Advantages of a workbench reshaped AR1 mod catheter for right coronary angiography by right radial approach

Transradial approach in cardiac catheterization is increasing. In daily practice, coronary angiography via radial artery is usually performed by using catheters designed for femoral approach. The aim of this study was to evaluate advantages in the use of a workbench reshaped AR1 mod catheter, in terms of procedural duration time, number of catheters per procedure, fluoroscopy time, contrast agent administered volume, images quality and costs. Two hundred patients, submitted to coronary angiography via right radial artery in our institution, have been retrospectively reviewed. Patients have been divided in two groups, depending on whether a workbench reshaped Cordis Amplatz AR1 mod catheter (rAR1 mod), or catheters in their original shape (OC) have been employed. In the rAR1 mod group (100 patients) a lower number of catheters per procedure (1.07 ± 0.25 vs. 1.47 ± 1.65; p < 0.001), a more frequent right coronary selective engagement (76.76% vs. 53.12%; p < 0.001), a smaller amount of contrast agent (63.02 ± 27.77 vs. 80.85 ± 29.22 ml, p < 0.001), a reduced fluoroscopy and global procedural time (4.19 ± 2.91 vs. 5.69 ± 3.85 min, p = 0.004; and 34.58 ± 17.05 vs. 42.58 ± 17.26 min, p = 0.001, respectively) were observed. According to our experience, when right coronary angiography via right radial approach is performed, the utilization of rAR1 mod catheter correlates with multiple advantages in terms of procedural parameters.