Microcatheter balloon pinning technique to facilitate wiring of a left circumflex chronic total occlusion

Coronary chronic total occlusions (CTOs) are commonly encountered during diagnostic angiograms. With recent advances, especially in experienced centers, success rates with CTO percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have approached 80% or higher. It is important to note that despite these advancements in techniques, CTOs remain difficult to treat. We present a case of a left circumflex artery (LCX) CTO that was successfully revascularized using a microcatheter balloon pinning technique that allowed additional wire support.

A 77-year-old woman status post-two-vessel coronary artery bypass graft surgery presented with new onset angina at rest and was found to have a patent graft to the left anterior descending artery, and an unrevascularized proximal LCX CTO. PCI was attempted with a microcatheter using an antegrade approach. This approach was unsuccessful due to the lack of support and the left circumflex angle. As a result, we used a balloon to pin the microcatheter to the wall of the left main to allow for successful wiring of the LCX. A stent was successfully deployed in the LCX, and the patient was discharged from the hospital 2 days later. At follow-up, the patient was asymptomatic and returned to her usual activity.

After conducting a thorough literature search, it appears that this is the first case that a microcatheter has been pinned with a balloon. We believe that in LCX CTOs that require support, the microcatheter pinning technique can provide adequate support in wiring CTO's. LCX CTOs can be very difficult to treat, we present a case of a LCX CTO that required the use of the microcatheter balloon pinning technique to allow additional wire support for successful wiring and ultimately treatment.