First‐in‐human robotic percutaneous coronary intervention for unprotected left main stenosis

The safety and feasibility of robotically‐assisted percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for simple coronary lesions has been demonstrated. The CorPath robotic system (Corpath 200, Corindus, Waltham, MA) consists of a robotic arm mounted on the cardiac catheterization table that consists of a drive housing a single‐use sterile cassette, which is connected to the guiding catheter. While sitting in the nonsterile, radiation‐shielded cockpit, the operator remotely controls delivery and removal of coronary guidewires, angioplasty balloons, and stents. The database for the ongoing PRECISION registry was queried at a single center and results of unprotected left main robotic PCI procedures are reported. Of 102 robotic PCI procedures performed at this center, 6 were unprotected left main lesions (age 69 ± 14 years; 67% male). All 6 subjects underwent successful PCI (fluoroscopy time 26.8 ± 11.4 min;1.8 stents and 2.2 vessels treated/patient) with three requiring hemodynamic support (two with percutaneous left ventricular assistance using the Impella 2.5 (Abiomed, Danvers, MA) and one with intraaortic balloon pump counterpulsation). This report demonstrates the feasibility of performing robotically assisted unprotected left main PCI with or without hemodynamic support. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.