Selective engagement of coronary ostia is performed to visualize which structures?

• A. The coronary arteries
• B. The pulmonary veins
• C. The inferior vena cava
• D. The aortic arch branches in the neck

Answer: (A)

Engaging the coronary ostia is done to visualize the coronary arteries. By guiding a catheter into the openings of the left and right coronary arteries in the aortic root and injecting contrast, clinicians obtain angiographic images of the coronary arterial system to assess for disease, anomalies, or occlusions. The other structures listed—pulmonary veins, the inferior vena cava, and the aortic arch branches in the neck—are not the target of selective coronary ostia engagement, as they require different catheterization paths and imaging approaches.