Readily exchangeable perfusion dilatation catheter

The method of performing a vascular procedure in a patient's vascular system, comprising:

• a) providing a vascular catheter having an expandable member on the distal end thereof and a relatively short inner lumen therein extending in a distal portion of the catheter body between a distal guidewire port and a proximal guidewire port about 10 to about 50 cm proximal from the distal guidewire port and perfusion ports in the wall of the catheter body in fluid communication with the short inner lumen between the proximal guidewire port and the distal guidewire port in the distal end of the catheter body;
• b) advancing the vascular catheter within the patient's vascular system over a guidewire slidably disposed within the relatively short inner lumen to a location within the patient's vascular system;
• c) expanding the expandable member on the vascular catheter to at least partially occlude the patient's blood vessel at the location causing blood to flow through the proximal perfusion ports and the second inner lumen and out the distal perfusion ports;
• and
• d) contracting the expanded expandable member to facilitate removal of the catheter from the patient.

An intravascular catheter for performing a vascular procedure within a patient's vascular system, comprising:

• a) an elongated catheter body having proximal and distal ends and an expandable member proximally adjacent the distal end thereof and a relatively short inner lumen adapted to receive a guidewire which extends between a distal guidewire port provided in the distal end of the catheter body and a proximal guidewire port which is provided in the catheter body and which is disposed at least 10 cm but not more than 50 cm from the distal guidewire port;
• b) at least one proximal perfusion port located between the proximal guidewire port and the expandable member and at least one distal perfusion port located between the expandable member and the distal end of the catheter body, the perfusion ports being in fluid communication with the inner lumen adapted to receive a guidewire;
• and
• c) means to stiffen a portion of the catheter body proximal to the proximal guidewire port to provide the catheter with improved pushability.