Single Catheter Usage for Both Left and Right Coronary Arteries

Abstract

Transradial bilateral coronary angiography and angioplasty by single catheter is a useful technique but not a new one [1]. Since 1996, it has been reported that transradial percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) can be performed by single Kimny guiding catheter in single procedure [2]. Kiemeneij [3] reported several total coronary occlusion cases treated with single guiding catheter by simultaneous transradial coronary angioplasty and contralateral coronary angiography. The most remarkable characteristic is its ability of reducing the transradial intervention (TRI) related complications. Nowadays, transradial approach has been taken as the alternative of transfemoral access or the preferred access for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), given that transradial approach is known as being associated with lower vascular complication rates, improved patient comfort, and lower procedural costs than the femoral approach [4]. However the TRI related complications such as radial artery spasm is still worried by operators. Single catheter technique may amplify the priority of TRI buy reducing radial artery spasm because it does not need separate catheter for both left and right coronary arteries. Compared with conventional TRI, the advantages of single catheter for bilateral coronary artery intervention includes lower costs, reduction of vascular complications such as radial artery spasm, dissection, occlusion, perforation, reduction of radiation exposure, reduction of procedure time, and reduction of contrast volume.