Retrograde Catheterization of the Systemic Circulation with the Loop-End Catheter

Abstract

Catheterization of the left ventricle and aorta has provided invaluable data in the characterization of aortic and mitral valve as well as coronary artery lesions. Despite its routine use and the description of various technics, there is as yet no standard method which has been adopted by most laboratories.As initially reported by Farinas in 19411 and Radner in 1947,~ human arterial catheterization was performed by the direct insertion of a catheter into an artery. In 1950, Zimmerman,3 for the first time, achieved retrograde catheterization of the left ventricle utilizing an arterial catheter for this and other purposes. Limon4 during the same year proclaimed the method both effective and safe, while somewhat later, Sodi-Pallares5 concurred in the safety of arterial catheterization, at least for human intra-ventricular electrocardiography. In 1953, Seldinger6 developed an ingenious technique by means of which large catheters could be passed without surgical dissection. It required only a clean vascular puncture with a needle of modest size and a specially fabricated flexible wire guide over which the catheter was introduced. Prioton7 7 in 1957 catheterized the left ventricle using a modification of Seldinger's method and this, in various forms, soon came into general use.g-1° The loopend catheter described by Williamsll in 1960 was subsequently adopted in other laboratories. [12][13][14][15][16] Ideally, any method of catheterization should be relatively simple, have a high rate of success and a low incidence of complications. We believe that retrograde catheterization of the aorta and left ventricle with the loop-end catheter is safe, simple, direct and practical.The present report summarizes our experience with 235 patients in whom 250 percutaneous retrograde arterial studies were performed with the loop-end catheter. MATERIALS AND METHODSAll examinations were obtained between November, 1962 and April, 1964. Only 5 of the 235 patients were women. The average age was 46 with a range at Bibliothekssystem der Universitaet Giessen on June 23, 2015 ang.sagepub.com Downloaded from