A Practical Technique to Advance Stent Through Uncrossable Coronary Lesions: A Prospective Cohort Study

Objective: Uncrossable coronary lesions are still challenging to treat. Several devices and techniques are introduced, including rotational atherectomy, or anchor balloon. However, these methods are expensive, not always available, and associated with lower procedural success and higher major adverse cardiac events. Our study describes a simple, effective method [patience technique (PT)] to advance a stent through uncrossable lesions that has not been described in the literature. Material and Methods: In a prospective study with 24 patients undergoing uncrossable lesion percutaneous coronary intervention with stent advancement failures, we identify PT and describe our experience with PT. The PT is the process of pushing the uncrossed same stent for a prolonged time under an optimum constant force to overcome the intraluminal friction. Results: Twenty-three (95.8%) patients had modified American College of Cardiology/ American Heart Association classification Type C, 22 (91.70%) diffuse [median length: 38 mm (quartiles 31.25-52.25)], 22 (91.70%) eccentric and 20 (83.30%) moderate-extensive calcified lesions. Respectively, 8 (27.59%) of 29 stenosis was in left anterior descending, and right coronary artery, 6 (20.69%) left circumflex coronary artery, 3 (10.35%) D1, 2 (6.90%) left main coronary artery-Cx, 1 (3.45%) LCxOM2 and saphenous vein graft-LCxOM2. The median stent advancement time was 134.00 seconds (quartiles 95.25-178.50). All procedures progressed after using the PT and finally resulted successfully without complications. Conclusion: The PT is feasible, and safe for facilitating the passage of stents through uncrossable lesions. Before advancing percutaneous cardiac intervention techniques, this method could be used advantageously in calcified, diffuse, and eccentric lesions.