Use of large-caliber coronary guiding catheters for neurointerventional applications.

The use of certain large-caliber (ie, 7F to 9F) coronary guiding catheters for selected neuroendovascular procedures is described in the context of surveying recently developed neurovascular guiding catheters. These large-caliber guiding catheters have proved useful in situations requiring proximal access to tortuous brachiocephalic arteries, permitting coaxial delivery of relatively large neurointerventional devices, such as most detachable balloons and 5F percutaneous transluminal angioplasty catheters. These large-caliber coronary guiding catheters have some important advantages over both old and new neurovascular guiding catheters, including favorably preshaped configurations and superior torque control. These features permit relatively easy direct selective catheterization of unfavorable vascular anatomy resulting from dolichoectasia of the aortic arch and great vessels.