Coronary Arteriography by the Single Catheter Percutaneous Femoral Technique

Abstract

A new percutaneous femoral method for studying the coronary arteries, left ventricle and saphenous vein bypass grafts using a single catheter has been developed. A #8 French 100 cm polyurethane catheter with wire incorporated and a 45° curved tip has been used in 6,800 patients. This technique combines the speed and simplicity of the percutaneous femoral approach with the safety of the single catheter technique by eliminating multiple catheter and guidewire changes. Manipulation techniques for selective right and left coronary artery and saphenous vein bypass graft injections as well as for left ventriculography are described. In only 10% of the cases has it been necessary to change to a second catheter, and catheterization time has averaged less than 15 minutes. Complications have been infrequent: femoral thrombosis 0.3%, hematoma 0.2%, myocardial infarction 0.04%, cerebrovascular accident 0.03% and death 0.07%. The speed of the technique and the elimination of multiple catheter changes seem to have contributed to the low complication rate.