title: Angiographic guidewire with measuring markers: design and clinical experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We have developed an angiographic guidewire with measuring markers to determine accurately how far a guidewire is inserted within a catheter. We investigated whether use of this guidewire reduces the risk of vascular injury and the fluoroscopic time during guidewire manipulations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four markers were put on the surface of the guidewire at 80, 100, 110, and 120 cm from the tip. The actual lengths of 54 catheters from seven manufacturers were measured and compared with the nominal lengths. Sixty consecutive patients who underwent angiography were randomized into two groups: in one group guidewires with surface markers were used (marker group) and in the other group, conventional guidewires (control group). For each guidewire insertion, the fluoroscopic time before the guidewire was pushed forward into the vessel lumen was recorded. The number of occasions on which unintentionally the guidewire had already been pushed out of the catheter at the start of fluoroscopy was also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The actual lengths of all catheters were greater than the nominal lengths by 1.0-11.0 cm. Mean fluoroscopic time for each guidewire insertion was 3.3 sec in the marker group and 5.7 sec in the control group (p < 0.05). Guidewires were unintentionally pushed out of the catheters without fluoroscopy three times (3.6%), in each case in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The guidewire with measuring markers is effective for enhancing safety and in reducing fluoroscopic radiation during angiographic procedures. It is recommended that operators be aware that actual lengths of catheters may vary significantly from the nominal lengths listed; they should be aware of this with any guidewire, but particularly with the angiographic measuring guidewire.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Aichi Medical University, 21 Nagakute-cho, Aichi-gun, Aichi, 480-1195, Japan. kamei@aichi-med-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamei
authors.forename: Tsuneo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishiguchi
authors.forename: Katsuhito
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Ryota
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ohno
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Kazuko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohno
authors.forename: Toshiki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawamura
authors.forename: Mitsuru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ikeda
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000293:injuries; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control