DEEP INTUBATION OF 6 FRENCH GUIDING CATHETERS FOR TRANSRADIAL CORONARY INTERVENTIONS

Deep intubation of coronary guides may improve the backup support requ ired to deliver interventional materials through 6 French catheters. E ighteen patients (17 male, 1 female) with 20 lesions were selected for transradial angioplasty and stenting using the Cordis Long Brite Tip( R) guide. Patients with an evolving acute myocardial infarction and th ose with an abnormal Alien test were excluded. All patients were pretr eated with aspirin, ticlopidine, and heparin. The mean age was 55 (ran ge 34-81). The target vessel was the right coronary in 6 of 20 (30%), the circumflex artery in 6 of 20 (30%), left anterior descending in 4 of 20 (20%), vein grafts in 3 of 20 (15%), and ramus intermedius in on e case (5%). Seventeen lesions were treated with stents, and 3 with PT CA alone. Three lesions received 2 stents. Procedural success (less th an 20% residual stenosis) was obtained in 19/20 cases. No dissections were seen as a result of deep intubation. Dampening of pressure and is chemia occurred in only 2 patients. Deep intubation with this guide ma y be safely used to obtain support when performing 6 French angioplast y and stenting using the transradial approach.