Experiences of using guiding catheter SAL for percutaneous coronary intervention in 56 patients

AIM:To summarize our experience with the use of guiding catheter (GC) SAL (Medtronics) for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in 56 patients. METHODS: Data were analyzed retrospectively in 56 patients who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) and PCI using SAL GC from July 2011 to January 2012. In all the patients, right coronary arteries (RCA) were the culprit arteries and the culprit lesions in RCA were complex lesions, including 29 chronic total occlusive lesions (CTO), ten calcified lesions, eight tortuous lesions, and 14 distal lesions with tortuous RCA. RESULTS: SAL GC was used successfully in 53/56 patients and failed in placement of three patients. The success rate of PCI was 86.8% (46/53) and PCI failed in seven patients with CTO. No dissection occurred in RCA or aortic sinus during the procedure. CONCLUSION: SAL GC can be used successfully in most complex lesions in RCA with good safety.