Introduction: In most patients, right heart catheterization was done through the femoral, internal jugular or subclavian vein. However, femoral approach led to bed rest for several hours and carried a risk of complications such as bleeding, hematoma and vascular dissection. So, we evaluated the usefulness of antecubital approach to right heart catheterization. Methods: Antecubital vein puncture was attempted in 48 patients from September 2002 to July 2005. They were performed the right cardiac catheterization through antecubital vein using the 6 Fr wedge-balloon catheter. Procedural success rate, complication and other results were compared with femoral approach. Results: There were no significant differences in success rate, procedural time and complications between antecubital and femoral approach group. However, the bed rest time after femoral vein puncture was longer than that after antecubital vein puncture. Conclusions: We suggest antecubital vein is an alternative and useful access site in the case of need for right heart catheterization.