Angiography From The Wrist (Radial Angiography)

Angiography from the wrist, is a modern and comfortable imaging that is applied to identify heart and vascular diseases. It is commonly done on patients which are suspected to have narrowed or obstructed coronary arteries. This is performed via the radial artery on the wrist which causes less pain and a shorter recovery than the traditional groin access. It is deemed to be a safe and minimally invasive procedure both as a diagnostic and as a treatment. The vast majority of patients are able to go home within the same day and this has made it the preferred option of many cardiologists as well as patients..

What is Wrist (Radial) Angiography?

Angiography from the wrist, angiography is a medical procedure done to examine the blood vessels of the heart through the radial artery which is located in the wrist. It assists in identifying the presence of any blockage or constriction of the coronary arteries. The procedure is less invasive and has faster recovery time as well as lower probability of bleeding than others. It gives accurate results in most scenarios with the added comfort of the patients.

How is the Procedure Performed?

Angiography from the wrist, involves inserting of a fine tube (catheter) into radial artery to access the coronary arteries. The local anesthesia is used to numb the area and the whole procedure will take not more than 30 minutes.

Step-by-step procedure:

• Preparation: Preparation of the area of the wrist is sterilized and local anesthesia is applied.
• Artery Access: A radial artery is accessed with a fine needle.
• Insertion of catheters: Soft catheters are inserted through the artery to the heart.
• Contrast Injection: A contrast dye injection is done to visualize the blood vessels in the X-ray.
• Imaging: The coronary arteries are looked at by the cardiologist to find out whether they are blocked or narrowed.
• Finishing: The catheter is taken off and compression band is used to avoid bleeding.

This would help in reducing the suffering of the patient and enable faster resumption of normal life.

Who is a Good Candidate for Wrist Angiography?

Angiography from the wrist is applicable to the vast majority of patients, who need to be imaged with a coronary, or at least have a less invasive procedure. It is especially helpful to the patients who have some risk factors or conditions.

Ideal candidates include:

• Coronary artery disease is suspected, patient
• The people who are at a greater risk of bleeding or vascular complications
• Patients with a history of groin surgery or groin blockage
• Patients that require a quicker recovery and early release
• Patients who are immobile or elderly and in whom wrist access is more convenient

Whether you are suitable will be determined by your cardiologist and it will be based on the condition of your arteries and general health.

Possible Risks and How They Are Managed?

Even though Angiography From The Wrist is said to be safe, it has some minor risks as well as any other medical procedure. These dangers are infrequent and are normally tamed by the health care staff.

Possible risks include:

• Mild hemorrhage or bruising at the place of puncture
• Wrist numbness or pain, which occurs temporarily
• Radial artery tightening, which is treated with drugs
• Allergy to contrast dye (infrequent)
• Blockage or occlusion of arteries (extremely rare)

Recovery After Radial Angiography

Angiography from the wrist recovery is normally fast and simple. The vast majority of patients are able to go home after the same day and move their wrist.

Recovery steps:

• Observation: You will have 1-2 hours of rest with a wrist watch.
• Wrist care: A compression band or patch is left on a few hours to avoid bleeding.
• Activity: Do not lift or bend your wrist within 24 hours.
• Hydration: Drink a lot of fluids to excrete the contrast dye.
• Follow-up: Your physician will interpret the angiogram results and talk about the follow-up.

In the majority of cases, the patients are able to resume normal activity in one or two days and have no complications.

Frequently Asked Questions About Angiography From The Wrist

Can they do an angiogram through the wrist?

Angiography from the wrist incorporates the radial artery as the access point which enables doctors to access the whole heart in the safest and most comfortable way to do an angiography.

How long does an angiogram through the wrist take?

This process normally lasts between 20 to 30 minutes, which is depending on the anatomy of the patient and the complexity of the case.

What are the side effects of an angiogram in the wrist?

There may be mild bruising or soreness at the point where the puncture was done, but there are not serious complications and they usually healed fast.

Is an angiogram through the wrist better than the groin?

Angiography of the wrist is normally desired due to its lower level of invasiveness, reduced risks and quicker recovery than the conventional groin method.

Which department performs angiography from the wrist?

Angiography from the wrist is performed by the Cardiology Department, specifically by interventional cardiologists.