title: Use of a second buddy wire during percutaneous coronary interventions: a simple solution for some challenging situations.
abstract: The buddy wire technique, i.e. the use of a second 0.014 inch guide wire placed alongside the one employed to advance balloons and stents inside the coronary artery during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), may help in a series of procedural challenges during PCI. Indeed, by improving both the stability of the guiding catheter and the support for balloon and stent, a buddy wire use is sometimes the simplest way to accomplish a successful procedure. In this paper, we discuss technical aspects of some specific circumstances frequently encountered during PCI, in which a buddy wire may be helpful. These include: 1) The reduction of balloon slippage during angioplasty for in-stent restenosis; 2) insufficient back-up of the guiding catheter; 3) stenting of lesions located in vessels with proximal tortuosities/angulations; 4) stenting of lesions distally located in the vessel; 5) facilitation in the positioning of distal protection devices; 6) stenting of a lesion distally located from a previously implanted stent or from a coronary segment with both calcification and sharp bend; 7) PCI on coronary arteries with anomalous origin. Because of its simplicity, low cost, and availability, the use of a buddy wire should be considered when dealing with the aforementioned conditions during PCI procedures.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiology, Catholic University, Via Prati Fiscali 158, 00141, Rome, Italy. f.burzotta@eudoramail.com
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Burzotta
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trani
authors.forename: Mario Attilio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mazzari
authors.forename: Rocco
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mongiardo
authors.forename: Antonio Giuseppe
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Rebuzzi
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buffon
authors.forename: Giampaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Niccoli
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Biondi-Zoccai
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Romagnoli
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ramazzotti
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schiavoni
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Crea
mesh_terms: D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans