Diagnostic Coronary Catheters

Diagnostic Coronary Catheters

Diagnostic Coronary Catheters: Diagnostic coronary angiography is most often undertaken either through the femoral route or radial route. Rarely brachial or axillary access may be resorted to if the popular radial or femoral routes are not feasible. Femoral access is preferred in an emergency when quick arterial access is needed. It is also used when more devices have to be introduced, but seldom the case for diagnostic coronary angiography.

The most popular catheter for femoral route is Judkins catheter. Judkins catheter comes in left coronary and right coronary curves. They have a primary curve and a secondary curve. Primary curve engages the coronary ostium while the secondary curve stabilizes the catheter along the opposite wall of the aorta. Large secondary curves are needed when the ascending aorta is dilated. The catheter sizes are referred to depending on the secondary curves and the coronary artery for which it is meant. e.g. JL4.

Another catheter used through the femoral route is the Amplatz catheter. A specialty of Amplatz catheter is that when you wish to disengage the catheter from the coronary ostium, you have to push the catheter rather than withdraw it. If you try to withdraw it, the catheter gets more deeply engaged. Amplatz catheter also comes in left and right coronary curves.
Sones catheter is used for coronary angiography via the brachial route. Same catheter is used for engaging right and left coronary artery.

Tiger catheter is the most popular catheter for transradial coronary angiography. Same catheter can be used for the right and left coronary angiograms.