Nylon catheters for percutaneous arteriography

A satisfactory angiogram can only be produced if the concentration of contrast medium in the particular blood vessels is adequate. The rate of dilution of medium varies widely throughout the cardiovascular system, but is most rapid in the heart and great vessels, where it may be technically difficult to obtain a satisfactory concentration. Although the development of highly concentrated contrast media has been a major advance, problems remain concerning the volume and rate of injection of such agents. Because of their potential toxicity, the total volume of medium which can be injected in each region is limited. Therefore, the trend has been towards injecting smaller volumes very rapidly. The ability to do this depends largely upon the type of catheter which has been introduced. The catheter tubing employed in percutaneous arteriography should incorporate the following features: Strength. Because of the risks of haematoma formation at the site of arterial puncture, the outer diameter of the catheter is li...