Subintimal distal anchor technique for "balloon-uncrossable" chronic total occlusions

J Invasive Cardiol. 2013 Oct;25(10):552-4.

Abstract

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of chronic total occlusion (CTO) presents unique challenges and potential complications. The two most common failure modes are inability to cross the lesion with a guidewire and failure to cross the CTO with a balloon after successful guidewire crossing ("balloon-uncrossable" CTO). We present a creative solution to assist crossing of balloon-uncrossable CTOs that entails use of a balloon placed over a wire that has been advanced though the subintimal space to "anchor" the guidewire that has crossed through the CTO true lumen enabling lesion crossing with a balloon.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / instrumentation*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Coronary Occlusion / diagnostic imaging
  • Coronary Occlusion / surgery*
  • Equipment Design
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Percutaneous Coronary Intervention / methods*
  • Radiography
  • Tunica Intima