Unconventional use of NIH angiographic catheter in resource limited setup: A brief experience

NIH (National Institute of Health) catheter is a side hole angiographic catheter. The angiographic catheter can be used equally well in both sampling and pressure recordings beyond angiography. Side hole catheter like NIH angiographic catheter is not used routinely for crossing stenotic valve with a wire through it. In a resource limited set up with less availability of catheters, NIH catheter can be used beyond the convention- to cross a stenotic valve through a J tip wire in it. In our Institution we have used NIH catheter with a J tip wire in multiple times, for crossing the stenosed pulmonary valve while doing Balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty. The rest of the procedure is done as per standard protocol. Though NIH catheter is having only side holes, it can also be used to cross a stenosed valve in difficult situation or resource limited set up.