We ran across a case study from Endovascular Today reported a 63 year old woman who was treated with a long balloon catheter to accompany cryoplasty for the treatment of a heavily calcified occlusion in the right superficial femoral artery (SFA).
An extra support .018” guidewire was used to reach the lesion and penetrate, with difficulty, halfway through the occlusion. At this time a 4.0mm x 100mm balloon catheter was inserted and tracked to the end of the guidewire. The guidewire and balloon were then advanced through the remainder of the occlusion. The balloon catheter was dilated several times for initial dilation of the 25cm length diseased segment. After dilating the vessel cryoplasty was used to treat the artery.
Follow-up angiography showed positive results with only mild residual stenosis at the previously occluded site. 8 weeks after the procedure the patient had no limitations due to due to claudication.
Typically heavily calcified lesions require a .035” guidewire and support from the guide catheter to cross the lesion. In this case the crossing was successful using only a .018” guidewire and a low profile, tapered tip PTA balloon. In this case ability to proceed with a 0.018” guidewire and PTA balloon catheter was an advantage.
Our Forte Long Balloon catheter is the perfect product for crossing and initial dilation of CTO long lesion occlusions in the superficial femoral artery. The Forte Long Balloon catheter tracks along a .018” guidewire, has a tapered distal tip, and is available in a variety of diameters (4-12mm) and balloon lengths of 100-200mm. Keep this in mind the next time your tackling a difficult lesion and ask your cath lab about Forte Peripheral Long Balloon.
