Dr. Tommy Lee will tell you he's a perfectionist when it comes to patient care and that is why the opportunity to try a brand new way of opening blocked arteries was a challenge he was willing to meet. "The investment in attempting the radial approach is worthwhile in my mind. You're able to deliver a more comfortable procedure, a safer procedure, I think it's worthwhile."
It's called transradial access and Dr. Lee believes it's the future of cardiac catheterization. "We've done over a 100 procedures here at Memorial now and we've had no bleeding complications the patients just love the results."
Tradiationally when opening an artery, the catheter is inserted near the groin through an incision in the leg or femoral artery. TRA allows the doctor to enter through the wrist where the radial artery is smaller and less likely to bleed. "We're trying to stay ahead of the curve because we know where it's going. More and more these patients are going to want these procedures and we are going to have to stay at the forefront of doing that," says Ron Clyde director of cardiovascular services.
While the process requires more time and expertise by the physician the end result allows patients to recover faster, more comfortably and with fewer complications. "I am surprised I thought I'd be lethargic, more sedated maybe more tired. I'm awake, I feel like I'm ready to go home," says Larry Sitzman.
Richard Welsh has had seven cardiac surgeries most were done through the leg. This time he received the transradial procedure and within an hour after the surgery he sees a significant difference in recovery. "Being able to sit up in this chair and not be flat on my back is great. If I have to go through another angiogram they can go through my arm all they want," says Richard Welsh.
