Pediatric cardiac angiography using a 4 French catheter.

Thirty specially designed 4 French pigtail white Teflon catheters 50 cm in length were utilized for angiography using the retrograde arterial approach in 26 infants and children. Angiographic opacification was considered very satisfactory. Apart from one episode of temporary occlusion of the right coronary artery ostium, there were no other significant complications. The catheters were introduced percutaneously in 21 instances and distal pulses were palpable in 18 patients by the second day after catheterization. At postcatheterization testing with increasing volumes and flow rates, the first rupture occurred, delivering 13 ml at 13 ml/second. On testing an additional 15 catheters using fixed volumes of 5, 10, and 15 ml at increasing flow rates, rupture first occurred at 34, 22, and 18 ml/second, respectively. We conclude that this small catheter is relatively safe and satisfactory for the retrograde arterial approach in the study of infants and children.