The VB-1 catheter: a novel catheter for peripheral arterial revascularization.

Despite recent advances in catheter-based technologies for peripheral arterial revascularization, adequate guide catheter positioning and support remains a leading procedural challenge. This report describes the adaptation of the Behar Internal Mammary VB-1 catheter for peripheral revascularization procedures in patients with complex anatomy not amendable to other conventional peripheral guide catheters.

The VB-1 catheter: an improved catheter for difficult-to-engage internal mammary artery grafts.

As patients with prior coronary artery bypass grafting age, internal mammary artery grafts are more frequently encountered in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Angiography and interventions involving these grafts are often difficult, particularly in patients with tortuous subclavian anatomy and/or proximal internal mammary artery origins. We describe a new catheter shape, the Cordis Behar Internal Mammary, VB-1, which allows selective intubations of both right and left internal mammary arteries that are not possible with conventional catheters.

An anomalous left coronary artery originating from the pulmonary artery in a 72-year-old woman: diagnosis by color flow myocardial blush and coronary arteriography.

An anomalous left coronary artery originating from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital coronary abnormality often associated with myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure and sudden death. Survival to adulthood in individuals with this coronary anomaly is quite uncommon. Since mortality approaches 90% in infancy with untreated ALCAPA, early recognition and surgical correction are essential. Using both echocardiographic myocardial blush and coronary arteriography, we describe the new diagnosis of uncorrected ALCAPA in a 72-year-old woman and review contemporary methods for the diagnosis and management of this particular coronary anomaly.