Coronary angiography after bypass surgery is no longer a pain in the neck

  With the widespread implementation of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in the last 10 years or so, the number of patients readmitted for coronary angiography after CABG is increasing. In recent years, bypass grafting including left internal mammary artery (LIMA)-anterior descending branch (LAD) has been commonly performed in cardiac surgery. The currently most commonly used route via the right flexural artery access is almost impossible to complete the imaging of the left internal mammary artery. Therefore, coronary and bridge angiography including the LIMA bridge is routinely performed via the right femoral artery route. According to the shape and anatomical characteristics of large vessels, we combined with clinical practice, the left flexural artery route is significantly better than the femoral artery bridge angiography for coronary and bridge angiography. In the specific operation steps, after puncturing through the left flexural artery and introducing the wire, the aortic arch is reached via the left subclavian artery, where the guidewire stops advancing and the catheter follows up to the aortic arch, the direction of the catheter is turned and the guidewire is sent into the ascending aorta, then the catheter is reintroduced into the aortic root, and after completing the conventional coronary and venous bridge angiography, the catheter is withdrawn via the left Internal mammary artery, selective LIMA bridge angiography can be performed very smoothly.  In the past 3 years, we have performed 23 trans-left flexural artery angiograms, and the technique is becoming increasingly sophisticated. In the last 3 cases, only 5FRadialTIG and 5FJR4.O were used to complete the entire imaging procedure. In contrast, transfemoral artery angiography often requires 6FJL4.0, 6FJR4.0, and 6FPigtail catheters to complete the angiography. When performing LIMA bridge angiography, the catheter cannot reach the opening of the LIMA bridge due to excessive bending of the vessel, and only non-selective LIMA bridge angiography can be performed, which often results in poor images. If postoperative femoral artery puncture point blockage is chosen, additional blocking devices given by Ang are required, otherwise the patient needs to lie flat for 24 hours, which greatly increases the patient’s pain. In contrast, transfemoral flexure angiography is less painful for the patient, easier to perform, uses fewer devices, and has better imaging results, which is worthy of clinical promotion.