[Cardiac catheterization via the right radial artery with a Judkins left catheter. A prospective study]

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Interventional Cardiology
• Vascular Access

Background:

• Radial artery access offers benefits like improved patient well-being, earlier ambulation, and fewer vascular complications post-cardiac catheterization.
• Utilizing a single catheter for both left and right coronary arteries could streamline the cardiac catheterization procedure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively evaluate the feasibility of cannulating both left and right coronary arteries using a single Judkins left 3.5 catheter.
• To assess success rates, complications, and procedural times associated with this technique.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study of 100 patients undergoing cardiac catheterization.
• Analysis of successful coronary artery access, occurrence of complications, and procedural duration using a Judkins left 3.5 catheter for both coronary systems.

Main Results:

• Successful cannulation of both coronary arteries with the same Judkins left 3.5 catheter was achieved in 94% (94 out of 100) of patients.
• The average procedural time was 16.7 (±6.8) minutes.
• A Judkins right 4 (JR4) catheter was necessary in 6 patients (6%) due to ostial spasm or inability to cannulate.

Conclusions:

• Cannulating both coronary arteries with a single Judkins left 3.5 catheter is a highly successful and efficient technique in cardiac catheterization.
• This method is associated with a low rate of complications and can potentially reduce procedural time, enhancing patient outcomes and safety.