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Updated: May 11, 2026

Interventional Diagnostic Procedure: A Practical Guide for the Assessment of Coronary Vascular Function
Published on: March 15, 2022
[Choice of tools for stenting the left coronary artery trunk: a whim or a need?]
Insights
Left coronary artery trunk stenting is effective, with Empira dilatation balloon catheters proving useful for kissing dilatations. Careful patient preparation ensures successful stenting and improved angina functional class post-procedure.
Area of Science:
- Interventional Cardiology
- Vascular Surgery
Background:
- The left coronary artery trunk (LCA) is a critical vessel, and its stenting presents unique challenges.
- Bifurcation stenting techniques are increasingly employed for complex coronary lesions.
Observation:
- This study evaluated 47 patients undergoing left coronary artery trunk stenting.
- Specific techniques like T-stenting and crush stenting were utilized in a subset of patients.
- Kissing dilatation with Empira dilatation balloon catheters was assessed for feasibility.
Findings:
- A 100% angiographic success rate was achieved with no fatal outcomes.
- Significant improvement in angina functional class was observed, with over 90% of patients in FC 0-II post-procedure.
- Empira dilatation balloon catheters were found to be suitable for kissing dilatations in LCA stenting.
Implications:
- LCA stenting is a viable and safe option for selected patients.
- Empira catheters facilitate complex kissing dilatation techniques, potentially improving procedural outcomes.
- Meticulous pre-procedural planning is crucial for successful LCA stenting.
Objective:
To study the results of stenting the left coronary artery trunk and to determine the possibility of using Empira dilatation balloon catheters for kissing dilatation.
Subject And Methods:
The left coronary artery trunk was stented in 47 patients, which constituted 1.39% of the total number of the stented patients. Bifurcation stenting was performed in 48.9%. T and crush stenting procedures were used in 4 and 2 patients, respectively. Stenting of the left coronary artery trunk with transition to the orifice of the anterior interventricular artery or the circumflex artery was carried out in 12 and 5 patients, respectively.
Results:
The angiographic success rate was 100%; there were no fatal outcomes. After endovascular treatment, 20 (42.5%) patients belonged to Functional Class (FC) 0-I angina; 24 (51.1%) and 3 (6.4%) were diagnosed with FC II and III, respectively.
Conclusion:
It was ascertained that it was expedient to use the Empira dilatation balloon catheters for kissing dilatation. The left coronary artery trunk can be successfully stented if the patent is carefully prepared for the intervention.
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