[A new method of transseptal levocardiography].

Perforations of the left atrial or ventricular wall and extravasations of contrast medium during transseptal left heart catheterization or angiocardiography can be eliminated by replacing the routinely used transseptal catheters with Pigtail-catheters. With 2.8% minor complications without sequelas in 181 successful studies, transseptal angiocardiography of the left heart through Pigtail-catheters is not only less hazardous than injections through the transseptal catheters employed up to now, but bears even less risk than direct retrograde injection into the left ventricle. To show the left atrial cavity and the mitral valve, transseptal left atrial injection is the method of choice. For quantitative angiocardiography to evaluate left ventricular function, transseptal angiocardiography with injection into the left atrium is superior to retrograde direct ventriculography in our experience, as ventricular ectopic beats were absent and supraventricular ectopic beats as rare as 5% of the cases, local disturbances of wall motion during injection could be avoided and 1 or 2 more cycles could be evaluated before the depressant effect of contrast medium started.