The use of a new wire in a 6-year-old coronary artery occlusion: the Jagwire recanalization guidewire.

Chronic total occlusions are difficult to treat, usually because they cannot be crossed with a guidewire or dilating catheter. A variety of angioplasty systems designed to facilitate coronary angioplasty of chronic total occlusions have been used. We report the case of a 6-year-old occlusion of the right coronary artery that was treated with the Jagwire, a new guidewire designed for use in challenging lesions. This device successfully crossed the lesion and resulted in a successful angioplasty. The patient's angina dramatically improved following the procedure.