ABSTRACT
Microcatheters are small caliber, lengthy, flexible catheters that are compatible with small caliber guidewires. Some microcatheters have radiopaque tips, which make them more readily visible, and some microcatheters have stiff tips. Microcatheters with stiff tips may be used for crossing occlusions. Re-entry catheters are used specifically to assist in re-entry into the true lumen after a subintimal recanalization has been performed. Very often there are large collaterals near the re-entry site, because this is also usually the site of reconstitution of the vessel. Chronic total occlusion (CTO) catheters are catheters that are specially designed to support a guidewire in the traversal of a CTO. Atherectomy is performed by a device that removes a portion of the atheroma from the luminal surface using a cutting sanding or grinding mechanism. A common directional atherectomy tool available is the SilverHawk atherectomy device. Rotational atherectomy involves a rotating head that is power driven and rotates at thousands of revolutions per minute.
