title: Percutaneous coronary intervention of chronically occluded saphenous vein grafts using excimer laser atherectomy as an adjuvant therapy.
abstract: We present two cases with chronic total occlusion of the saphenous vein graft in two patients with a history of previous bypass surgery with unfavorable anatomic features for recanalization of the native coronary artery. In the first case, two dedicated attempts for recanalization of chronic total occlusion of the native artery failed and in the second case there was not an adequate visualization of the native vessel beyond the occlusion point, not even by contralateral injection. Excimer laser atherectomy was used in both cases as an adjuvant therapy during recanalization of the saphenous vein graft in combination with a distal protection device in order to reduce distal embolization. The procedures proved successful after stent implantation in the whole length of the saphenous vein grafts and the patients suffered no remarkable events during hospitalization.
authors.affiliation: Interventional Cardiology Unit, Cardiology Division, Joan XXIII University Hospital, Universitat Rovira Virgili, Calle Dr Mallafré Guasch 4, 43007 Tarragona, Spain. Electronic address: mohandesmohsen@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohandes
authors.affiliation: Interventional Cardiology Unit, Cardiology Division, Joan XXIII University Hospital, Universitat Rovira Virgili, Calle Dr Mallafré Guasch 4, 43007 Tarragona, Spain. Electronic address: serchmed7@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.affiliation: Interventional Cardiology Unit, Cardiology Division, Joan XXIII University Hospital, Universitat Rovira Virgili, Calle Dr Mallafré Guasch 4, 43007 Tarragona, Spain. Electronic address: maoto11@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: Interventional Cardiology Unit, Cardiology Division, Joan XXIII University Hospital, Universitat Rovira Virgili, Calle Dr Mallafré Guasch 4, 43007 Tarragona, Spain. Electronic address: crystynama@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.affiliation: Interventional Cardiology Unit, Cardiology Division, Joan XXIII University Hospital, Universitat Rovira Virgili, Calle Dr Mallafré Guasch 4, 43007 Tarragona, Spain. Electronic address: pacofdezmex@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.affiliation: Interventional Cardiology Unit, Cardiology Division, Joan XXIII University Hospital, Universitat Rovira Virgili, Calle Dr Mallafré Guasch 4, 43007 Tarragona, Spain. Electronic address: jguarinos@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guarinos
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Division, Joan XXIII University Hospital, Universitat Rovira Virgili, Calle Dr Mallafré Guasch 4, 43007. Electronic address: abardaji.hj23.ics@gencat.cat.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bardají
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000379:methods; D017225:Atherectomy, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008297:Male; D062645:Percutaneous Coronary Intervention / Q000379:methods; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000637:transplantation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: CTO: chronic total occlusion; ELCA: excimer laser coronary atherectomy; PCI: percutaneous coronary intervention