guiding catheter
Large-bore catheter providing stable support and contrast delivery for coronary interventions.
Full Definition
A guiding catheter is a specialized, large-bore catheter designed to provide stable platform support for coronary interventions while enabling contrast injection and device delivery. These catheters typically range from 5-8 French in diameter and feature various tip configurations (Judkins, Amplatz, etc.) to match specific coronary anatomy. The guiding catheter must achieve coaxial alignment with the coronary ostium to provide adequate backup support for balloon and stent delivery, particularly in complex lesions or tortuous anatomy. Proper guiding catheter selection and positioning are critical for procedural success, and inadequate support may require catheter exchange or use of anchor techniques.
Usage
Usage note: Specify French size and catheter shape (e.g., JL4, AR2) in procedural documentation.
In Context
- "A 6-French JL4 guiding catheter provided excellent support for the complex bifurcation intervention." — Procedure report
- "The guiding catheter was repositioned to achieve better coaxial alignment with the RCA ostium." — Interventional procedure note