Catheter Types and Guide Wire Quiz

Catheter Types

• Flush catheters: used for fast injecting contrast into large vessels like the aorta
• Selective catheters: used for injecting contrast into specific smaller vessels
• Angioplasty Catheters: used to widen narrowed vessels by inflating a balloon inside the vessel
• Intermittent Catheters: long hollow tubes, used to drain the bladder
• Pediatric Catheters: specialized to be used with children, usually around 80cm long
• Diagnostic catheters: used to perform angiograms
• Guiding catheters: used to place angioplasty catheters
• Balloon Catheters: various types, used for drainage and other applications

Puncture Needles

• Used to enter an artery
• Available in sizes: 18ga, 19ga, 20ga, 21ga
• Needle size selection depends on the guidewire size that will be used

Guide Wire

• Used to navigate inside vessels to help place catheters
• Used in both Cardiology and Radiology procedures
• Made from metal or plastic
• Two main functions: exchange and guidance within a vessel
• Tip shapes: J Tip / Straight Tip

Stents

• Used to hold open vessels to prevent narrowing (stenosis)
• Can be made from bare metal or covered with a fabric
• Two types: self-expandable and balloon stents

Embolic Materials

• Used to block specific vessels or deliver therapeutic agents
• Examples of materials used:
  • Embolization coils
  • Poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) beads

Percutaneous Ablation Devices

• Used to destroy tumors using heat or freezing
• Devices used:
  • Cryoablation (freezing tumors)
  • Radiofrequency ablation (burning tumors)
  • Microwave ablation (burning tumors)

Uses & Applications of Catheters

• Drain urine from the bladder (urinary catheterization)
• Drain fluid from the body, e.g. kidney pelvis
• Drain fluid collections, e.g. abdominal abscess
• Administer intravenous fluids, medications, or nutrition
• Angioplasty, angiography, balloon septostomy, balloon angioplasty
• Deliver anesthetic medication

Angiography Catheter

Definition

• A hollow, flexible tube inserted into vessels or body cavities
• Used for drainage, injection of fluids, distending passages, or providing access for surgical instruments
• Can be "soft" (thin and flexible) or "hard" (larger and solid)
• Made from various polymers, including silicone rubber, latex, and thermoplastic elastomers

Ideal Characteristics

• Strength
• Radiopacity (visible on x-ray)
• Flexibility
• Low surface friction for easy guidance

Parts

• Hub: connects to a syringe or other medical device
• Body: the main part of the catheter
• Tip: the end of the catheter

Measurement

• French catheter scale (FR or Fr): used to measure the outer diameter of cylindrical instruments including catheters
• Most commonly used diagnostic catheters are 5-7 Fr in adults

#### Types of Catheters

Holes

• Different types based on hole configuration:
  • Single Hole
  • End Hole with side holes
  •  Blocked end with side holes only
• More holes at the end = More contrast used, for large vessels
• Only end hole = Smaller vessels, like the carotid artery
• Combo end and side holes reduce trauma to the vessel, enhances contrast

Sizes

• Abdominal catheters: 6-80 cm
• Thoracic or Carotid Arteries: 100-120 cm
• Size depends on patient age, selectivity, and vessel size

Shapes

• Straight Catheter: end hole only
• Pigtailed Catheter:
  • Circular tip with multiple side holes
  • Reduces "whiplash" (sudden movement) and controls contrast delivery
  • Allows injection of higher volumes of contrast