title: Technique of apical left ventricular puncture revisited: a case report of double-valve prosthesis evaluation.
abstract: The presence of both mitral and aortic mechanical prostheses often make access to the left ventricle difficult for hemodynamic evaluation of valve gradients and for performing angiography. We present a case where both the transseptal and direct apical ventricular puncture techniques are utilized for assessing prosthetic valve function. The use of a new over the wire technique for left ventricular access using a flexible 4 French pediatric multipurpose catheter is described.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Cata
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Grassman
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery; D011677:Punctures; D011859:Radiography; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left