Vascular access

This chapter discusses different types of vascular access in cardiac catheterization. It starts by describing the Seldinger technique, then goes on to explain which arterial access route to use, including difficulties and reasons for choosing an alternative approach and trends in vascular access. The ways of obtaining arterial access (both radial and femoral) are covered, and venous access is examined for the femoral, internal jugular, and subclavian veins. Anticoagulation issues including warfarin and direct oral anticoagulants are then discussed, and the chapter ends by describing compression devices and arterial closure devices.