title: Effectiveness of the Arani double-loop guiding catheters in angioplasty of aorto-coronary vein grafts.
abstract: Double-loop guiding catheters have been used for angioplasty of aorto-coronary vein grafts (VG) or grafted arteries through the VG in 31 cases. A catheter with a 90 degrees primary curve was usually the best choice for angioplasty of the VG to the right coronary artery (RCA). For angioplasty of the VG to the left coronary artery branches (LCA), a 90 degrees primary curve was used when the proximal segment of the VG was oriented horizontally and a 75 degrees (USCI, C.R. Bard, Inc., Billerica, MA) was used when the proximal segment was directed superiorly. Angioplasty of 32 lesions was attempted in 31 patients. These catheters provided good "back-up" in angioplasty of 30 lesions (94%). The lesions were crossed with balloon catheters in 29 cases (91%). There was one acute VG occlusion requiring coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, a complication not attributed to the guiding catheter. We conclude that Arani guiding catheters provide strong back-up, are helpful in angioplasty of the vein grafts, and could be used as the primary choice for VG angioplasties.
authors.affiliation: State University of New York School of Medicine, Buffalo.
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Arani
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Visco
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Conley
authors.forename: I L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Bunnell
mesh_terms: D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D004867:Equipment Design; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D014680:Veins / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation