ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: An autopersion balloon catheter(ABC) was developed to allow passive myocardial perfusion during balloon inflation, through a central and multiple side hole in the shaft proximal and distal to the balloon. The ABC affords greater safety in performing PTCA of high risk stenosis involving the near ostium of the right coronary, the proximal left anterior descending(LAD) just proximal to the left circumflex artery and left main equivalent coronary arteries. METHODS AND RESULTS: In case 1, a seventy five percent right coronary ostial stenosis was reduced to less than 10 percent residual narrowing after PTCA with the ABC. In case 2, a seventy five percent proximal LAD(just proximal to left cirumflex artery) stenosis was reduced to less than 20 percent residual narrowing after PTCA with the ABC. In case 3, coronary angiogram demonstrated a 40 percent stenosis in the distal left main coronary artery as well as 80 percent stenosis in the proximal LAD.PTCA with the ABC was performed without significant hemodynamic compromise, achieving a less than 20 percent and 40 percent residual stenosis of the distal left main and proximal LAD respectively. CONCLUSIONS: 3 patients who would have required CABG had PTCA using the ABC.This ABC significatly reduces ischemic symptoms and signs during PTCA, allowing prolonged of balloon inflation.