PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - O'Sullivan, J J
AU  - McDonald, K
AU  - Crean, P A
AU  - Walsh, M J
AU  - McCarthy, C
AU  - Erwin, R J
AU  - Maurer, B J
TI  - Cardiac catheterisation with 5 French catheters.
AID  - 10.1136/hrt.64.3.211
DP  - 1990 Sep 01
TA  - British Heart Journal
PG  - 211--213
VI  - 64
IP  - 3
4099  - http://heart.bmj.com/content/64/3/211.short
4100  - http://heart.bmj.com/content/64/3/211.full
SO  - Heart1990 Sep 01; 64
AB  - From the beginning of November 1987 to the end of January 1989, 526 coronary arteriograms and left ventricular angiograms were performed with 5 French coronary catheters. In 448 (85%) patients diagnostic pictures were obtained with three standard types of 5 French catheters (No 4 Judkins): that is, left coronary, right coronary, and pigtail catheters. In 60 patients (11.4%) various other 5 French catheters were required to complete the study. In nine patients (1.7%), a 7 or 8 French catheter was used. Major complications causing cardiac arrest or requiring urgent operation developed in five patients. Sixty two patients (11.77%) had minor complications that required sublingual nitrates or a single bolus of atropine, or developed a haematoma that did not need intervention or had a mild reaction to the contrast material. Complications of moderate severity developed in 17 patients (3.2%): severe chest pain, arrhythmia requiring a temporary pacemaker, contrast reaction associated with hypotension, haematoma requiring blood transfusion, or a transient ischaemic episode. There were no deaths. 5 French catheters were used for routine coronary angiography and left ventriculography in 98.3% of patients. There were no major complications related to femoral artery puncture. The routine use of 5 French coronary catheters should increase the feasibility of safe coronary angiography in outpatients and should reduce the cost of this investigation.