The importance of angled right anterior oblique views in improving visualization of the coronary arteries. Part I: Caudocranial view.

Three hundred patients were examined to determine the value of the caudocranial right anterior oblique view (RAO) in revealing or improving visualization of lesions in the proximal and mid-left anterior descending artery (LAD), the origins of the septal and diagonal arteries, and the distal branches of the right coronary artery (RCA). The proximal and mid-LAD were shown to greater advantage in 80% of cases, the diagonal arteries in nearly 75%, the septal vessels in more than 90%, and the posterior descending and posterolateral branches of the distal RCA in more than 80%; in addition, the cranial RAO view revealed previously unsuspected lesions in 7% of the proximal and mid-LAD arteries and 26% of the septal vessels. In addition to superior visualization, this view gives satisfactory exposure even in extremely large patients and may also be helpful in coronary angioplasty.