title: Transradial coronary intervention using a novel 5-Fr sheathless guiding catheter.
abstract: We have recently developed a 5-Fr sheathless guiding catheter system (Virtual 3-Fr, Medikit, Japan), composed of a hydrophilic catheter and a central dilator. This combination of catheter and dilator enables us to introduce the catheter into the artery without the need of an introducer sheath. Because the outer diameter of this 5-Fr sheathless guiding catheter system is approximately 2-Fr sizes smaller than a conventional guiding catheter system, this system provides us with less invasive angioplasty and a puncture site injury equivalent to a conventional 3-Fr introducer sheath. To demonstrate the potential of this 5-Fr sheathless guiding system, we report two cases of chronic total occlusion successfully treated by the transradial approach. This novel 5-Fr sheathless system may become a viable alternative to conventional guiding catheters, and provide a favorable impact upon vascular access complications and patient morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Catheterization Laboratory, Shonan Kamakura General Hospital, Kamakura, Japan. stake@muse.ocn.ne.jp
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takeshita
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saito
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D054059:Coronary Occlusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017534:Radial Artery; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome