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Coronary debulking devices are essential in obtaining optimal results in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for severely calcified lesions. However, since the introduction of these devices in Japan, the presence of full-time cardiovascular surgeons in their own facilities has been an essential condition (on-site surgical back-up) as the facility criteria for their use. The criteria were revised in April 2020, making their implementation possible at our hospital. Between May 2020 and January 2022, we administered PCIs using rotational atherectomy (RA) for 33 lesions in 28 patients and orbital atherectomy system (OAS) for 36 lesions in 27 patients. The most preferred strategy in our hospital is OAS via the distal radial approach using a 6Fr Glide sheath or RA via the femoral approach using a 7Fr sheath. The percentages of usable imaging modality as an initial device without lesion modification were 57.1 and 66.7% in the RA and OAS groups, respectively. In the RA procedure, 1.5- and 2.0-mm Rota burrs were more frequently adopted for the initial and second sessions, respectively. In the OAS procedure, the debulking was always initiated at a low speed. Nineteen of the 27 patients underwent additional high-speed debulking. Pre-procedural quantitative coronary angiographic analysis revealed that the minimal lumen diameter was significantly smaller in the RA than in the OAS group. Debulking procedures were successful in all patients excluding two instances of procedure-related complications in the RA group, one of which was coronary perforation safely treated via covered stent deployment without any resulting hemodynamic instability. Our early experience with coronary debulking devices with off-site surgical back-up clearly reveals the safety and feasibility of this procedure in a newcomer facility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In practical settings of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), we sometimes encounter difficulty in introducing a guidewire (GW) to the markedly angulated side branch (SB), and the reverse wire technique is considered as a last resort to overcome such a situation. We analyzed 12 cases that underwent PCI with dual-lumen microcatheter-facilitated reverse wire technique between January 2013 and July 2016. We retrospectively investigated the lesion’s characteristics and the details of the PCI procedures, and discussed tips about the use of this technique. The SB that exhibits both a smaller take-off angle and a larger carina angle is considered to be the most suitable candidate for this technique. The first step of this technique involves the delivery of the reverse wire system to the target bifurcation. However, most cases exhibit significant stenosis proximal to the bifurcation, which often hampers the delivery of the reverse wire system. Because the sharply curved reverse wire system is easier to pass the stenosis as compared to the roundly curved system, we recommend a sharp curve should be adopted for this technique. On the other hand, it is sure that device delivery is much easier on the GW with a round curve as compared to that with a sharp curve. Therefore, it is important to modify the details of this procedure on a case-by-case basis according to the lesion’s characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We encountered a case of blow-out type coronary perforation at the calcified stenosis of left anterior descending artery. First, we started immediate balloon tamponade through the initial guiding catheter (GC) with a GuideLiner catheter. Next, we introduced a second GC with a GuideLiner catheter and successfully deployed a covered stent. Two sets of the GC with GuideLiner catheter facilitated us to simultaneously perform temporary hemostasis with balloon tamponade and rapid delivery of a covered stent. To alternately manipulate the GuideLiner catheters, back and forth with seesaw-like motion enabled us to minimize the interruption of balloon tamponade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An 80-year-old Japanese woman was referred to our department because of bilateral intermittent claudication. Diagnostic angiography and computed tomography revealed total occlusion with severe calcification in the terminal aorta and bilateral common iliac arteries. We performed endovascular treatment. Although a guidewire antegradely passed the occlusive lesion of the left CIA, no balloon or microcatheter could pass the lesion. Therefore, we used the GuideLiner catheter to facilitate balloon catheter delivery. The GuideLiner catheter advanced into the occlusive lesion, and the balloon crossed the lesion. This is a first report of the use of the GuideLiner catheter in peripheral intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We encountered a case of chronic total in-stent occlusion which involving an abrupt-type entry at an obtuse marginal branching ostium. It is usually difficult to antegradely penetrate this kind of proximal fibrous cap. Therefore, we adopted a reverse bent wiring technique with a Crusade catheter and successfully completed all procedures. This technique is very simple but can be very effective in specific situations in daily percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Many PCI operators may empirically adopt this kind of wire manipulation technique. However, this kind of technique has never been officially reported to our knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The entrapment, fracture, and dislodgement of catheterization devices during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are rare complications, for which cardiac surgery is sometimes required. Here, we encountered a rare but instructive case of balloon catheter fracture during PCI. Although there have been some reports of guidewire fracture in PCI, reports on balloon catheter fracture are very rare to our knowledge. A simulation test to examine the mechanism of balloon catheter fracture revealed that overuse of the balloon catheter, both for kissing balloon inflation and balloon anchor, was highly likely to have been the cause of the fracture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]