Micro Catheter Target Method, A New Method for Running a Guidewire Through Chronic Total Occlusion of the Coronary Artery

Abstract

We developed a new method, the Micro Catheter (MC) Target Method, for running a guidewire through chronic total occlusion (CTO) of the coronary artery, and succeeded in achieving percutaneous coronary intervention in one case. The case was a male in his early 70’s, with CTO in the right coronary artery AHA segment 2-3. The antegrade MC (ASAHI Corsair) was put into the CTO in seg. 2 as a target, and the retrograde guidewire (ASAHI Gaia Second, a remarkably good torque-transmission guidewire) was advanced to the surface of the antegrade Corsair without difficulty. The Gaia Second was then advanced easily into the true lumen of proximal seg. 2 by sliding it on the extremely slippery surface of the Corsair. The MC target method is an easy way to run a guidewire through the CTO, and is considered as a valuable first-line approach before attempting reverse CART (controlled antegrade retrograde tracking).