title: Separation of a flexible nose cone tip during directional atherectomy.
abstract: An 82-yr-old white female underwent directional coronary atherectomy of a high-grade proximal left anterior artery stenosis. The nose cone tip of a Simpson Atherocath SCA-EX separated during loading of the device onto a 360-cm exchange wire. This was recognized prior to insertion through a rotating hemostatic valve and exchanged for another device. Catheterization laboratory policy regarding defective devices is briefly discussed.
authors.affiliation: Hospital of St. Raphael, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rashkow
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017225:Atherectomy, Coronary / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000628:therapy; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans