Premium
Transthoracic access for cardiac catheterization
Author(s) -
Maher Kevin O.,
Murdison Kenneth A.,
Norwood William I.,
Murphy John D.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
catheterization and cardiovascular interventions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.988
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1522-726X
pISSN - 1522-1946
DOI - 10.1002/ccd.20080
Subject(s) - medicine , cardiac catheterization , catheter , venous access , cardiology , left atrium , atrium (architecture) , right atrium , transthoracic echocardiogram , surgery , atrial fibrillation
Patients who have undergone Fontan palliation for congenital heart disease have limited access to the pulmonary venous atrium. We describe a transthoracic approach to the pulmonary venous atrium for diagnostic and therapeutic cardiac catheterization. A total of 22 patients ranging in age from 14 months to 25 years and weighing 7–68 kg underwent transthoracic catheterization. With the aid of fluoroscopic and angiographic markers, a 20 gauge needle was inserted into the pulmonary venous atrium. A floppy‐tipped wire was inserted, and a 4 Fr sheath was placed, upsized as needed. Access to the pulmonary venous atrium was obtained for all patients. Therapeutic procedures were completed for all patients. Transthoracic access to the pulmonary venous atrium in patients who have undergone a Fontan operation is a reliable and rapid mode of access, allowing for complex therapeutic procedures to be performed in the catheterization laboratory, obviating the need for additional open heart surgery. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2004;63:72–77. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.