Treatment for LMCA ostial stenosis using a bifurcation technique with a retrograde approach

A 69‐year‐old man who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery in February 2008. The surgery included grafting of the left internal thoracic artery (LITA) to the diagonal branch (D1) and a saphenous vein graft (SVG) to the left circumflex artery (LCX) due to ostial stenosis of the left main coronary artery (LMCA). The patient presented with recurring effort chest pain 18 months later. Coronary CT revealed that the LITA‐D1 graft was patent, the SVG‐LCX graft was occluded, and there was severe ostial stenosis of the LMCA. Coronary angiography was performed in August 2009, but a 5‐Fr diagnostic catheter could not be engaged due to the severe ostial stenosis. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was performed 5 days later with an attempt to cross the lesion with a guidewire using a retrograde approach through the LITA‐D1 graft. However, the guidewire could not be crossed using a conventional technique due to the extreme angulation of the LITA‐D1 anastomosis. Therefore, we attempted to use a reversed guidewire technique. After crossing the LMCA ostial lesion the retrograde wire was snared through antegradely for insertion of the guiding catheter via the right brachial artery. We were able to engage the guiding catheter in the left coronary artery and implant the stent successfully using the antegrade approach. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Use of a second buddy wire during percutaneous coronary interventions: a simple solution for some challenging situations

The buddy wire technique, i.e. the use of a second 0.014 inch guide wire placed alongside the one employed to advance balloons and stents inside the coronary artery during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), may help in a series of procedural challenges during PCI. Indeed, by improving both the stability of the guiding catheter and the support for balloon and stent, a buddy wire use is sometimes the simplest way to accomplish a successful procedure. In this paper, we discuss technical aspects of some specific circumstances frequently encountered during PCI, in which a buddy wire may be helpful. These include: 1) The reduction of balloon slippage during angioplasty for in-stent restenosis; 2) insufficient back-up of the guiding catheter; 3) stenting of lesions located in vessels with proximal tortuosities/angulations; 4) stenting of lesions distally located in the vessel; 5) facilitation in the positioning of distal protection devices; 6) stenting of a lesion distally located from a previously implanted stent or from a coronary segment with both calcification and sharp bend; 7) PCI on coronary arteries with anomalous origin. Because of its simplicity, low cost, and availability, the use of a buddy wire should be considered when dealing with the aforementioned conditions during PCI procedures.     

Guideliner microcatheter to improve back-up support during a complex coronary stenting procedure through a tortuous left internal mammary graft

Back-up support during percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) is one of the keys for successful intervention. Extra back-up support guiding catheters, deep intubation, buddy wires, and other more complex techniques are usually used to improve this support. Left anterior descending (LAD) artery PCI through the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) are rarely performed because many operators feel reluctant to instrument a disease-free LIMA graft risking iatrogenic complications by passing wire, balloons, and stents to the diseased distal LAD. Improving back-up support during LIMA-LAD PCIs is often challenging because in this particular setting the distance between the LAD lesion and the guiding catheter is exceedingly long. We report a case of a challenging PCI of the LAD through a patent and disease-free LIMA graft. After multiple failed attempts to cross the LAD lesion with conventional stent deployment techniques, we successfully finished the stenting procedure using the Guideliner microcatheter (Vascular Solutions) as a guiding extension through the LIMA graft. With this case, we illustrate that this microcatheter dramatically improves the back-up support, allowing stent deployment also in very difficult settings as in tortuous LIMA grafts.     

Stent deployment within a guide catheter aids removal of a fractured buddy wire.

We report a case of fractured buddy wire that was successfully removed by deploying a stent within the guide catheter, trapping the fractured segment of wire between stent and endoluminal surface of the guide catheter. This technique provides an alternative to either percutaneous snare or surgical intervention.     

