Salem Hospital patients are benefiting from a more efficient cardiac catheterization system to diagnose and treat heart ailments.

Salem area cardiologists collaborated with Salem Hospital to open the hospital’s Radial Catheterization Lab in 2014. It became the first facility of its kind for hospitals in Oregon for treatment of coronary artery disease.

Radial catheterization has increased drastically and uses the radial artery as the entry point in the wrist, instead of the traditional entry through the groin or femoral artery. Cardiologists can treat heart attacks, open blocked arteries and improve symptoms through angioplasty and stent procedures. The radial approach offers patients significant advantages:

• Minimal bleeding risk and less discomfort
• Shorter hospital stay (usually just hours) and no bed rest required
• Same-day discharge, even if a stent is placed

“While this is becoming the preferred approach, we always make sure it is safe to proceed,” said Kevin Thompson, DO, cardiologist with Salem CardioVascular Associates, PC and the Salem Health Heart & Vascular Institute. “As with all cardiac catheterizations, there are risks to consider.” Patients must have good blood supply to their hands. The procedure may not be appropriate for patients who are on dialysis and have their dialysis access from the same arm.

Gary Schrader, of Lyons, is among one of Dr. Thompson’s patients who have experienced the real benefit of the radial approach—getting in and out quickly. “It was just easy. It was simple,” said Lyons. “I came by in the morning and went home at night.”

Make sure to watch the video Salem Health produced about Dr. Thompson, Schrader and the Salem Hospital Radial Catheterization Lab

February is American Heart Month and Salem Health’s Community Health Education Center will host Dr. Thompson on Monday, Feb. 9, at 11:30 a.m., for a special free presentation: “Talk with a heart doc: What is angina, and how long will my stent last?” Registration is required. Find more information online at salemhealth.org/heartmonth.  

Salem Hospital is part of Salem Health, along with West Valley Hospital, Willamette Health Partners and other affiliated health care organizations offering exceptional care to people in and around Oregon’s mid-Willamette Valley. The prestigious 2015 Truven Health 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals named Salem Hospital among the highest performing hospitals in the nation—and the only Oregon hospital, and one of two Pacific Northwest hospitals, to receive this honor. “Like” us on Facebook; follow us on Twitter; and view us at YouTube.