Transseptal left-heart catheterization with Swan-Ganz flow-directed catheter.

Four cases of transseptal left-heart catheterization with the use of a Swan-Ganz flow-directed balloon-tipped catheter are reported. An 8.5F Teflon catheter covered with a Teflon tube (4 mm outer diameter) was inserted into the left atrium by the Brockenbrough technique. A Swan-Ganz catheter was then introduced into the left atrium through the Teflon tube and left-heart catheterization was performed. Unlike conventional methods, this method made it easier to insert a catheter into the left ventricle and also enabled advancement of the catheter into the aorta. Our experience suggests that this method is a valuable addition to cardiac catheterization laboratories.