Judkins Left指引导管在起源异常的右冠状动脉经桡动脉行经皮冠状动脉介入治疗中的应用

目的评价Judkins Left系列指引导管在起源于左冠状窦的右冠状动脉经桡动脉行经皮冠状动脉介入治疗（PCI）中应用的安全性和有效性。方法 11例患者起源于左冠状窦的右冠状动脉存在狭窄或闭塞病变,均采用右侧桡动脉穿刺,选择JL 3.5或JL 4.0指引导管行右冠状动脉PCI,根据病变情况必要时应用双导丝技术或5进6子母导管技术增加指引导管同轴性和支撑力。慢性闭塞病变常规应用微导管增加指引导丝支撑力,以便于更换导丝。观察手术成功率、并发症和近期随访结果。结果 11例患者中,3例为右冠状动脉慢性闭塞病变,8例为严重狭窄病变,同时合并左冠状动脉病变。所有患者均使用Judkins Left系列指引导管经桡动脉成功完成右冠状动脉PCI,7例应用JL 3.5指引导管,4例应用JL 4.0指引导管。2例在Judkins Left系列指引导管基础上应用5进6子母导管,其中包括1例右冠状动脉慢性闭塞病变;4例应用双导丝技术增加支撑力。3例慢性闭塞病变在微导管支持下均成功行PCI,其中1例先应用双导丝技术、后5进6子母导管增强支撑力。所有患者均成功置入药物洗脱支架,共置入支架19枚,每例右冠状动脉置入支架1~3（1.7±0.7）枚,置入支架长度为18~99（44.1±23.8）mm。术中所有患者均未出现冠状动脉穿孔、栓塞或夹层等并发症,手术成功率100%。住院期间无心脏压塞及支架血栓等并发症。术后临床随访6~12个月,无死亡及心肌梗死等不良心血管事件发生。结论对于右冠状动脉起源于左冠状窦病变,经右侧桡动脉途径,可以选择Judkins Left系列指引导管行PCI,支撑力不够时,可辅以其他增加支撑力的技术,如微导管技术、双导丝技术、子母导管技术等完成手术操作。     

Successful retrieval of a coronary stent dislodged in the brachial artery by means of improvised snare and guiding catheter

This is a case report regarding the retrieval, by means of an improvised snare and guiding catheter, of a stent dislodged in the brachial artery during a transradial coronary intervention. A full-length guiding catheter could not be used to approach the lost stent, which was a mere 30 to 35 cm away from the sheath insertion site at the radial artery, and a commercial snare was not available at the time. Thus, we had to improvise a shortened guiding catheter and a snare, which was formed by folding an angioplasty Whisper guide wire (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL) and was used successfully to snare the stent and retrieve it.     

The "Proxis-Tornus" technique for a difficult-to-cross calcified saphenous vein graft lesion

Severely calcified lesions may occasionally be difficult to cross. We report a case of emergency percutaneous coronary intervention of a calcified saphenous vein graft lesion. We were unable to cross the lesion with a balloon despite using a 7 Fr guiding catheter, a buddy wire and the Tornus catheter, which was likely due to poor guide support. We describe successful crossing and treatment of the lesion by simultaneously using the Proxis proximal occlusion embolic protection device and the Tornus catheter.     

The parallel wire technique to deal with wire-induced dissection of a complex calcified lesion

Coronary dissection is not an uncommon phenomenon during coronary angioplasty. Coronary dissection can occur due to a variety of interventions, including balloon inflation, atherectomy, stent edge dissections, guide catheter trauma and wire-induced dissections, to name a few. Once a severe dissection has occurred, it is often challenging to find the true lumen. The parallel wire technique has been described in the literature for the recanalization of chronic total occlusions and also to recanalize guide catheter-induced spiral dissections of the right coronary artery. We report a novel case of an extensive wire-induced dissection of a calcific and tortuous right coronary artery, which was recanalized using the parallel wire technique.     

