Jordan G. Safirstein, M.D., FACC, FSCAI, director of transradial catheterization for Atlantic Health System’s Morristown Medical Center, Morristown, N.J., explains the new radial access lounge at the Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute.
Transradial access lounges are specifically designed to meet the needs of cardiac catheterization patients who have had their procedure performed through a catheter inserted into their radial artery in the wrist, also known as transradial catheterization. This procedure, which has a shorter recovery period and less bleeding risk than traditional cardiac catheterizations done through the femoral (groin) artery, is now an option for many patients who are catheterized in order to conduct a diagnostic angiogram or have an angioplasty or stent procedure.
Patients can walk around, use the washroom, get coffee and sit in lounge chairs for their recovery while being monitored via wireless telemetry. This is a stark contrast to the transfemoral artery access recovery, which requires six hours of bed rest and can be very uncomfortable for the patient.
“Nearly half of all cardiac catheterizations are now done transradially, and there is plenty of data to show it is very safe and can be done as an outpatient procedure” Safirstein explained. “We saw the need for a recovery area for these patients that was more comfortable. These patients don’t need a traditional recovery room. Our goal is to safely send patients home on the same day of their procedure but while they spend time with us, it should be time spent relaxing, reading, receiving education about their procedure and prevention of future events. If they need new medications, we can provide that to them before they leave.”
Read more about the lounge in the article Atlantic Health Morristown Medical Center Opens Radial Lounge for Post-procedure Recovery.
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