Following the introduction of AQUA T3 into Japan in November 2002 this latest advance in PTCA balloon catheters has proven to be very popular with Japanese interventional cardiologists. We are grateful to Dr Kazuaki Mitsudo (Kurashiki Central Hospital) and Dr Shigeru Saitoh (Shonan Kamakura General Hospital) for allowing us to publish representative case reports from their catheterisation laboratories.

Case Report #1

This is a 78 year-old male with a calcified CTO at the LCX. This extremely tortuous lesion proved to be very challenging with both the Maverick OTW and HayatePro failing to cross the lesion. One hour after the procedure began; the lesion was finally crossed with AQUA T3 only to find an equally challenging stenosis. As with the first lesion AQUA T3 proved to be equal to the challenge – the severity of which can be measured by the need to use a rotablator at 220,000 RPM.

Commenting on the case afterwards, Dr. Kazuaki Mitsudo acknowledged the value of the tapered tip design of the AQUA T3 as being a key design feature that enabled him to cross the lesion.

Case Report #2

A 68 year-old male with 99% thrombotic stenosis in a very tortuous RCA also presented with a severe bend in the ostium. The procedure began first by crossing RCA with an AQUA T3 (2.5 x 20) followed by a second (distal) AQUA T3 (3.0 x 20). The final result was acceptable and a BX VELOCITY stent (4.0 x 28) was implanted to complete the successful procedure.

Reviewing the case Dr. Shigeru Saitoh said that he had been impressed by both the pushability and crossability of the AQUA T3 saying: “Although this was a very challenging case, the AQUA T3 proved to have outstanding deliverability and pushability which proved to be decisive in efficiently gaining access to the most challenging lesions.”

- 'Cardio UPDATE' a Newsletter from Cordis, February 2003