title: The Tracker catheter: a new vascular access system.
abstract: Technologic advances in dilation equipment have been important in improving angioplasty success rates and in expanding the indications of dilation. Despite these improvements, approximately 7% to 10% of attempted dilations may ultimately fail because of inability to cross the culprit lesion. As angioplasty techniques are applied to an increasingly complex cohort of patients, the ultimate success of a given procedure depends more and more on the ability of the operator to select the appropriate equipment for a given procedure. We report the unique application of a commercially available perfusion catheter which may improve patient outcome during complex angioplasty.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Diseases and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Hibbard
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Holmes
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000628:therapy; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012086:Reoperation; D017211:Treatment Failure