An Introduction to Transradial Cardiac Catheterization

Traditionally, cardiac catheterization uses the femoral or the brachial artery as the point of insertion for the catheter. However, during transradial catheterization, a small artery in the wrist (the radial artery) is accessed and the catheter is inserted at that point and then threaded to the heart and its chambers.

Transradial catheterization offers the same tests as other catheterization techniques, including coronary angiography, as well as some of the same treatment procedures such as coronary angioplasty.

Oklahoma Cardiovascular Associates is one of only a limited number of cardiac care groups across the nation that currently provide transradial cardiac catheterization. Our physicians have been using transradial catheterization since 1996.