Spasm, stenosis and shelves:balloon-assisted tracking techniquesin endovascular interventions

ABSTRACT

The technique of balloon-assisted tracking (BAT) has been demonstrated in transradialcardio-angiographic procedures. Using three commonly encountered clinicalscenarios, we outline the technical details of BAT for managing peripheral and cerebralinterventions with challenging vascular access. We describe methods used toovercome vasospasm, stenosis and vascular shelves during interventions for acuteischemic stroke, but these issues are not unique to neuroendovascular cases and thetechniques can be applied across all endovascular interventions. We present threeacute stroke interventions where anatomic challenges were overcome with the useof endovascular BAT. This article describes a novel application for BAT techniques inendovascular interventions to assist with access in peripheral, cervical and intracranialvessels. These methods can also be used to improve access during diagnosticcerebral angiography. BAT is a useful adjunct when navigating catheters throughvasospasm, tortuous anatomy, vascular step-offs or intraluminal plaques.