Project description:Purpose Practical challenges are encountered in percutaneous intravascular procedures when applied to markedly angulated branching vessels. Herein, we introduced a folded-loop guidewire remodeling technique–the guidewire-shaping technique–to overcome difficult catheterization. Materials and Methods First, the tip of a 0.014-inch micro-guidewire was manually shaped like a pigtail loop. Second, the shaped guidewire was introduced into the microcatheter and was preloaded into the hollow metal introducer for suitability with the microcatheter hub. Gentle rotation of the guidewire after release from the microcatheter can create the preshaped pigtail loop configuration. On pulling back, the loop loosened, the configuration was changed to a small U-shaped tip, and the guidewire tip was easily introduced into the target artery. Results Between December 2019 and January 2022, the described technique was used in 64 patients (male/female, 49/15; mean age, 66.8 ± 9.5 years) for selective arterial embolization, after failed attempts with the conventional selection technique. The technique was successful in 63/64 patients (98%). The indications of embolization include transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, gastrointestinal bleeding, hemoptysis, trauma-induced bleeding, and tumor bleeding. Conclusion The folded-loop guidewire remodeling technique facilitates the catheterization of markedly angulated branching arteries; when usual catheterization method fails. Graphical Abstract
Project description:BackgroundAntegrade dissection and reentry (ADR) is an effective technique for wire passage in chronic total occlusion (CTO), and in recent years, the effectiveness of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided tip detection (TD)-ADR has been reported. However, the expansion of the subintimal space serves as a significant obstacle to the success of ADR, posing a limitation to the procedure.Case summaryWe present the first case of using IVUS-guided TD-ADR with the subintimal transcatheter withdrawal (STRAW) technique. The patient was a 68-year-old Asian female with effort angina pectoris and a CTO in the middle section of the right coronary artery (RCA). Two previous attempts at percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for the RCA at another hospital were unsuccessful. During the third attempt PCI, the antegrade wire migrated into the subintimal space. To address this, we performed IVUS-guided TD-ADR using the Conquest Pro 12 Sharpened Tip (CP12ST; Asahi Intecc, Aichi, Japan) wire. However, due to the expansion of the subintimal space, we were unable to puncture the true lumen. To reduce the subintimal space, we employed the STRAW technique, which allowed successful puncture of the true lumen using the CP12ST wire. Finally, stenting was performed, resulting in satisfactory antegrade blood flow.DiscussionIntravascular ultrasound-guided TD provides accurate guidance for puncturing in ADR procedures, but the expansion of the subintimal space remains a significant challenge. The STRAW technique offers a solution by reducing the subintimal space and enabling successful puncture of the true lumen during IVUS-guided TD-ADR.
Project description:We herein describe a 49-year-old woman without significant cardiovascular risk factors who was transferred to our hospital with sudden onset of chest pain. The patient was diagnosed with non-ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction, and coronary angiography revealed a dissection at the proximal site of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) extending from the left main trunk (LMT) suggestive of spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD). Because coronary flow was impaired after contrast injection and the patient had chest pain with ST elevation, urgent percutaneous coronary intervention was performed. The first guide wire was initially introduced from the LMT to the distal LAD, but intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging revealed that the guide wire had passed through the true lumen of the left coronary artery ostium, false lumen at the ostium of the left circumflex artery, and true lumen of the distal LAD. We then reinserted another guide wire using an IVUS-guided rewiring technique from the true lumen of the LMT to the distal LAD. Finally, a drug-eluting stent was deployed to cover the dissected segment, and final coronary angiography revealed acceptable results with a patent left circumflex artery. This case report highlights that physicians should consider SCAD among the differential diagnoses in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome, particularly in young women. In the present case, IVUS played a pivotal role in not only detecting the arterial dissection but also correctly introducing the guide wire into the true lumen.
Project description:Coronary angiography and angioplasty are relatively safe procedures but not without complications. We report an interesting case of effort angina taken for angioplasty of the LCX and assessment of fractional flow reserve (FFR) for the LAD artery lesion in which the tip of the pressure wire was broken and embolised to the LCX while trying to retrieve it. This is the first case report using a hybrid technique with a slip catheter for the successful retrieval of a fractured FFR wire.
Project description:Background:Stent thrombosis (ST) is a rare, but potentially fatal complication. Procedural problems, such as stent under-dimension/under-expansion or dual antiplatelet drug resistance may result into ST. These conditions are more frequent during primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Case summary:A 60-year-old male patient presented to our hospital with an inferior STEMI. In the emergency department, a dual antiplatelet therapy was administered with ticagrelor 180?mg and aspirin 250?mg IV. During the observation, the patient experienced a ventricular fibrillation. Urgent coronary angiography showed an occlusion of the proximal right coronary artery. Thrombus aspiration was performed followed by implantation of one drug-eluting stent. After 45?min early ST occurred and was treated by immediate thrombus aspiration and post-dilatation. Intravascular ultrasound sonography (IVUS) showed severe strut malapposition due to a partial crush after post-dilatation. Since it was not possible to directly insert the first guidewire in the stent lumen, the IVUS probe was placed between the vessel wall and the crushed stent to guide the manoeuvre. Discussion:Crushed stent is a rare complication, being caused by an incorrect passage of the guidewire between the stent's struts and the vessel wall in case of severe underexpansion. In this case, an IVUS-guided re-entry could be an option to gain the stent true lumen and avoid a second stent implantation.
Project description:Endoscopists frequently have difficulty approaching biliary lesions using biopsy forceps. The aim of this study was not only to describe an easy technique for biliary biopsy assisted by a looped guidewire but also to present preliminary results regarding its safety and feasibility. A preliminary proof-of-concept study was performed at a single tertiary medical center. Between August 2019 and January 2020, 13 patients with bile duct strictures underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with a new loop guidewire-assisted forceps approach technique. The efficacy and safety were evaluated using the success rate as the primary outcome and diagnostic yield and complication rates as secondary outcomes. The tissue sampling success rate was 100% (13/13). All samples were acceptable for histopathological analysis. Eleven specimens were confirmed to be adenocarcinomas. After reexamination of the remaining 2 patients, all cases were eventually diagnosed as being malignant. The sensitivity of the single procedure was 84.6% (11/13). There were 2 patients with mild hyperamylasemia, but there were no severe complications with respect to safety. This new technique could enhance the success rate and diagnostic yield and reduce the risk of failure when using the biopsy forceps approach during ERCP.
Project description:Endovascular therapy (EVT) was performed in two cases with chronic total occlusion (CTO) of superficial femoral artery. In these cases, angioscopy was deployed in the backyard of the CTO lesion from popliteal artery retrogradely, then the guidewire was advanced from antegrade. When the wire crossed the distal of the CTO lesion, the wire penetration was clearly visualized by the retrograde-angioscopy. Therefore, wire crossing of CTO into the distal true lumen was certainly confirmed, and EVT was successful. <Learning objective: Angioscopy-guided endovascular therapy for chronic total occlusion was useful not only to evaluate thrombus and plaque in situ visually, but also to successfully perform guidewire crossing.>.
Project description:The E-nside multibranched stent graft (Jotec GmbH, Hechingen, Germany) is the first and only off-the-shelf thoracoabdominal prosthesis with precannulated inner branches. Usually, after the device deployment, target vessel stenting will be facilitated by antegrade inner branch cannulation to retrieve the precannulated guide. In the literature, the use of antegrade access has been associated with the potential risk of cerebral and systemic embolization. Therefore, other retrograde techniques have been described. We have reported a new retrograde approach using a precannulated through-and-through femorofemoral wire technique for target vessel catheterization.