Buddy microcatheter technique: Could it be the solution for complex coronary lesions?

Abstract

The most common reason for a complex coronary lesion percutaneous coronary intervention failure is inability to cross the lesion with a guidewire, balloon or stent. Various techniques have been tried to solve the problem. We report on a 47-year-old man with subtotal occlusion of the proximal part of the left circumflex-obtus margine artery (LCXOM). He underwent coronary angiography and then percutaneous angioplasty. During the procedure, attempts to advance a wire beyond a target lesion failed due to LCX with a perpendicular angle and a sharp bend. With the use of the buddy microcatheter technique as inspired by buddy wire technique, successful balloon angioplasty and stent implantations were made at target lesion.