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

Introduction: 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.

Case report: 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.

Discussion: 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.