Heart Health

Angioplasty and stenting through the arm

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Ask the doctorQ.My friend recently got a heart stent with a procedure that involved going through his wrist instead of his upper leg. What are the pros and cons of these different techniques?

However, there are some downsides. In people who are very overweight, the femoral artery can be buried under layers of fat, making it tricky to reach. And the inside of this vessel can be clogged with fatty deposits, creating obstructions for the catheter and other tools. To stop the bleeding after the procedure, people receive either a special closure device that helps seal the opening in the artery or 20 minutes or more of firm, manual pressure on the artery. They then have to lie still for several hours.

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