The utility of a guideliner™ catheter in retrograde percutaneous coronary intervention of a chronic total occlusion with reverse cart—the “capture” technique

The hybrid approach to percutaneous treatment of chronic total occlusion (CTO) of coronary arteries requires both antegrade and retrograde skillsets. In the retrograde approach, wire externalization through the antegrade guide catheter often requires the use of a short donor guide catheter and a long (>150 cm) micro‐catheter. Despite this there are occasions where the micro‐catheter is unable to reach the anterograde guide catheter because of long collateral channels particularly when the retrograde limb involves a bypass graft. We report such a case where retrograde intervention was used to treat a right coronary artery (RCA) CTO in a patient with stable angina. The retrograde limb involved a saphenous vein graft to the native circumflex artery, which in turn provided collateral channels to the distal RCA. After performing reverse controlled anterograde and retrograde sub‐intimal tracking (CART), the retrograde micro‐catheter was only able to reach the mid RCA. To solve this, a Guideliner? catheter was passed on the antegrade wire and successfully advanced over and “captured” the retrograde micro‐catheter. Wire externalization was then completed and the RCA was subsequently stented with a good final angiographic result. This case illustrates a novel approach to completing wire externalization and provides a further indication for the role of the Guideliner? catheter in treating CTOs. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The brachial artery method to transluminal internal mammary artery angioplasty

A new catheter technique to perform angioplasty of the right or left internal mammary artery coronary graft utilizing the brachial artery approach is described. Utilization of the ipsilateral brachial artery permitted cannulation of the internal mammary artery with preformed polyurethane Teflon-lined guide catheters. The coronary dilatation catheter was passed through the guiding catheter into the internal mammary artery. This technique permitted successful access into the ipsilateral mammary artery in eight patients, the left internal mammary artery graft in five and the right in three patients. The angioplasty procedure was successfully performed in seven of eight cases (spasm of the left internal mammary artery precluded successful dilatation catheter passage in one case). No brachial artery complications were encountered. In two cases, angioplasty was successfully performed in additional coronary vessels. Follow-up of 1-16 months (mean: 7.7 months) revealed no clinical evidence of restenosis. The ipsilateral brachial artery approach utilizing preshaped guiding catheters for visualization and introduction of dilatation catheters into the internal mammary artery graft is a safe and successful approach, and it is an acceptable alternative to the femoral technique.     

Balloon assessment of patent foramen ovale morphology and the modification of tunnels using a balloon detunnelisation technique

Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using a guiding catheter with small diameters may have a favorable impact on vascular access complications and patient morbidity. Here, we report the initial results of PCI using a 4‐Fr coronary accessor. Methods: A total of 31 patients underwent 4‐Fr PCI. Exclusion criteria for 4‐Fr PCI were (1) lesions associated with large side branches requiring wire protection or kissing balloon technique and (2) planned use of angioplasty devices which were not compatible with 4‐Fr catheter. Results: A total of 36 lesions, including 4 chronic total occlusions (CTO), were treated. Access sites included radial artery in 19 patients (61%), brachial artery in 8 (26%), and femoral artery in 4 (13%). Four‐Fr PCI was successful in 34 of 36 lesions (94%) in 29 of 31 patients (94%). One of the two unsuccessful patients was a case of CTO, and the other a case of tortuous right coronary artery. In both, crossover to a 6‐Fr PCI was necessary. Among successfully treated 34 lesions of the 29 patients, coronary stents were deployed in 30 lesions (88%). There were no stent dislodgements or inadequate contrast opacification. No access‐site related complications including radial artery occlusion were observed. Conclusions: PCI with a 4‐Fr coronary accessor is a viable alternative to the use of larger guide catheters. The advent of 4‐Fr stent delivery system may afford a less invasive approach for the treatment of patients with coronary artery disease. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Successful management of a distal vessel perforation through a single 8‐French guide catheter: Combining balloon inflation for bleeding control with coil embolization

Coronary perforation is an infrequent, but serious complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and is more likely to occur with complex (such as chronic total occlusion) PCI and use of atheroablative devices. For main vessel perforations, the “dual catheter” technique is usually employed in which a balloon is delivered over the first guide catheter to stop bleeding, whereas the covered stent is delivered through a second guide catheter. This is required because the large profile of the currently commercially available covered stents precludes fitting within even an 8‐French guide together with a balloon. However, coil embolization for distal artery wire perforation and collateral vessel perforation can be achieved through a microcatheter that can fit along with a balloon within an 8‐French guide catheter, obviating the need for a second guide catheter. We describe a case in which a distal artery wire perforation was successfully treated using a single 8‐French guide catheter. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Successful retrieval of an entrapped guide wire between a deployed coronary stent and severely calcified vessel wall using excimer laser coronary atherectomy

We report the successful retrieval of an entrapped interventional guide wire between a newly deployed coronary stent and severely calcified vessel wall. Using a buddy wire technique, the stent was deployed at high pressure in a culprit lesion of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery. The buddy wire in the LAD artery was entrapped between the deployed stent and severely calcified vessel wall, as it was not removed before stent deployment, and could not be retrieved. Neither balloon catheters nor a microcatheter were able to be advanced behind the stent over the entrapped guide wire. Excimer laser coronary atherectomy (ELCA) was performed within the stent to modify and soften the calcification behind the deployed stent. Consequently, the entrapped guide wire was retrieved successfully and safely. This case illustrates that ELCA can be utilized to retrieve an entrapped guide wire between a deployed stent and calcified vessel wall. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

When one won't do it, use two-double "buddy" wiring to facilitate stent advancement across a highly calcified artery.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of heavily calcified vessels poses several problems including difficulty in delivering stents to the target lesion. Effective strategies include rotational atherectomy and the use of a "buddy" wire, the latter acting as a track that directs the stent away from the vessel wall. There are no reports in the literature of using a second "buddy" wire when one fails. We report on a case of a second "buddy" wire saving the day during PCI of a highly calcified right coronary artery wherein the stent failed to reach the lesion until the second wire was deployed.     

Buddy wire technique: a simple technique for treating calcified lesion during percutaneous coronary intervention: a case report

The buddy wire technique, i.e., using an additional 0.014 inch coronary guidewire along with the one being used to advance balloons, stents or other devices help to accomplish otherwise challenging procedures during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). It improves the balloon or stent support and also provides the guiding catheter stability. It is a simple, quick, easily available and deliverable method for complex lesions during PCI. We report technical aspects of a case of a mid-left anterior descending (LAD) calcified lesion in which a buddy wire facilitated the procedural success of PCI.     

Retained percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty equipment components and their management

Of 5,400 consecutive percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) procedures, 12 patients had complications resulting in retention of 1 or more PTCA equipment components. Eight patients had guidewire fragments retained within the coronary circulation, including one with a second wire segment within the abdominal aorta. A gold band catheter marker was retained within a coronary artery in 1 patient. Four of 5 extraction procedures in these patients were successful, including retrieval of a wire segment totally contained within the distal circumflex coronary artery. Bioptomes were used to retrieve guidewire segments from the abdominal aorta in 4 patients and a knotted guiding catheter from another. At late follow-up, 5 patients with wire segment retained for an extended time within the coronary circulation had no sequelae attributable to the PTCA component debris. We conclude that many fractured intracoronary wires with proximal portion extending into the ascending aorta can be extracted. Guidewire segments retained for a long time totally within the coronary circulation may be benign, particularly when entrapped within total coronary occlusions. Bioptomes can be used effectively to remove wire segments within the abdominal aorta and to assist in the removal of kinked guide catheters.     

应用子母导管介入治疗复杂冠状动脉病变

目的:复杂冠状动脉病变（慢性闭塞性病变、严重迂曲病变、弥漫钙化）的介入治疗往往需要指引导管提供较强支撑力,单纯指引导管自身能提供的支撑力常常不够。本研究旨在初步探索子母导管系统在复杂冠状动脉病变介入治疗中需要强支撑力时应用的有效性与安全性。方法: 选择泰尔茂公司的Heartrail子母导管系统,系由一根5F的子指引导管和一根6F或7F的母指引导管构成。5F Heartrail子指引导管为直头指引导管,其内径为0059 in（1 in=254 mm）,长度为120 cm,比母指引导管长20 cm。使用方法是,母指引导管到位后,送入经皮腔内冠状动脉成形术（PTCA）导丝至冠状动脉内,沿PTCA导丝送入子导管至母导管远段,但不伸出远端,送入PTCA球囊至冠状动脉内,沿球囊导管推送子母导管进入冠状动脉内,根据需要提供的支撑力决定子母导管伸出指引导管的长度。结果: 自2008年6月~2010年12月共选择常规方法导丝、球囊或支架不能通过的复杂冠脉病变共26例（左前降支5例,左回旋支6例,右冠状动脉15例）,其中慢性闭塞性病变6例（23%）,血管迂曲15例（58%）,近段血管有支架植入10例（38%）,钙化病变15例（58%）,其中24例成功完成支架植入,成功率为92%,2例失败,均为球囊不能通过病变处,术中发生空气栓塞2例（8%）,经冠脉注射动脉血后血流通畅,术中无血管夹层及冠脉穿孔等并发症。随访6个月无死亡、再发心梗等心脏事件。结论: 子母导管系统应用于常规方法不能成功的冠脉复杂病变可增加支撑力,有助于远端支架植入,应用有效且安全,但术中需注意空气栓塞的发生。     

