Usefulness of the Tornus® Catheter in Nondilatable Coronary Chronic Total Occlusion

The treatment of coronary chronic total occlusions (CTO) remains a challenge for the interventional cardiologist. Failure of balloon angioplasty is the second more common cause of an unsuccessful procedure. We describe our experience with the use of the new Tornus ® catheter (Asahi Intecc, Aichi, Japan) designed specifically for the treatment of “nondilatable” CTO. Between November 2008 and March 2010, 17 patients (age 62 years, 88% men, 82% dyslipidemia, 52% hypertension, 29% diabetes) were treated in whom balloon dilatation had failed after crossing the lesion with the guide. The use of Tornus ® catheter was successful without complications in 15. All patients underwent clinical follow-up (median, 573 days) with no documented major adverse events. The use of the Tornus ® catheter is safe and feasible in those patients with CTO lesions in whom balloon angioplasty has been unsuccessful.