Technique for shortening angioplasty guide catheter length when therapeutic catheter fails to reach target stenosis.
Occasionally, the usable length of a balloon angioplasty or other therapeutic catheter is insufficient to reach the target stenosis. We describe a technique of shortening the guide catheter from the proximal end in vivo without removing the coronary guidewire. This permits greater projection of the therapeutic catheter to reach distal stenoses.
Stratienko
A A
AA
Heart, Lung and Vascular Center, Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, La Jolla, CA 92037.
Ginsberg
R
R
Schatz
R A
RA
Teirstein
P S
PS
D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans