New family of preformed left atrial-coronary catheters for retrograde left atrial catheterization and coronary and/or aortocoronary bypass angiography via brachial artery cutdown.

A previously described preformed No. 7 Ducor catheter for retrograde left atrial catheterization was modified for coronary angiography and used in 358 consecutive patients, 22 of whom had 26 of 51 previous aortocoronary bypass grafts still patent. In 42 patients these catheters were also employed for retrograde left atrial catheterization. Sixty percent of right coronary, 96% of left coronary, and 96% of aortocoronary bypass angiography attempts were successful. Complete left heart study and angiography were accomplished with one catheter in ten patients (2.8%), with two catheters in 200 patients (55.9%), with three catheters in 132 patients (36.9%), and with more than three catheters in 16 patients (4.5%). Except in 4 of 12 patients with aortic valve deformities, left catheterization was achieved whenever attempted. The complication rate was within acceptable limits. Average left heart and angiography procedure and fluoroscopy times were respectively 29.4 and 6.5 minutes. In addition to reconfirming usefulness for retrograde left atrial catheterization, these data demonstrate this family of catheters is useful for coronary-particularly left-and aortocoronary bypass angiography.