Effectiveness and safety of transradial artery access for cardiac catheterization.

The transradial approach for coronary angiography and angioplasty, while not new, is gaining momentum again as a viable alternative to the transfemoral approach. While technically it may have some challenges, there are significant benefits including reduced patient discomfort, improved time to ambulation, reduction in costs, and reduction in potentially life-threatening complications. The technique is not difficult to learn, and the equipment is similar to that used in more traditional approaches. To expand awareness of this method, this article discusses the history of the technique, reviews the data comparing it to the more widely used transfemoral technique, and discusses some of the experience at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, where this approach has been gaining popularity.