Semicircular curve catheter for pulmonary artery catheterization

Catheters with a distal curve consisting of a half circle of 7.5 cm diameter have been found to markedly facilitate pulmonary artery catheterization from either arm in adults. The full semicircular curve holds the tip off the lateral wall of the right ventricular outflow tract facilitating its passage, reducing arrhythmias, and reducing the chance of perforation. The curve was factory-formed into both end-hole type catheters for pressures, pulmonary wedging, and blood sampling and formed into side-hole catheters with a closed-end, as the NIH, for pulmonary angiograms. In 179 of 182 procedures, it was observed clearly to facilitate, to make more gentle, and to speed pulmonary artery catheterization as compared to catheters with lesser curves.