Percutaneous coronary intervention of chronically occluded saphenous vein grafts using excimer laser atherectomy as an adjuvant therapy.

We present two cases with chronic total occlusion of the saphenous vein graft in two patients with a history of previous bypass surgery with unfavourable anatomic features for recanalization of the native coronary artery. In the first case, two dedicated attempts for recanalization of chronic total occlusion of the native artery failed and in the second case there was not an adequate visualization of the native vessel beyond the occlusion point, not even by contralateral injection. Excimer laser atherectomy was used in both cases as an adjuvant therapy during recanalization of the saphenous vein graft in combination with a distal protection device in order to reduce distal embolization.
Source: Cardiovascular Revascularization Medicine - Category: Cardiology Authors: Source Type: research