title: Successful percutaneous interventions with limited crossing of the penetration catheter into severe coronary artery stenoses.
abstract: The novel Tornus penetration catheter, which has recently been approved by the FDA, is designed to cross difficult coronary lesion types such as chronic total occlusions. Published case studies on the Tornus have all demonstrated successful lesion crossing by the penetration catheter, thereby allowing for optional guidewire exchange and successful procedural outcomes. In the present two case reports, the penetration catheter demonstrates its effectiveness in the necessary guidewire exchange for rotational atherectomy without fully crossing the coronary lesions. In advanced coronary stenoses such as those with chronic total occlusions, severely stenotic, heavily calcified, long, diffuse lesions, the ability to perform guidewire exchange with only limited or partial lesion penetration with the Tornus device is invaluable. This facet of the penetration catheter adds to the overall armamentarium of options in the percutaneous treatment of advanced coronary artery stenoses.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Hawaii Region Kaiser Permanente, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. paul.c.ho@kp.org
authors.forename: Paul C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017225:Atherectomy, Coronary / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D002404:Catheterization / Q000592:standards*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index