A case of robotic assisted percutaneous coronary intervention of the left main coronary artery in a patient with very late baffle stenosis after surgical correction of anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery

A 34‐year‐old woman with history of surgical correction (Takeuchi procedure) of anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) presented with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction of 48% and severe ischemia quantified as 21% by stress Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan. A coronary angiogram revealed ostial 90% stenosis of the left main coronary artery (LMCA). A guidewire (Sion Blue, Asahi Intecc USA, Inc., Santa Ana, CA) was navigated robotically and after pre‐dilation with 3.5 × 15 mm cutting balloon, the lesion length was measured by marking the distal end of the lesion with the balloon marker and withdrawing back robotically to the ostium of the LMCA. A 3.5 × 16 mm drug‐eluting stent was deployed robotically after intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) with good results. The main advantage of robotic percutaneous coronary intervention includes the precise measurement and positioning of the stent. Since the guide catheter and balloon can be adjusted without guide catheter and device interaction, precise placement of stent is possible by advancing the device distal to the lesion, positioning the guide catheter just proximal to the proximal edge of the stent and pulling the guidecatheter and device back as a unit. Final IVUS after post‐dilation with 4.0 noncompliant and 5.0 compliant balloon revealed precise placement at the ostium and full stent expansion.     

A new understanding of chronic total occlusion from a novel PCI technique that involves a retrograde approach to the right coronary artery via a septal branch and passing of the guidewire to a guiding catheter on the other side of the lesion.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusion (CTO) by the antegrade approach is sometimes difficult, especially in the right coronary artery (RCA). We performed successful PCls following a retrograde approach via a septal branch in 2 patients with CTO in RCA. The method involves leading the retrograde guidewire outside the body through an opposite guiding catheter after the wire crosses the target lesion. A balloon or stent could then be delivered retrogradely or antegradely. Even a soft retrograde wire always crosses the lesion through the true lumen, as confirmed by IVUS. Selecting a suitable collateral, a straighter rather than a larger one, is crucial. Our results do not support the current concept regarding CTOs. Probably, the distal fibrous cap is soft and the proximal one has a thin point that soft wires, even blunt ones, can penetrate easily. The distal penetration point appears to connect to the proximal uncalcified thin point. Many channels seem to spread out from the proximal side, tree-like, within the lesion. In the retrograde approach, the wire is unlikely to enter these branch channels. The results suggest that PCI by the retrograde approach may be effective for treating CTOs of RCA.     

Safety and effectiveness of the arani curve guiding catheters in Palmaz-Schatz stenting of right coronary artery stenosis

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Arani curve guiding catheters in Palmaz-Schatz stenting of right coronary artery (RCA) stenosis. A total of 15 stents was implanted in 13 right coronary arteries. For stenting of the RCA with marked superior orientation and shepherd's crook configuration of the proximal segment, a catheter with a 75° primary curve was used. A catheter with a 90° primary curve was usually the best choice for stenting of the RCA with slight superior, horizontal, or inferior orientation of the proximal segment. These catheters provided excellent support in 12 of 13 cases (93%) and resulted in successful stent deployment in these patients. There was one dissection which occurred distal to the stent following poststent balloon dilatation, and which required emergency coronary artery bypass graft surgery. There were no complications attributed to these guiding catheters. An extraordinary formation of pseudostenosis occurred in one patient. We conclude that Arani curve guiding catheters provide strong support and are safe and effective in stenting of RCA stenosis. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.