Transradial access is the standard access used worldwide for Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and Interventional Radiology procedures (Pitta & Prasad, 2020). Transulnar access may also be used as an alternative to transradial if the patient has a small radial artery, radial stenosis/calcification, tortuosity, or other issues (Pitta & Prasad, 2020).

There are several benefits to transradial versus femoral access. A benefit noted at Nova Scotia Health is more efficient use of nursing time and shortened time to patient discharge. Additionally, patients who have difficulty lying flat (e.g., heart failure or confused patients) do not have to remain lying flat for long, leading to faster mobilization, reduced risk of complications and a better experience overall.

Additional benefits cited in the literature are:

• Reduced major bleeding and all-cause mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome (Pitta & Prasad, 2020).
• Reduced complications related to vascular access site. It is easier to maintain hemostasis by applying direct pressure to the access site because the radial artery is smaller and more superficial than the femoral artery (Pitta & Prasad, 2020 & Mason et al., 2018)
• Reduced procedural complications because the radial artery is not located near major nerves or veins (Morton, K. 2011).
• Immediate mobilization post-procedure because sheaths are removed in the procedural environment (Mason et al., 2018).
• Increased patient satisfaction and comfort as a result of shortened procedure to ambulation times (Mason et al., 2018).