The problem of arteria lusoria in right transradial coronary angiography and angioplasty

✍ Scribed by Rajpal K. Abhaichand; Yves Louvard; Jean-François Gobeil; Christophe Loubeyre; Thierry Lefèvre; Marie-Claude Morice

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2001
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 236 KB
• Volume: 54
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1522-1946
• DOI: 10.1002/ccd.1266

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

The retroesophageal right subclavian artery (arteria lusoria) is one of the anatomical abnormalities encountered by interventional cardiologists who perform right transradial procedures. We report on 11 patients with arteria lusoria in whom 14 right transradial coronary angiography or angioplasty procedures were attempted among a series of 3,730 consecutive right transradial attempts. This abnormality can be easily detected by angiographic visualization, in the anteroposterior projection, of the angle of the catheter when it engages the ascending aorta, and by manual angiography at the ostium of the right subclavian artery. In such a case, catheterization of the ascending aorta may be difficult or even impossible (7.1%). Selective catheterization of both coronary arteries is more difficult, takes longer, and requires more catheters. The Judkins catheters are recommended, although they are seldom used for the left coronary artery via the right radial approach, for both arteries. All catheter exchanges should be performed on long guidewires. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2001;54:196–201. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.