Angioplasty from the wrist: interest growing but lack of training limits spread in U.S.

The transradial approach to catheter-based procedures, where the radial artery in the wrist is used for angioplasty and stents, is in its infancy in the United States, even though it is widely utilized in the rest of the world. In the past two years a number of large studies have been published showing a significant reduction in bleeding complications and mortality with the wrist approach, as compared to the standard access site used in the U.S. - the femoral (or groin) artery. Moreover, patients are able to sit up and walk almost immediately after the wrist procedure, increasing not only their comfort and recovery time, but the cost-effectiveness of the procedure, a major issue in today's healthcare environment. The question raised by this information is why the use of radial access in the United States is in the low single digits, when it is the default access site for many cardiologists in other countries?