title: Update on Provisional Technique for Bifurcation Interventions.
abstract: A series of scientific evidence supports the concept that provisional side-branch stenting should be the preferred strategy for percutaneous coronary intervention of bifurcation coronary lesions. However, to date, many interventional cardiologists still consider this technique unsuitable for complex bifurcation lesions. This is mainly due to the fact that provisional stenting may be performed in different ways and several technical refinements may influence the procedural outcome. We here systematically overviewed the arguments which should be considered during the following steps of the provisional strategy: branch wiring, side-branch predilation, "crossover" stenting, proximal optimization, kissing balloon and the side-branch rescue techniques. We suggest that provisional stenting should be regarded as a highly flexible technique which, with specific technical tricks, may allow us to safely treat patients with wide spectrum of bifurcated lesion complexity.
authors: Institute of Cardiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors: Lazzaro
authors: L
authors: Paraggio
authors: Institute of Cardiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. francescoburzotta@gmail.com.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Burzotta
authors: Institute of Cardiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Aurigemma
authors: Institute of Cardiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Trani
mesh_terms: D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D054855:Drug-Eluting Stents; D006801:Humans
keywords: Bifurcated lesions; Percutaneous coronary interventions; Stent