Usefulness of Corsair microcatheter to cross stent struts in bifurcation lesions

Side branch compromise after stenting in bifurcation lesions is a matter of concern. It may happen that even low-profile balloon catheters do not cross stent struts after rewiring. The Corsair catheter is a hybrid catheter that has features of a microcatheter and a support catheter. The present study evaluated usefulness of the Corsair catheter to facilitate advancing a low-profile balloon catheter through stent struts in bifurcation lesions. After rewiring, low-profile balloon catheters failed to cross stent struts of 29 bifurcation lesions. The Corsair microcatheter successfully crossed stent struts in all lesions except one (97 %) where a stent was implanted to treat in-stent restenosis (stent-in-stent). Low-profile balloon catheters were able to advance into the side branch of all bifurcation lesions where the Corsair microcatheter crossed stent struts. In conclusion, the Corsair microcatheter may be utilized if low-profile balloon catheters are unable to cross stent struts in bifurcation lesions.