Utility of Pilot wire in angioplasty of tortuous and highly angulated coronary arteries

Cathet Cardiovasc Diagn. 1996 Mar;37(3):268-70; discussion 271. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0304(199603)37:3<268::AID-CCD10>3.0.CO;2-E.

Abstract

We present a case of severe proximal circumflex artery tortuosity with two 90 degrees bends and then a tight stenosis in the mid part of first obtuse marginal branch. Conventional method used to cross the lesion by wire failed. However, a commercially available new wire with ability to change the degree of tip angulation (Pilot wire, USCI Bard) was then used successfully to cross the stenosis. In addition, the wire straightened the tortuosities and provided good trackability to the balloon. Thus, this new wire is a valuable addition to the angioplasty armamentarium.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / instrumentation*
  • Coronary Disease / diagnostic imaging
  • Coronary Disease / therapy*
  • Coronary Vessels / pathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Radiography