Successful predilation of a resistant, heavily calcified lesion with cutting balloon for coronary stenting: a case report.

A 65-year-old man with a restenotic lesion of the mid LAD was scheduled for Wiktor stent placement. The IVUS revealed circumferential severe calcification. Two conventional, non-compliant angioplasty balloons inflated to high pressures failed to achieved sufficient dilatation and both ruptured. At this point, we selected high pressure inflation of the Cutting Balloon. The Cutting Balloon achieved adequate dilation for stenting and proved to be useful in predilating a circumferential, heavily calcified lesion.