ABSTRACT
Guidewires and catheters comprise the foundation of endovascular intervention, both technically and conceptually. Successful guidewire deployment requires knowledge of the choices available. The goal is to choose the most appropriate guidewire first as often as possible and to know what to do next if the first choice turns out to be the wrong choice. An essential step in the process of mastering guidewires is to understand the interaction between the guidewire’s leading edge and the lesion, with fluoroscopic imaging as the intermediary. The operator must be certain that the guidewire length is adequate to cover the cumulative distance required, both inside and outside the patient. Vascular catheters are designed with a guidewire port of a specific diameter, and the diameter of the chosen wire must reflect this specification. The size of the guidewire determines which “platform” is being used. Most operators are thinking in terms of a “large” or a “small” platform.
