ABSTRACT

JENS KNUDSEN, MD, PhD AND ULRIK ABILDGAARD, MD, DMSC

TECHNIQUE The percutaneous approach to left heart catheterization achieves access by needle puncture of the femoral artery or radial/brachial (ad modum Sones) artery, or even the lumbar aorta. An introducing sheath is placed in the vessel over a guide wire. The femoral approach (ad modum Seldinger) with sheath has become the dominant approach to coronary angiography (CAG). In Europe, nearly 80% of the CAG procedures are performed in outpatient clinics and the patient is discharged the same day.