Technique for obtaining proximal intraluminal control when arteries are inaccessible or unclampable because of disease or calcification.

When proximal arterial control cannot be obtained by standard methods, it may be achieved safely and bloodlessly by intraluminal routes with balloon catheters, hemostatic sheaths, and catheter-guide wire techniques. This method was used successfully in 20 patients to achieve proximal arterial control without complications in a variety of locations. Use of this method or its modifications may facilitate and simplify a variety of vascular operations that would otherwise be difficult or hazardous.