Percutaneous intervention on the LIMA: tackling the tortuosity.
Percutaneous intervention on a tortuous left internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft is often challenging as the LIMA develops straightening and  accordioning  after the guidewire and dilatation balloon are placed in the graft, making angiographic assessment of the result impossible if there is no flow through the graft. We describe a new technique that overcomes this problem.
Sharma
Sanjiv
S
Cardiovascular Intervention Center, Division of Cardiology, Cedar Sinai Medical Center, UCLA School Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 93301, USA. sanjiv1122@yahoo.com
Makkar
Raj M
RM
D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000379:methods*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007387:Internal Mammary-Coronary Artery Anastomosis / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008323:Mammary Arteries / Q000637:transplantation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014654:Vascular Patency / Q000502:physiology