The Tracker catheter: a new vascular access system

Technologic advances in dilation equipment have been important in improving angioplasty success rates and in expanding the indications of dilation. Despite these improvements, approximately 7% to 10% of attempted dilations may ultimately fail because of inability to cross the culprit lesion. As angioplasty techniques are applied to an increasingly complex cohort of patients, the ultimate success of a given procedure depends more and more on the ability of the operator to select the appropriate equipment for a given procedure. We report the unique application of a commercially available perfusion catheter which may improve patient outcome during complex angioplasty.