Transseptal left heart catheterization: Experience with a new technique in 520 pediatric and adult patients

Summary A new technique for transseptal left heart catheterization utilizing the Transseptal Introducer Set® in 520 patients is described in detail. The age range of these patients was 3 months to 40 years with 30% of the patients less than 2 years old and 28% less than 10 kilograms in weight. The safety and advantages of the technique are emphasized. The introducer set and new technique make transseptal left heart catheterization a safe, versatile, and dependable approach to all areas of the left heart, particularly in infants and children with complex congenital heart lesions.Supported in part by grant HL-07190 from the National Institutes of Health, United States Public Health Service and by grant RR-00188 from General Clinical Research Branch, National Institutes of Health.Presented in part at 52nd Scientific Session of American Heart Association, November 12–15, 1979.