title: Recanalization of chronic, totally occluded coronary arteries by new angioplasty systems.
abstract: The benefit and safety of new angioplasty equipment as compared with the conventional guidewire approach was evaluated in 154 consecutive patients. with chronic, totally occluded coronary arteries. The protocol followed a stepwise design: first, conventional guidewires and low-profile balloons were used, followed by "balloon-on-the-wire" systems (Probe, Ace) or by a shaft-enforced, tip-deflecting catheter (Omniflex). In 97 patients with occlusions of 2 to 12 weeks' duration, recanalization was achieved in 51 patients (53%) with the conventional approach and in 29 patients with the new devices (balloon-on-the-wire [n = 5], Omniflex [n = 24]), thereby raising the success rate to 82%. In 57 occlusions of greater than 12 weeks' duration, the recanalization attempt was successful in 58%, mediated in 16 patients (28%) by the Omniflex catheter and in 5 patients by balloon-on-the-wire systems. There were no life-threatening complications and only 1 (0.6%) emergency bypass operation was necessary. New angioplasty devices are therefore of considerable value in the attempt to improve the results of coronary angioplasty in chronic total occlusions.
authors: Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Hamburg, West Germany.
authors: C W
authors: CW
authors: Hamm
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Kupper
authors: K H
authors: KH
authors: Kuck
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Hofmann
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Bleifeld
mesh_terms: D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors