The Outback Catheter: A New Device for True Lumen Re-entry After Dissection During Recanalization of Arterial Occlusions

To report the initial experience with a new catheter system (The Outback catheter) designed to allow fluoroscopically controlled re-entry of the true arterial lumen after subintimal guidewire passage during recanalization procedures of arterial occlusions. The catheter was used in 10 patients with intermittent claudication caused by chronic segmental occlusions of the superficial femoral or popliteal arteries. In all patients, conventional guidewire recanalization had failed. In 8 patients, successful true lumen re-entry was achieved with the Outback catheter. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty was successfully performed in these patients without complications. Two technical failures occurred in heavily calcified arteries. The Outback catheter was safe and effective when used in complicated recanalization procedures in the superficial femoral and popliteal artery and the tibial trunk.