Role of antoperfusion balloon in endovascular interventions

The development of the autoperfusion balloon catheter provided the ability to perform prolonged balloon inflations during angioplasty procedures. For a number of years the autoperfusion balloon catheter was successfully used to treat acute complications of percutaneous coronary interventions. Howeve r, with the advent of stent implantation procedures and the use of platelet glycoprotein Ilb/IIIa receptor inhibitors, the role of autoperfusion ballo on angioplasty has decreased. However, the perfusion balloon may have an im portant role in angioplasty and/or stenting of coronary lesions with unfavo rable coronary anatomy and also in carotid angioplasty. The perfusion ballo on also may be helpful for the treatment of in-stent restenosis. In the fut ure the autoperfusion balloon or its principle may hold promise in emerging interventions, such as gene therapy and vascular brachytherapy where prolo nged interrupted of coronary circulation is required.