Evidence for Slender Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Today, 25 years after the invention of transradial intervention (TRI), substantial evidence highlights the benefits of this method. Many different types of devices for TRI have been invented. Recently, 5 Fr. guiding catheters have been developed with the same diameter as the inner diameter of 6 Fr. guiding catheters of the early days, being of sufficient diameter to fit a regular balloon and stent. In particular, a sheath with the same 6 Fr. inner diameter and with an outer diameter of 5 Fr., called the GlideSheath Slender (GSS: Terumo Co., Tokyo, Japan), has been developed. The invention of new devices allows the advancement of procedural techniques such as the mother-child method, and for deep engagement of the distal portion of the coronary artery. The invention of such devices as well as advancements in procedural techniques have led to the evolution of minimally invasive coronary interventions.