Vascular Access

This channel includes news and new technology innovations for vascular access, both venous and arterial access, for percutaneous, transcatheter, interventional devices. In cath lab procedures, an introducer sheath needs to be inserted into the vessel to allow access of guidewires, catheters and devices into the body. Introducer sheaths are self-sealing to serve a stop cock to prevent blood from leaving the body during procedures. There are various access sites that can be accessed, most commonly femoral or radial access, but also the ulnar, axillary and tibiopedal vasciular access routes There are several complications that can occur at the access site and technologies have been developed to reduce these issues, especially with the most common bleeding complications.