Miniaturization of the equipment for percutaneous coronary interventions: a prospective study in 1,200 patients

The aim of this prospective study was to analyze the technical feasibility, success rate and special complications of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) using a newly released 5 French (Fr) guiding catheter with an inner diameter of 0.058 . The study was performed in 1,200 consecutive patients subjected to coronary angioplasty. In 92% of the patients, the intervention was started with a 5 Fr catheter; in 8% of the patients, a 6 or 7 Fr catheter was used. In 5% of the 1,105 patients, the guiding catheter had to be changed during PCI from 5 Fr to a 6 or 7 Fr catheter. In 92% of the patients, the intervention was successfully performed using a 5 Fr catheter. In 3%, the overall success rate was 95% after changing the guiding catheter. Predictors of procedural failure with the 5 Fr guiding catheter were type C lesion morphology and a diameter stenosis of 99% and 100%. The success rate was 90% in acute functional occlusions and 63% in chronic total occlusions (CTO). In CTOs, predictors of procedural failure of the recanalizations using 5 Fr guiding catheters were sidebranch at the point of the total occlusion, complex lesion morphology type C and abrupt morphology of the occlusion. This study confirms that PCI was technically feasible using a 5 Fr guiding catheter in the majority of consecutive patients (success rate: 92%). There were significant differences in the success rate depending on the lesion type and the diameter stenosis.