A novel buddy balloon technique to recross a T-stented bifurcation

Abstract

The T technique is not uncommonly used to stent bifurcation lesions. It requires recrossing into the side branch with a guidewire and balloon to perform final Kissing Balloon dilations, but recrossing can be difficult. We describe a case of bifurcation stenting where balloon recrossing following guidewire placement into the side branch proved very challenging, and was finally achieved via a combination of forward pressure on a low-profile balloon with its tip wedged at the stent struts along with simultaneous low-pressure inflation of a larger parallel balloon. This altered the stent architecture and also allowed for a more favorable vector of force transmission to allow recrossing and hence successful completion of the procedure.