The bridge occlusion balloon for venous angioplasty in superior vena cava occlusion

Abstract The Bridge Occlusion Balloon is a compliant balloon, specifically designed for temporary Superior vena cava occlusion in case of Superior Vena Cava laceration during lead extraction procedures. We here report the first case, using Bridge Occlusion Ballon for a venous angioplasty in a patient with dysfunctional pacemaker leads and symptomatic Superior Vena Cava occlusion. After successful lead extraction, venography was showing a narrow venous canal. Therefore, venous angioplasty using the Bridge balloon was performed. Especially for high-risk lead extraction cases in patients with Superior Vena Cava stenosis, the Bridge Occlusion Ballon might be used as a combination of a safety-net in case of Superior Vena Cava perforation and for Superior Vena Cava angioplasty.

Angioplastia coronária em oclusäo crônica de nove anos e meio: utilizaçäo do laser com um novo cateter para recanalizaçäo / Coronary angioplasty in chronic occlusion of nine and half years: use of laser with a new catheter for recanalization

A chronic total occlusion lasting 9.5 years, was successfully treated with a Prima (TN) Laser catheter, of Spectranectics. The authors report a case of a fifty seven year old male that suffered an inferior myocardial infarction 9.5 years ago. Although the morphological characteristics of the lesion seemed easy to pass through the obstruction with the guide wire, the balloon dilatation was not possible because of the hardness of a chronic lesion lasting that long. The intervention was concluded successfully in another opportunity using the laser catheter with certain facility. This case, reported as the first one in Latin America, rises new possibilities and increases the success rate of coronary angioplasty of total chronic occlusions. We hope that in the following cases we will be able to reach the same result, widening the indications of coronary angioplasty