CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY USING 4-FRENCH PREFORMED CATHETERS - PERCUTANEOUS BRACHIAL APPROACH

4-French preformed catheter systems were developed for coronary angiography. After several new technical features were introduced, these catheters were applied in 384 outpatients between January 1989 and December 1989. Diagnostic coronary angiography was performed in all cases without major complications. In the left coronary artery, 4.0 cm left Judkins catheters were generally used; however, 3.5 cm left Judkins catheters were used if the patient was less-than-or-equal-to 164 cm tall and left Amplatz catheters were employed for those greater-than-or-equal-to 165 cm tall. Although 4.0 cm right Judkins catheters were mainly used for right coronary arteries, there were no predictive factors for subsequent catheter selection. This technique is believed to be suited to meet the increasing demand for coronary angiography.