Successful crossing of the target coronary lesion with a guidewire is an essential step in percutaneous coronary intervention. Guidewire advancement can be challenging, especially in tortuous, severely stenosed, and heavily calcified lesions. The use of a microcatheter significantly improves the guidewire steerability and penetration force, but it requires specific training and is associated with increased procedural costs. We present the first in vivo experience with a new type of rapid exchange microcatheter (Micro Rx, Interventional Medical Device Solutions), describe bench testing of combinations of guidewires and microcatheters, and suggest potential applications.
Keywords: complex procedures; microcatheter; penetration power; subtotal occlusion; tortuosity.