The use of multiple "buddies" during transradial angioplasty in a complex calcified coronary tree.
We report our experience in transradial coronary angioplasty on a tortuous, calcified coronary tree in a patient who had been turned down for surgical revascularization. In view of the complexity of the coronary anatomy, successful completion of the procedure required plaque modification with the use of rotational atherectomy in the left anterior descending coronary artery, and the use of an inflated buddy balloon in the circumflex artery. The latter represents a novel, simple, and inexpensive technique, which may allow successful advancing of coronary stents in calcified and tortuous coronary arteries.
Department of Cardiology, Institut de Cardiologie de Québec, Hôpital Laval, Quebéc, Canada. ali@dana-md.com
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Barbeau
D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000379:methods*; D017225:Atherectomy, Coronary; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000628:therapy; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017534:Radial Artery