Minor modifications in workflow may go a long way in keeping young left-handed trainees on course to realize their potential in this procedural specialty, according to a Fellows in Training (FIT) and Early Career Page published Jan. 4 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Prashant Patel, MD, and Mandira Patel, DO, et al., explore the challenges posed to left-handed cardiology trainees and potential solutions in different clinical settings. They note that of all different clinical setups discussed, the catheterization laboratory is in the most need of adjustments.

In a response to the column, Simon Kendall, BSC, MB BS, MS, comments that "Drs. Patel and Patel have written very sensible conclusions, such as that left-handedness should be acknowledged and adapted for and the training environment has to help access the specific tips and tricks from others, as shared in cardiac surgery, for instance." He adds, "They rightly describe this as not a binary phenomenon and that there is a spectrum of laterality, so that some left handers will adapt with ease and others will need more time and patience to learn the necessary skills."