Efficacy and safety of multifunctional 5F Tiger I catheter in application of coronary artery angiography through right radial artery pathway.

Objective To assess the safety and efficacy of multifunctional catheter of 5F Tiger I in coronary angiography versus Judkins approach via the right radial artery pathway. Methods 200 patients were selected from Department of Cardiology, Nanjing First Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from April to October 2007, including 123 males and 77 females, aged (58 ±8) years. They were randomized into two groups (n = 100). The informed consent was obtained from all subjects. All patients underwent coronary angiography via the right radial artery pathway using standard Judkins catheters (Cordis Corporation, Miami, U. S.) and 5F Tiger I catheters (Terumo Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). 6F Judkins L (JL) 3.5 and Judkins R (JR) 3.5 were used as first choice catheters in one group, if catheter tip size was not suitable, 6F JL4. 0, JR4. 0 and other catheters might be used. 5F Tiger I catheters were used in the other group. If the left or right coronary artery angiography failed or did not a - chieve the target site, Tiger I catheter intubation failed and replaced by Judkins or other catheters. Success rate of left and right coronary artery angiography, total procedure time, total fluoroscopic time, usage amount of contrast, incidence of complication correlating with catheter in angiography procedure, and cost of catheter were observed. Results The success rate of Tiger I catheter in left and right coronary artery angiographies via the right radial artery pathway was 94%,and that of Judkins catheter was 100% (P < 0.05). Total procedure time was (318.3 ± 47.9) s in Judkins catheter group and (318.5 ±49.0) s in Tiger I catheter group (P >0.05). Total fluoroscopic time was (1.8 ± 0.9) min in Judkins catheter group and (1.9 ± 0.6) min in Tiger I catheter group (P > 0.05). Usage amount of contrast was (42.6±6.4) ml in Judkins catheter group and (34.2±5.0) ml in Tiger I catheter group (P <0.05). Incidence of complication correlating with catheter in angiography procedure was zero in both two groups. Judkins catheters cost (530.4 ± 51.2) Yuan, and Tiger I catheter cost (260±0) Yuan. Biocompatibility of material and host: No platelet disorder, local inflammation or general malaise were found in any patients undergoing coronary artery angiography by Tiger I and Judkins catheters. Conclusion Tiger I catheter is effective and safe in coronary angiography via the right radial artery pathway with no specific biocompatibility problems. Judkins catheter is better than Tiger I catheter in the success rate of coronary angiographies, but Tiger I catheter is superior to Judkins catheter in reducing usage amount of contrast and cost of catheters, the two catheters have no difference in proccessing time and fluoroscopic time.