Painless, Short and Comfortable
Prof. Dr. Hamza Duygu, Head of Near East University Hospital Cardiology Department, delivered information concerning cardiologic treatment methods, remarkable advances in interventional cardiology and the advantages of radial angiography method which is used more frequently particularly nowadays.
“Being committed to providing excellence in healthcare services, Near East University Hospital follows closely the remarkable global advances and innovations in medicine and particularly in the field of cardiology. In this vein, the Cardiology Department of Near East University Hospital is equipped with the latest novel technological devices and the most advanced techniques are used to diagnose and treat heart conditions. Radial (from artery in the wrist) and femoral (from artery in the groin) angiographies, electrophysiology and cardiac rhythm management for arrhythmias and ablation, three dimensional echocardiography, interventional treatment to correct congenital heart defects including atrial septal defect (ASD) and ventricular septal defect (VSD), and interventional treatment to correct heart valve defects, are all carried out successfully at Near East University Hospital Cardiology Department.
More than 800 angiography procedures are performed annually at Near East University Hospital
In addition to the most contemporary treatment options and procedures, our hospital attaches a great importance on ensuring patient’s health, safety and comfort. Among the technological advances in the field of cardiology, particularly radial angiography draws attention. Our experienced cardiology team performs angiography to diagnose and treat heart conditions every day. 80% of angiographies that they have performed so far are radial angiographies corresponding to approximately 500-600 cases.
In radial angiography, the patient generally goes home on the same day
The radial approach for coronary angiography has many advantages over femoral angiography. Radial angiography is associated with significantly reduced local vascular complications such as swelling, bruising, bleeding, and blood vessel ballooning as well as shorter hospital stays. Particularly in aged people, meandering and obstructed veins in legs and hip region may make femoral angiography challenging for both patient and physician. Besides, after removal of catheter from femoral artery, the patient will need to lie fat with sandbag pressure on the leg for long hours. In some cases, particularly patients with back problem need to be hospitalized for one night and lie fat with prolonged immobility with sandbag pressure on the leg. Lying in such a position for prolonged time might be distressful for patients; difficulty in urination can be experienced. These complications are less common and rare in radial angiography and there is no requirement for the patient to lie immobile. Patients find radial angiography more comfortable than femoral angiography because they will be able to sit up, walk and eat immediately after the removal of radial catheter and they may go home immediately after the procedure, thus hospital length of stay is significantly reduced.
Radial angiography under local anesthesia is painless and not long-lasting
Although radial angiography has so many advantages over femoral angiography, it is rarely preferred by many other health centers in our country. The main reason of this is that the procedure can be more challenging technically and the physician must have enough experience to perform the radial angiography. The biggest factor driving the decision to use the radial angiography is the experience of the health center and the physician who will perform the procedure. Many physicians working in other medical centers are more comfortable with femoral approach and will therefore prefer it. Center and physician experience should be of great importance for patients while preferring radial approach for coronary angiography. Near East University Hospital Cardiology Department with its high-tech equipped infrastructure and highly experienced physicians continue to perform successfully all cardiologic diagnosis, treatment procedures and interventional coronary angiographies without mattering if it is radial or femoral angiography.