Jailed balloon protection: a new technique to avoid acute side-branch occlusion during provisional stenting of bifurcated lesions. Bench test report and first clinical experience

Technical Aspects of Provisional Stenting in Percutaneous Treatment of Complex Bifurcation Lesions

Drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation using the 'provisional' approach is the gold standard for percutaneous treatment of patients with unselected bifurcated lesions. Nevertheless, many operators still consider the provisional approach unsuitable for coronary patients with complex bifurcation anatomies. Yet, the provisional approach may be so differently carried out that its procedural outcome is often unpredictable. Some technical refinements may help to anticipate or manage procedural difficulties, which may occur during the management of complex patients. We sought to overview the issues related with DES selection as well as some technical points, which may increase the effectiveness of provisional stenting. In particular, the DES characteristics influencing bifurcation interventions and the technical refinements, which may be considered during a provisional stenting procedure are discussed. Indeed, main vessel stent sizing, proximal optimisation, side branch protection modality, side branch rewiring, kissing balloon and side branch rescue techniques are all pivotal to increase the safety and efficacy of the provisional strategy especially in the setting of complex anatomies and patients.

How to solve difficult side branch access?

Safe guidewire placement in the main vessel (MV) and in the side branch (SB) does represent the key point for successful percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in bifurcated lesions. During bifurcation PCI, SB wiring is systematically performed as a first step and is often repeated ("rewiring") during the procedure in order to treat the SB after MV stenting. Wiring and rewiring are crucial phases of bifurcation PCI which require, in the most complex cases, specific operator experience. In the present paper, the classic SB wiring techniques necessary for routine bifurcation interventions (antegrade and pullback wiring technique) as well as "advanced" wiring techniques ("reverse wire" technique, Venture-facilitate wiring, MV balloon predilation or debulking) are described. Moreover, the rewiring technique is discussed in detail, with particular attention on the tips and tricks which may facilitate the achievement of optimal result with provisional stenting (pullback rewiring) and help manage bail out situations like acute SB flow impairment after MV stenting.