A Novel Technique of Chronic Total Occlusion Retrograde Wire Crossing by Wiring into the Antegrade Microcatheter

We described a novel transradial retrograde wiring technique to treat chronic total occlusion (CTO) of the left anterior descending artery. When both retrograde wire and kissing wire technique failed to cross the CTO lesion, an antegrade microcatheter was placed in the CTO lesion. Then, a retrograde wire was manipulated into the antegrade microcatheter and subsequently exchanged and wire externalized. This technique appears to be feasible and safe alternative for retrograde wire crossing of the CTO lesion. It is a less traumatic modified version of controlled antegrade and retrograde subintimal tracking (CART) technique that can be attempted before embarking on CART or reverse CART strategy. (C) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.