Using sheathless standard guiding catheters for transradial percutaneous coronary intervention to treat bifurcation lesions

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility and safety of using sheathless standard guiding catheters for transradial percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to treat bifurcation lesions. METHODS: Coronary bifurcation lesions were identified using angiography in 43 patients with coronary artery disease. These patients underwent transradial PCI using sheathless standard guiding catheters, and the procedural success and complication rates were recorded. RESULTS: All 43 patients underwent successful PCI. The Culotte stenting technique was used in 22 (51.2%) subjects, the Crush stenting technique was used in eight (18.8%) subjects and the crossover stenting implantation technique was used in 13 (30.0%) subjects. Of the 43 coronary artery bifurcation lesions, the final kissing balloon technique was performed in 39 (90.1%) lesions. Adjunctive devices used in the cohort included intravascular ultrasound for 32 (74.4%) patients, thrombus aspiration catheters for two patients and cutting balloon for five patients. During the perioperative period, no major complications associated with vessel puncture or adverse cardiac or cerebrovascular events occurred in any of the 43 patients enrolled in the present study. At day 30, radial artery occlusion was detected in only three (2.5%) patients and radial artery stenosis in four (9.3%) patients. At six-month follow-up, 24 (55.8%) patients exhibited coronary artery patency with no significant intimal hyperplasia. CONCLUSIONS: Transradial PCI using the sheathless technique may be a feasible and safe technique to treat coronary bifurcation lesions.