MODIFIED HEPARIN-BONDED CATHETER FOR CANNULATION OF THE CORONARY SINUS FROM THE FEMORAL VEIN

Serial sampling from the coronary sinus is an attractive technique for drawing blood samples to be used in the characterization of procoagul ant activity during coronary interventions. We have developed a modifi ed Simmons catheter for rapid cannulation of the coronary sinus from t he femoral approach. The catheter design incorporates heparin bonding and distal side-holes to minimize blood sampling artifacts. Coronary s inus cannulation was performed via the femoral approach in 186 patient s by use of a multipurpose catheter (n = 8), an unmodified Simmons I o r II catheter (n = 64), or the modified Simmons catheter (n = 114). Th e coronary sinus was cannulated successfully with the modified Simmons catheter in 97% of patients; the success rate with the unmodified Sim mons II catheter was 87% (P = 0.02). The modified Simmons catheter rep resents an improved technique for cannulation of the coronary sinus fr om the femoral vein. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.