Apparatus and method for the percutaneous insertion of a pediatric intra-aortic balloon catheter

摘要

A method for percutaneously inserting an improved pediatric intra-aortic balloon. The improvement comprises a soft tip having a self occluding lumen capable of accommodating a guide wire. A removable pull tube is disposed within the self occluding lumen to prevent occlusion of the self occluding lumen. The catheter is designed without a guide wire lumen so as to be capable of rapid inflation and deflation of the balloon. The method comprises the following steps: (a)inserting an angiographic needle into the aorta; (b) passing the guide wire through the needle into the aorta; (c) removing the needle; (d) disposing the pull tube about the proximal end of the guide wire; (e) removing the pull tube from the self occluding lumen; (f) advancing the catheter into the aorta; (g) removing the guide wire from the aorta; (h) advancing the catheter up the aortic passageway to a position appropriate for pumping.