Jeffrey Schussler, MD, a physician on the medical staff at Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital, explains radial artery catheterization or coronary angiography.

During most traditional cardiac catheterization procedures, a cardiologist uses the femoral artery in the leg as the entry point for a catheter tube, which is guided through the body's arteries to the heart. The relatively new radial artery approach allows cardiologists on our medical staff to insert the catheter through the radial artery in the wrist.

Once the catheter has reached the heart, a contrast dye is injected through the tube, which identifies cholesterol deposits in diseased arteries that may be blocking blood flow. After the blockage is identified, angioplasty can be performed to reopen the artery.

From more information go to http://www.baylorhearthospital.com/