“Armored” aspiration catheter technique to enhance aspiration catheter delivery in challenging thrombus‐containing lesions

Use of aspiration catheters can improve the outcomes of percutaneous coronary interventions in thrombus‐containing lesions, yet delivery of such catheters may be difficult, especially in tortuous and calcified vessels and when guide catheter support is poor. We report two cases demonstrating successful application of a novel “armored” aspiration catheter technique, in which a 0.035 inch guidewire is inserted via the aspiration lumen to render the aspiration catheter stiffer and facilitate delivery to the target vessel thrombotic segment. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.