Crusade Microcatheter-Facilitated Reverse Wire Technique for Revascularization of Bifurcation Lesions of Coronary Arteries

Background: This study aims to analyze the lesion characteristics of bifurcations that required reverse wire technique and the efficacy and safety of this technique in approaching branches with a highly angulated take-off.

Methods: We enrolled patients in whom reverse wire technique was used after failed conventional antegrade wiring with the support of a Crusade catheter. The study endpoints were the technical success defined as succeeding in sending the reversely bent wire to the targeted branches without complications and the procedural success defined as succeeding in revascularization of the bifurcation lesions without complications.

Results: Among 158 patients with bifurcation lesions undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention using a Crusade catheter to facilitate wiring, 23 (14.6%) requiring the reverse wire technique in an attempt to access branches of the bifurcation lesions with an acutely angulated take-off were enrolled for analysis. The obtainable angle of take-off was 162.9 ± 4.7 degrees. For the parent vessel, the ostium of the targeted branch, and nontargeted branch, the minimal luminal diameters were 0.3 ± 0.5 mm, 0.4 ± 0.2 mm, and 1.8 ± 0.5 mm, respectively; the diameter stenosis were 88.8 ± 18.5%, 83.0 ± 7.3%, and 32.0 ± 14.5%, respectively. Technical and procedural success was achieved in 22 cases (96% for both).

Conclusions: We showed in the present study that the reverse wire technique is effective and safe for approaching highly angulated branches of bifurcation lesions and consequently for complete revascularization of difficult bifurcation lesions.