transradial approach, to reduce discomfort to his patient and minimize the possibility of bleeding and vascular complications. Continue reading →

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Filed under Global Trends, Patient Experience, Patients, Stent, Transradial Approach, Video

May 15, 2013 · 6:31 pm

Transradial Approach Surging in the U.S.

Radial DiagramInterventional cardiologists…listen up!!

Stent and angioplasty procedures in the United States are now done through the wrist 15-20% of the time. This is a big change!

Angioplasty.Org started its Transradial Center six years ago. At that time maybe 2-3% of procedures in the United States were done via the wrist. Virtually all diagnostic angiograms and PCIs (angioplasty or stent procedures) were being done via the femoral (leg/groin) artery, a technique invented and refined by Dr. Melvin Judkins over a half century ago. Continue reading →

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Filed under Global Trends, Transradial Approach

April 28, 2013 · 6:29 pm

Dr. Ajay Kirtane Named Co-Director of TCT 25

Dr. Ajay J. Kirtane

Dr. Ajay J. Kirtane

The TCT (Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics) annual meeting is, according to its organizers, the world’s largest and most important conference in interventional cardiovascular medicine. And this year marks the 25th Anniversary of the TCT (note: the entire field of interventional cardiology is only 36 years of age).

This year also marks Dr. Ajay Kirtane’s role as an official Co-Director of the TCT, in recognition of his contributions and dedication to the meeting. Continue reading →

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Filed under Meetings & Conferences, Transradial Approach

February 28, 2013 · 8:34 pm

Transradial on the Hudson

Hudson River separates New York and New JerseyFor interventional cardiologists in the Northeast, the next few months offer two important transradial training opportunities…on both sides of the Hudson River.

First off, on April 20, the Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute in Morristown, New Jersey has organized the Mid-Atlantic Radial Symposium 2013 (MARS2013), a follow-up to their successful premiere course last year. Continue reading →

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Filed under Meetings & Conferences, Transradial Approach

January 28, 2013 · 12:47 pm

European Society of Cardiology: “Transradial Access Should Be 1st Choice for Angioplasty”

Transradial Wrist ApproachThis is very big news.

Today the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI), the Acute Cardiovascular Care Association (ACCA) and the Working Group (WG) on Thrombosis of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) published their joint consensus document on the radial approach to PCI, online ahead of print in EuroIntervention. Continue reading →

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Filed under Clinical Trials / Studies, Cost Effectiveness, Global Trends, Patient Experience, Patients, Transradial Approach

January 27, 2013 · 11:06 pm

Follow-up to Transradial Angioplasty on the Dr. Oz Show

Jennifer Tremmel, MD

Jennifer Tremmel, MD

Letters…we get letters.

Last month Dr. Oz did a segment on transradial angioplasty and featured Dr. Jennifer Tremmel who is not only the Clinical Director of Women’s Heart Health at Stanford Clinic,  but also the Director of Transradial Interventions at Stanford Medical Center. I reported on that show here.

There was much buzz generated in the cardiology community; after all, it’s not every day that many millions of viewers hear about an interventional cardiology procedure that’s practiced in less than 10% of cases. Continue reading →

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Filed under Interviews, Patient Experience, Patients, Transradial Approach