Parent and Child Balloon Technique for Navigating Guide Catheters During Neurointerventions.

Abstract

The stabilization of a guide catheter is an important factor for performing successful neurointerventional procedures. We present our technique for navigating guide catheters using parent and child balloons. In 9 patients with severe atherosclerosis or anatomic variations such as a bovine arch, 8-9-F balloon-mounted guide catheters were navigated using balloon-attached guidewires. Both balloons were used complementarily for flow navigation and vessel fixation at the appropriate positions and times. In all cases, the balloon guide catheter could be inserted up to the required positions, and the procedures were completed without any complications. The parent and child balloon technique is useful for inserting guide catheters in hostile vascular anatomies.