AbstractRetrograde arterial catheterization has been the standard approach to hemodynamic and angiographic evaluation of the left ventricle and systemic arterial system. An alternative approach—antegrade left heart catheterization—is reported that circumvents arterial puncture.During cardiac catheterization from the femoral vein in 18 children with normally related great arteries who had interatrial communications, a balloon‐tipped catheter was looped in a „clockwise”︁ fashion through the left atrium and left ventricle and into the ascending aorta. In 17 children the maneuver was rapidly accomplished without complications; it proved possible to perform in an infant with a hypoplastic left ventricular cavity, and was employed to perform a renal arteriogram.The major advantage of antegrade left heart catheterization is avoidance of complications related to arterial puncture. The antegrade approach also avoids right arm cut‐down in children with coarctation of the aorta.