Retrograde parallel wire technique using a dual lumen catheter can be useful for percutaneous coronary intervention with chronic total occlusion

The patient was a 61-year-old male with chronic total occlusion (CTO) of the right coronary artery (RCA). We performed percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to RCA-CTO with the bidirectional approach via the left anterior descending artery. In retrograde approach, the first wire entered the false lumen at the segment of severe stenosis of the CTO distal site. We performed parallel wire technique using a dual lumen catheter to avoid branch loss and succeeded to get the proximal true lumen through the second wire. When the first wire enters the false lumen, continued advancement of this wire easily should be avoided as it can collapse the true lumen and make reentry difficult. On top of that, in retrograde approach, it is difficult to perform parallel wire technique without using a dual lumen catheter. This case reveals that retrograde parallel wire technique using a dual lumen catheter is an extremely effective strategy to treat CTO.