Wrist injection could make heart procedures simpler and less painful

This study is testing whether a small injection containing nitroglycerin (a blood vessel relaxant) and numbing medicine into the wrist makes it easier for doctors to access the radial artery for heart catheterization procedures. The goal is to reduce the number of needle sticks needed, shorten the time to get access, lower the chance of artery spasm, and make the process less painful for the patient. About 1,400 adults scheduled for a heart procedure will be randomly assigned to receive either the nitroglycerin mixture or a placebo injection.