Abstract
Background: We have recently reported a novel percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) system using a hydrophilicβcoated sheathless guiding catheter (Virtual 3βFr, Medikit, Tokyo, Japan), which provides us with less invasive angioplasty and a puncture site injury equivalent to a conventional 3βFr introducer sheath. Here, we report the initial results of PCI using this novel system. Methods: A total of 36 coronary artery lesions of 27 patients were treated by using a virtual 3βFr PCI system. Procedural outcomes of virtual 3βFr PCI were retrospectively evaluated. Results: The mean age was 73.0 Β± 8.7 years (range, 46β84 years), and 15 were men (56%). Access sites included the radial artery in 18 patients (67%), the brachial artery in eight patients (30%), and the femoral artery in 1 patients (4%). Among 36 lesions, seven were chronic total occlusions, and a virtual 3βFr PCI was successful in 33 lesions (92%). Among the successfully treated 33 lesions, coronary stents were deployed in 32 (97%), and intravascular ultrasound examination was performed in 19 (58%). Hemostasis was achieved immediately after PCIs in all cases. No accessβsite related complications including radial artery occlusion were observed. Conclusions: The performance of a virtual 3βFr PCI system appears to be comparable to one using a regular 5βFr guiding catheter while the punctureβsite damage remains equivalent to that of a 3βFr introducer sheath. Virtual 3βFr PCI may have a potential to serve as a minimally invasive strategy for the treatment of coronary artery diseases. Β© 2010 WileyβLiss, Inc.