Abstract

Coronary guidewires for chronic total occlusion procedures: function and design

Author(s): CE Buller

Guidewires provide the primary interface between the hands of the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) operator and their therapeutic target, the coronary arteries. No other piece of PCI equipment directly influences the progress of a coronary procedure, modulates and addresses its specific technical challenges and contributes to the eventual success or failure of a procedure. For experienced operators, guide-wires become personal instruments that convey a specific feel and predictability of performance and engender strong preferences.