[Cardiac catheterization of neonates and young infants using a flow-directed balloon catheter (author's transl)].

In cardiac catheterization with the Swan-Ganz-flow-directed balloon catheter the aorta or, in transposition of the great arteries, the pulmonary artery was entered from the left ventricle with a special heart catheterization technique in 68 neonates and young infants. In the same way selective aortography was performed in 29 of these patients. This catheterization technique has the following advantages: 1. the complete evaluation of complex cardiac anomalies even in neonates, 2. selective aortography avoiding the retrograde arterial catheterization, 3. reducing the risk of cardiac perforation or myocardial staining due to the contrast injection using the usual semirigid catheters. Balloon rupture or knotting are specific but avoidable complications.