Q. Explain about Catheters and Guide Wires?

The commonly used guide wires vary in diameter from 0.012 to 0.052; with 0.035 or 0.038 being the most commonly used sizes. The standard length varies from 100 to 180 cm. The exchange length catheters vary from 260 to 300 cm and help to keep the wire tip in a particular position during catheter exchange. Catheter tip configurations include straight, angled or J-tip.

Catheters sizes most commonly used are 5F, 6F or 7F. They may be only end-hole, end hole and side hole or only side-hole systems. Thoracic aorta visualization requires 100-120 cm length while abdominal aorta requires 60-80 cm length. Several catheters have been used for aortography, namely, straight catheter, pigtail or tennis racquet catheter, simple curved catheter and complex reverse curve catheter. The pigtail catheter is by far the most commonly used catheter.