Distal Transradial Access for Coronary Angiography and Interventions

Coronary angiography is one of the most common procedures done in the United States and in other developed countries. For decades, the femoral artery has been the most common vascular access site utilized for this procedure. However, the radial access has been gaining popularity for being a safer and yet practical vascular access with substantial benefits. More recently, the novel distal transradial approach has proven to be an equally or perhaps safer vascular access for diagnostic and interventional coronary and noncoronary procedures. This technique should be in every interventional cardiologist's arsenal.