When you’re having heart trouble, a heart catheterization helps doctors find out why and fix it. A heart cath is done through a large artery in your groin or a small artery in your wrist. Both ways work, but most people prefer the wrist—a radial cath.

You get up and move as soon you’re done. Then you go home, usually within hours. No long recovery, no lying motionless—just in, out and done. Patients and doctors have increasingly embraced the new approach in cardiac cath, the advantages of which include:

• Easier catheter access;
• Fewer complications;
• Faster recovery; and
• Greater patient satisfaction

Only a few Iowa hospitals do radial heart caths. Allen Hospital does them every day. Want to know more? Let’s talk.

E-mail Paula Geise, RN, MSN, Director of Cardiac Services at  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  or call her at 319-235-5115.

Link to Cedar Valley Medical Specialists. Click on each provider's name for more information:  http://www.cedarvalleymedical.com/specialty/5

Link to more information: http://www.lourdesnet.org/services/radial-cath.php 

Link to a video about the procedure:http://www.newschannel5.com/story/17313508/its-all-in-the-wrist-same-day-angioplasty