A new approach for dilation of bifurcation stenoses: the dual probe technique

When coronary balloon angioplasty is performed on lesions that involve a major bifurcation in the coronary arterial tree, side-branch occlusion often results. Previously described strategies for avoiding this problem have been cumbersome and relatively impractical for routine application. In this report, we describe a simple method of dilating bifurcation lesions, made possible by recent innovations in angioplasty equipment. Two individual Probe dilation catheters are passed through a triple-armed Duostat adapter into a single guiding catheter. The bifurcation lesions are then sequentially traversed with the Probe catheters, after which the balloons can be inflated simultaneously or serially. Our early experience with this technique suggests that it is a safe, simple, and effective method to dilate bifurcation stenoses.