Attempted retrograde reopening of an occluded left main stent.
Niccoli G., Martin J., Banning AP.
Percutaneous revascularization is generally considered to be the treatment of choice for patients with recurrence of symptoms following coronary artery bypass surgery. Protected left main disease is usually approached in an antegrade way. However, if the left main coronary artery is occluded, such an approach is often very challenging, and alternative strategies are adopted. We present a case of attempted retrograde reopening of an occluded left main stent through the right coronary artery, a sequential radial graft from the right coronary artery to the marginal branch and eventually in a retrograde way to the left main coronary artery. Although this case was unsuccessful it demonstrates how technological developments are allowing interventionists to tackle a vast range of challenging cases, which only few years ago would have been considered impossible.