Right Heart Catheters

Right Heart Catheters Right heart catheterization was the initial type of cardiac catheterization introduced by Werner Forssmann in 1929, who did self-catheterization [1]. But later, with development of coronary interventions, it became less commonly done. Now there is a renewed interest as it is useful in the evaluation of pulmonary hypertension [2] and heart failure as well as in congenital heart diseases. Though the catheter used by Forssmann was a ureteral catheter, dedicated right heart catheters came into use later.  Cournand catheter is a right heart diagnostic catheter named after the Nobel laureate André Cournand, who shared the Nobel Prize with Dickinson Richards and Werner Forssmann, in 1956 [3]. Cournand Catheter Cournand catheter has an end hole and no side holes. Hence it is suitable for pulmonary artery wedge pressure measurements and blood sampling. Being a single hole catheter, it can easily get blocked and needs frequent flushing, especially in those with thrombotic tendency like congenital cyanotic heart disease. Cournand catheter is made of woven Dacron and has a polyurethane covering. It has a very gradual distal curve and a tapered tip. Cournand Catheter Fluoroscopic View Fluoroscopic view of Cournand catheter passing from inferior vena cava to right atrium, right ventricle, pulmonary artery and across a patent ductus arteriosus into the descending aorta. Goodale-Lubin catheter Goodale-Lubin catheter is also a woven Dacron catheter with polyurethane co...
Source: Cardiophile MD - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Cardiology Source Type: blogs