ELECTRON MICROSCOPE EXAMINATION OF POLYMER COATED HYDROPHILIC GUIDE WIRES USED FOR SIDE BRANCH PROTECTION DURING BIFURCATION CORONARY INTERVENTION

Polymer coated hydrophilic guidewires are routinely deployed for side-branch protection during bifurcation stenting. Isolated reports of polymer shearing raise concern for potential of these wires to cause embolic complications. We performed electron microscopic analysis of these wires in a series