Comparison of Injection and Aspiration Performance of Multiple Microcatheters for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Injection and aspiration efficacy via microcatheter are important in complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

The aim of this study was to compare the injection and aspiration performance of different microcatheters under identical conditions.

In the injection bench test, injection volumes and times for each microcatheter were measured three times using an auto-injector. In the aspiration bench test, each microcatheter was connected to a two-way stopcock and an aspiration syringe. Times required to aspirate 5 mL (T1) and 10 mL (T2) of blood-mimicking fluid were measured. For the injection bench test, flow rates and resistance ratios were calculated, for the aspiration bench test, resistance ratios were calculated. The resistance ratio of the Finecross GT 130 cm was set as 1.0 (reference).

The fastest flow rate (0.66 mL/s) and lowest resistance ratio (0.74) in the injection test were observed with the Zizai 130 cm. Conversely, dual-lumen catheters exhibited the slowest flow rates (Sasuke and Crusade Type R: 0.14 mL/s, 0.19 mL/s) and highest resistance ratios (Sasuke and Crusade Type R: 3.43, 2.53). In the aspiration bench test, the Zizai 130 cm exhibited the shortest aspiration times (T1, 73.0 s, T2, 140.7 s) and lowest resistance ratio (average R1, R2: 0.74), whereas the Corsair Pro 135 cm exhibited the longest aspiration times (T1, 174 s, T2, 330.3 s) and highest resistance ratios (R1, 1.78, R2, 1.72; average, 1.75).

To our knowledge, this is the first comparison of injection efficacy and aspiration resistance among various microcatheters for PCI, providing practical guidance for microcatheter selection in complex PCI.