Why heart patients are in love with new procedure at Valley hospital
PHOENIX (Jan. 11, 2011) – Gus Gonzales is no stranger to undergoing cardiac tests and procedures to fight his chronic heart disease. Over the last 19 years, the Tolleson man has had two open heart surgeries, two angioplasties and four stents placed in his heart.
During his most recent cardiac stent procedure at Banner Estrella Medical Center in Phoenix, Gonzales expected the typical recovery routine: apply pleasure to catheter-insertion site until bleeding stops, lie still on back for 4-8 hours, remain on bed rest, use urinal. On average, Banner Estrella performs 150-200 “cath” procedures a year.
But this time when he woke up, Gonzales was in for a big surprise. That’s because the usual pain and discomfort associated with this procedure did not exist. Now Gonzales wants to share his good news with other Valley heart patients.
“I was not in pain. I was back to doing everything I wanted. I didn’t have to watch what I was lifting. The procedure didn’t bother me at all,” Gonzales said.
Gonzales learned that Amit Srivastava, MD, his cardiologist at Banner Estrella, performed a transradial catheterization. The procedure involves accessing the heart through the radial artery in his wrist, instead of through the femoral artery in his groin.
“The transradial approach is the safer and more comfortable route for patients, if they are appropriate candidates,” Dr. Srivastava said. Patients that have the transradial approach often are back at work within 24 hours of the procedure, he added.
Dr. Srivastava said inserting the catheter through the wrist offers several advantages including zero risk of damaging nearby nerves and blood vessels, shorter recovery time, no risk of life threatening bleeding or vascular complications, and no scarring.
After a femoral catheterization, patients typically must have pressure applied to the catheter-insertion site until the bleeding stops and lie still from 4-8 hours. This can be troublesome for older patients who may have arthritis or back problems. With the transradial procedure, bleeding is minimal and patients can immediately move off the procedure table independently. There is no need for groin checks, bedpans, urinals, or bed rest.
Cardiac catheterization is a common test physicians use to diagnose and treat a variety of cardiovascular conditions. They have primarily been performed by inserting the catheter into the femoral artery in the groin. The catheter, a small tube, is then guided through the artery toward the heart, allowing doctors to locate and treat arterial build-up and blockages that may be hampering blood flow.
The transradial catheterization procedure is performed at several Banner Health hospitals in the Valley.
Editor’s note: Mr. Gonzales and Dr. Amit Srivastava are available for interviews. Please contact the Public Relations department to coordinate.
About Banner Estrella Medical Center
Located on the southeast corner of the Loop 101 Freeway and Thomas Road, Banner Estrella Medical Center is a 214-bed full-service, non-profit hospital offering general surgery, orthopedics, women and infants services, a full cardiac program with open-heart surgery, emergency services, and medical imaging services. Banner Estrella is part of Banner Health, the leading provider of health care services in the Valley with 11 hospitals. In 2010, Thomson Reuters named Banner Health one of the Top Ten Hospital Systems in the U.S.
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Contact:
Tiffany Tcheng, (623) 327-7168 or Rainey Holloway, (602) 839-4193
Public Relations
Banner Estrella Medical Center
