Modified cardiac catheter for neonate and infant

Abstract

<h3>To the Editor:—</h3> Cardiac catheterization and selective angiocardiography carry an increased risk in the neonatal period and early infancy.^1,2This communication reviews some of the problems associated with the use of cardiac catheters for diagnostic procedures, and describes a new modified pediatric NIH catheter designed to reduce the risks and increase the accuracy of those procedures in the neonate and small infant. Two principal types of catheter are in use for cardiac catheterization and angiocardiography. The first type, with an end hole, such as the Lehman catheter, has certain disadvantages for selective angiocardiography because of its tendency to recoil during injections. In addition, it is stiff and this increases the difficulties and dangers of intracardiac manipulation. Undesirable damping and difficulty with sampling may also occur with this catheter. The second type is the side-hole catheter which overcomes these difficulties and permits sampling and pressure recording as well as rapid