Sequential dilatation of septal and left anterior descending artery: single guiding catheter and double guide wire...

A new technique was used to dilate sequentially a bifurcation lesion involving the left anterior descending artery and the origin of a large septal branch. Two steerable long guide wires (300 cm) were advanced through a single guiding catheter and placed across each lesion. The balloon catheters were introduced into the target arteries for angioplasty one at a time over the pre-positioned guide wires. After the septal branch had been successfully dilated, the balloon catheter was completely withdrawn from the manifold and a second balloon catheter positioned in the left anterior descending artery over the guide wire already placed across the stenosis. Such a technique is feasible and safe, and overcomes the potential risks of the conventional kissing balloon technique.