Reverse STAR for retrograde recanalisation in a chronic total coronary artery occlusion present for 21 years.
Reopening chronic total occlusions (CTOs) has been shown to alleviate anginal symptoms as well improve left ventricular ejection fraction. In patients with previous coronary artery bypass grafts, management of CTOs may avoid the need for repeat surgery. A variety of techniques have been described including subintimal tracking and re-entry (STAR) and CART approaches. The anatomy and the length of time that a CTO is present can determine whether it can be reopened. The present report describes a variation on the STAR technique used to open a CTO present for 21 years.
Department of Cardiology, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK. s.nijjer@yahoo.co.uk
Sukhjinder
S
Nijjer
Carlo
C
Di Mario
D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D003097:Collateral Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D023903:Coronary Restenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007387:Internal Mammary-Coronary Artery Anastomosis; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D019233:Retreatment; D014680:Veins / Q000637:transplantation*