Transcutaneous Puncture of an Undeflatable Coronary Angioplasty Balloon Catheter

Figure 4

Transluminal balloon puncture. Inflated balloon from a XIENCE Xpedition 3.5/48 DES in a 6F guide catheter. Microcatheter placed proximal to the balloon for optimal guidewire support. Serial failed attempts to puncture the balloon with (a) Conquest Pro 12, (b) Stingray guidewire, (c) Gaia 3, and (d) opposite side of a work horse guidewire. (e) Successful balloon puncture with a 23G syringe needle through the guide catheter wall.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)