Aims: Optimal ostial seating and adequate back-up of guide catheters are required for challenging percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). The GuideLiner™ (GL) (Vascular Solutions Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA) is a guide catheter extension system that provides active back-up support by deep coronary intubation. We aimed to assess feasibility and safety of GL-use in routine clinical practice.
Methods and results: We prospectively recorded patient and procedural details, technical success, and in-hospital outcome of 65 consecutive patients undergoing "5-in-6" Fr GL-facilitated PCI of 70 target vessels. The GL was mainly used for PCI of complex coronary lesions: 97% (68/70) had American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC) lesion types B2/C; 53% (37/70) were distally located; and 23% (17/70) were heavily calcified. Indications were to increase back-up of the guide and facilitate stent delivery (59%; 41/70), achievement of coaxial alignment of the guide catheter (29%; 20/70), and selective contrast injections (13%; 9/70). Device success rate was 93% (65/70). There were no major complications and two minor complications managed without clinical sequelae: one air embolism and one stent dislodgement.
Conclusions: GL-use resulted in increased back-up and guide catheter alignment for stent delivery in unfavourable tortuous coronary anatomies and complex, heavily calcified, and often distally located lesions, which otherwise may have been considered unsuitable for PCI. Procedural success rate was high and there were no major complications.