PULLBACK ATHERECTOMY (PAC) FOR THE TREATMENT OF COMPLEX BIFURCATION CORONARY-ARTERY DISEASE

We report initial successful results using a novel retrograde cutting (pullback) atherectomy catheter (PAC) to treat complex bifurcation cor onary artery disease, in 2 patients, In one case a bifurcation lesion involving the left anterior descending and a large diagonal branch was treated without the need for two-wire or kissing-balloon technique, I n the second case a high-grade eccentric lesion of the right coronary artery at the site of a right ventricular marginal branch was treated successfully. This report describes the first clinical application of pullback atherectomy in human coronary circulation, and suggests that this device may play a useful role in the treatment of complex bifurca tion coronary artery disease. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.