ABSTRACT
The fundamental aspect of performing an angiogram requires the use of a catheter—a hollow tube that comes in various shapes that can be manipulated to an appropriate place; a center lumen allows fluid to be injected or pressures to be measured. This chapter provides a practical guide to many of the most important "workhorse" catheters that are in use today. It discusses the principal catheters utilized in the fields of coronary angiography, ventriculography, and peripheral angiography. Modern vascular diagnostic catheters are typically polymer-blended catheters made of nylon, polyurethane, or other proprietary polymers. Judkins left coronary catheters are the most commonly used because very little manipulation is needed to engage most left main arteries. The most commonly used diagnostic right coronary catheter is the Judkins right coronary catheter. Lower extremity angiography usually begins with a non-selective angiogram with a pigtail catheter in the distal descending aorta above the level of the iliac bifurcation.
