Angulated lesions have been shown to be associated with abrupt closure or periprocedural myocardial injury. In particular, when disease is present at the level of the angulated or bifurcated lesion, balloon dilatation may help in wire crossing but it may also cause branch occlusion. Several methods and devices have been described to manipulate coronary guidewires across angulated and bifurcated lesions. This case report describes a highly angulated coronary bifurcated lesion where, after the failure of multiple wires to cross the lesion toward the main branch, it was successfully crossed after excimer laser debulking, which facilitated the wire crossing into the main branch, without causing branch occlusion.
©2011, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.