Embolic protection with filtering or occlusion balloons during saphenous vein graft stenting retrieves identical volumes and sizes of particulate debris

Distal embolization of plaque particulate liberated during stenting may cause periprocedural complications. The number, size, and volume of debris released during stenting, however, have not been quantified, rendering embolic protection approaches empiric. We used a novel method of microparticle size assessment to measure volume and characterize individual sizes of particles captured by the PercuSurge GuardWire balloon or a vascular filter during saphenous vein graft stenting. Braided nitinol filters (average distal pore size 100 microns) were used in 47 saphenous vein grafts in 44 patients. The PercuSurge GuardWire was used in 17 saphenous vein grafts in 16 patients. Particulate debris was subjected to microparticle size analysis (RapidVue, Beckman Coulter). All samples contained particulate debris. For both filter and GuardWire populations, most particles were