Phototherapy to Mitigate Complications of Left Heart Catheterization with Transradial Access

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This case involves a 74-year old female with new diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy, LVEF 23%, referred for diagnostic coronary angiography to exclude obstructive coronary artery disease as a contributing cause of cardiomyopathy. A right transradial approach was used. The patient presented for follow-up two weeks later complaining of pain at the vascular access site, numbness in her right index finger and loss of pincer strength such that she had difficulty grasping a sheet of paper. A small area of induration, approximate 2.0 mm in diameter, had aslo developed at the access site. Pulses and Allen Test were normal and symmetric. Diagnostic possibilities include radial nerve damage versus compression resulting from local inflammation and scar formation. Given the patient’s desire for immediate relief and preference for complimentary alternative medicine (CAM), transcutaneous photobiomodulation therapy was administered using IceWave® patches (LifeWave Corp, San Diego, CA, USA). The tan patch (negative polarity) was placed on the site of maximal pain. Mapping was then performed with the white patch (positive polarity) to identify the site providing greatest symptom relief.