Like traditional coronary angioplasty, the new technique unclogs blocked coronary arteries which are restricting blood supply to the heart muscle. During the procedure, a catheter is carefully threaded through an artery to the problem area. There, the physician inflates a tiny balloon to clear the blockage and sometimes inserts a stent to help prevent the blood vessels from collapsing.

During transradial angioplasty the catheter begins its journey to the heart at the radial artery located in the right wrist, rather than entering the body through the femoral artery in the groin, according to Sarah Johnson, M.D., medical director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at ABMC.

"We are now able to perform the stenting procedure from the radial artery because of the availability of newer, smaller technical equipment that allows us to put the stent on a very small balloon and thread it through a tiny tube," says Dr. Johnson.

Although the end result of the two types of angioplasty is identical, transradial angioplasty offers patients some important advantages. Because the radial artery is easily accessible in most patients and not located near significant veins or nerves, the procedure is less invasive and requires less healing time than the traditional approach. "Patients are ambulatory soon after the procedure and in many instances can be released from the hospital the same day," says Dr. Johnson.

By contrast, patients who undergo traditional angioplasty (entering the body through the femoral artery in the groin) must stay immobile for six to 12 hours after the procedure and are required to be hospitalized for 24 to 36 hours to insure proper healing of the puncture wound in the groin.

Fifty-year-old Orest Belvedere, of Villa Park, has had both procedures. In 1995, Dr. Johnson performed a traditional angioplasty on Belvedere to relieve several blockages in his coronary arteries. "The entire procedure took two days to complete, one day for each side of the heart," says Belvedere. "It was quite an experience." A little over a year later, Belvedere again began having some troubling symptoms and Dr. Johnson prescribed a thallium stress test for him at ABMC. This test, which injects radioactive thallium into a vein while a patient exercises on a treadmill, produces pictures that help pinpoint heart problems. Belvedere's test results indicated he had a new blockage in one of his coronary arteries. This time, however, Dr. Johnson treated the problem with a transradial angioplasty.

"There really was a big difference between the transradial and the traditional angioplasty," says Belvedere. "This procedure was much easier and more comfortable for me. The staff explained what was happening step by step and when it was over I just laid there and smiled. I was home within hours and felt better than ever right away."

According to Dr. Johnson, not everyone who needs angioplasty is a candidate for the new procedure. It is essential that the patient has cross-circulation through the hand from both the radial and the ulnar arteries. Most people have this. However, individuals who have a small ulnar artery, or none at all, or who have a poor collateral pattern of circulation in the hand, are not considered for the procedure. "For these people, obstructing the radial artery for the period of time necessary to do the procedure could seriously compromise the circulation in their hand," says Dr. Johnson.

But for those, like Orest Belvedere, who are prime candidates, transradial angioplasty is a more comfortable, time-saving and highly effective new alternative for unblocking clogged coronary arteries and preserving the health of the heart.

For more information on our Cardiac Care Services, call our toll free information line at 1-888-394-9400 or visit the Heart Care section of this site.