GuideLiner catheter application in complex coronary lesions: experience of two centers.

OBJECTIVE: GuideLiner catheter provides adequate back-up support and a coaxial guide engagement for stent delivery in complex coronary anatomies. In this study, we aimed to present one of the largest series of experience with GuideLiner catheter utilized for challenging percutaneous coronary interventions in two centers.

METHODS: We retrospectively collected the coronary angiography records of 64 patients between January 1, 2012 and August 1, 2014 in whom conventional techniques failed for stent delivery and 5-in-6 Fr GuideLiner catheter was used for this purpose. The data were assessed in terms of the lesion characteristics, procedural success, and complications. Descriptive statistics and frequencies were used in statistical analyses.

RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 69.8±10.0 years. Femoral approach was employed in all cases. Lesions were mostly (90.6%) class B2 or C according to the AHA/ACC lesion classification. The GuideLiner catheter was mainly used to increase back-up of the guide catheter (85.9%), and in 95.3% of all cases, the procedure was successful. The mean depth of the GuideLiner catheter intubation was 30.3±21.6 mm. None of the patients had coronary dissection or major complications.

CONCLUSION: In this study, we presented a large registry of two centers used the GuideLiner catheter. The device effectively allowed stent delivery in challenging lesions, where conventional techniques have failed, without major complications.