Initial Experience with the “Big‐Skinny” Angioplasty Catheter

Abstract

We describe our initial experience with the "Big Skinny" angioplasty catheter, currently only available as an investigational device and in sizes of 4.5, 5, and 6 mm. Six patients with severe angina pectoris were successfully dilated with this angioplasty catheter and have remained asymptomatic up until a mean follow-up period of 6 months. However, because of the large profile of the catheter, sufficient back-up with an adequate guiding catheter should be obtained and predilation with a smaller angioplasty catheter should be performed. The use of this catheter may be a more simple alternative for the treatment of oversized vessel stenosis than the "hugging balloon" technique or directional atherectomy. Otherwise, it may be considered as an adjunct technique in order to optimize the angiographic result after stenting or directional arthrectomy in this particular indication.

Drug coated balloon angioplasty in elderly patients with small vessel coronary disease

“…Unfortunately, elderly patients are often excluded from clinical trials [Roth et al 2012]. Nevertheless, coronary angioplasty remains the treatment of choice for symptomatic CAD regardless of the patient's age [Bryniarski et al 2004;Chen et al 2010] and has been proven to be effective and safe for the elderly [Eeckhout et al 1996;Feliciano et al 2005]. Furthermore, elderly patients referred for percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) are likely to have higher risk profiles, comorbidities and in-hospital complications [Bossi et al 2006;Sukiennik et al 2007].…”