Vertebral artery origin stenting with buddy wire technique in tortuous subclavian artery.

Catheterization of vessels with severe tortuosity and atherosclerotic changes may represent a technical challenge and is associated with a higher incidence of vascular complications [Putman CM, Chaloupka JC. Use of large-caliber coronary guiding catheters for neurointerventional applications. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 1996;17:697-704]. Placement of guiding catheter to the tortuous subclavian artery in vertebral artery origin stenting procedure is such a condition with difficulties. In the presence of severe tortuosity of aortic arch and proximal subclavian artery placement of guiding catheter may be difficult and yield poor backup support. We describe a technique that uses a buddy wire to make the guiding catheter stable in its proper position and make possible to perform stenting the vertebral artery origin stenosis.