Use of 5 French catheters for cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography: a critical review.

With the number of outpatient cardiac catheterizations increasing, much attention has recently been focused on the use of 5 French catheters for cardiac catheterization and selective coronary angiography. However, there are few reports in the literature regarding the technical aspects of their use or the quality of cineangiograms obtained. We reviewed our experience with these catheters in our first 100 consecutive cases. All cineangiograms were diagnostic, though 9% were deemed only of fair quality (incomplete luminal filling in some frames) by two experienced observers. Technical problems encountered with the use of these catheters included instability of the right Judkin's catheter in the right coronary ostium owing to high torquability, streaming of contrast during left coronary injections, and difficulty entering the left ventricle with a pig-tail catheter.