Anchor-balloon technique to facilitate stent delivery via the GuideLiner catheter in percutaneous coronary intervention.

AIM: The GuideLiner (GL) is a widely used catheter primarily in complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Deep seating of the GL and distal stent placement may be facilitated by the anchor-balloon technique (ABT).

METHODS: We aimed to prospectively analyze procedural details, technical success, complications and in-hospital outcome in patients who underwent PCI using the GL catheter and the ABT.

RESULTS: A total of 118 patients underwent PCI with the aid of the GL and ABT. Procedure success rate was 95% (112/118) and only seven patients (5.9%) encountered complications. ABT was indicated and successfully used in 29 patients (25%).

CONCLUSION: GL and ABT successfully aided stent delivery in unfavorable and heavily calcified lesions which otherwise may have been considered unsuitable for PCI.