title: Evaluation of the usefulness of coronary catheters and 4 Fr insertion sets for transradial access coronarography in comparison with catheters and 5 Fr sets.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Application of transradial arterial access during coronarography, besides pain, means faster patient mobilization and fewer complications. During those procedures, vascular sheaths and 5/6 Fr catheters, and lately 4 Fr catheters, are used.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the usefulness of 4 Fr catheters and sheaths in comparison to 5 Fr in diagnostic coronarography.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the period from 5.12.2010 to 27.02.2012, a group of patients who had coronarography with a 4 Fr catheter (n = 20) and a 5 Fr catheter (n = 20) were studied. Technical issues and potential problems related to the use of each catheter were analyzed. Morphology, biochemical parameters, and local complications were analyzed. The assessment included pain intensification during catheter removal and insertion in the VAS/numerical (0-10)/verbal scales and the quality of image obtained during the coronarography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the angiograms obtained during all the interventions were of diagnostic value and in invasive cardiologists' opinions, they did not differ statistically in clarity. Moreover, there were no statistically significant differences in radiation/fluoroscopy time, amount of contrast medium, or morphological and biochemical parameters. The size of hematomas in the 4 Fr group was 17.55 ±14.6 cm(2), and in the 5 Fr group 31.07 ±32.11 cm(2), p = 0.12. The average intensity of pain felt during the intervention/at the time of its removal and insertion in the numerical scale was in the 4 Fr group 0.65 ±0.93/0.55 ±0.94 and in the 5 Fr group 1.88 ±1.64/1.42 ±1.61, p < 0.05.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Application of 4 Fr catheters allows one to perform a diagnostic procedure with a small number of local and hemorrhagic complications comparable with 5 Fr catheters. Due to reduced pain, it is appropriate to continue studies with the use of 4 Fr catheters and sheaths.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Congenital Heart Disease and Electrotherapy, Silesian Medical University, Silesian Center for Heart Disease, Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chodór
authors.affiliation: Students Scientific Society - Department of Cardiology, Congenital Heart Disease and Electrotherapy, Silesian Medical University, Silesian Center for Heart Disease, Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Stanisław
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morawski
authors.affiliation: Students Scientific Society - Department of Cardiology, Congenital Heart Disease and Electrotherapy, Silesian Medical University, Silesian Center for Heart Disease, Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Sylwia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sulik-Gajda
authors.affiliation: Students Scientific Society - Department of Cardiology, Congenital Heart Disease and Electrotherapy, Silesian Medical University, Silesian Center for Heart Disease, Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Nela
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ramus
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Congenital Heart Disease and Electrotherapy, Silesian Medical University, Silesian Center for Heart Disease, Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kowalczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Congenital Heart Disease and Electrotherapy, Silesian Medical University, Silesian Center for Heart Disease, Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Honisz
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Cardiology, Silesian Medical University, Silesian Center for Heart Disease, Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wilczek
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Congenital Heart Disease and Electrotherapy, Silesian Medical University, Silesian Center for Heart Disease, Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sredniawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Congenital Heart Disease and Electrotherapy, Silesian Medical University, Silesian Center for Heart Disease, Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kalarus
keywords: 4 French; coronarography; transradial access