Using the ulnar artery for heart procedures when the radial artery is blocked

This research study is looking at whether doctors can safely use the ulnar artery—a blood vessel in your forearm—to perform heart procedures in patients whose radial artery (the usual access point) is blocked. The study will carefully check whether this alternative approach is safe for your blood vessels and whether it affects how well your hand works afterward.

Doctors usually prefer to access the heart through the radial artery because it causes fewer bleeding problems and faster recovery than other routes. However, sometimes the radial artery gets blocked from previous procedures, and doctors need a safe alternative. This study exists to understand whether using the ulnar artery in these situations is a reliable option that won't harm hand function.