Retrograde cardiovascular angiography in infants, using a 3.6 French catheter

Descending aortography with balloon inflation. A technique for evaluating the size of persistent ductus arteriosus in infants with large proximal left to right shunts

Six infants underwent angiography of the aortic root and the descending aorta with balloon inflation during diagnostic cardiac catheterisation and angiography. In these infants with large proximal left to right shunts, descending aortography with balloon inflation resulted in better opacification of the persistent ductus arteriosus than aortic root angiography, thereby enabling accurate measurement of the persistent ductus arteriosus. Similar systemic and pulmonary vascular impedances had been speculated as the cause of poor or non-opacification of the ductus after ascending aortography. Balloon inflation may have altered the aortic impedance with resulting opacification of the ductus. Descending aortic angiography with balloon inflation is also useful in opacifying the isolated ductus and in demonstrating aortopulmonary collaterals in patients with pulmonary atresia.

Left ventricular and aortic catheterization and angiography via a patent ductus arteriosus: a new technique

A new "transductal" technique of aortic arch and left ventricular angiography in patients with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is described by introducing the catheter to the aortic arch from the pulmonary artery via the PDA. Over a 4-year period, 44 infants and children with complicated PDA underwent cardiac catheterization with this technique at our institution. Twenty-five of the 30 in the group with PDA alone and 12 of 14 in the group with associated cardiac defects had successful aortic arch catheterization and angiography, an 84% success rate. No complications were encountered during the procedure. The technique offers a safe alternative to retrograde arterial catheterization in patients with PDA who have other associated lesions.