Efficacy and safety of guidewireless catheterization with a steerable microcatheter in patients scheduled for yttrium-90 radioembolization: a prospective multicenter trial.

A steerable, guidewireless microcatheter is of interest to interventional radiologists because it can improve effectiveness and reduce procedure timing and cost.

To assess the feasibility and safety of yttrium 90 radioembolization with a new steerable microcatheter without the need to use a guidewire.

A steerable microcatheter (Direxion; Boston Scientific, Natick, MA, USA) was prospectively used for yttrium-90 microsphere delivery in 50 patients (57 applications). The following factors were documented: vessel anatomy; shape and position of the guiding catheter; anticipated catheter position; technical success of catheterization; degree of difficulty in maneuvering; time to reach the target position; and complications.

The microcatheter target position was in the right hepatic artery (n = 30, 53%), the middle hepatic artery (n = 4, 7%), the left hepatic artery (n = 19, 33%), or in a segmental artery (n = 4, 7%). Vessel catheterization was successful in 53 of 57 hepatic arteries (93%). The mean time to reach the target position was 53.3 ±53.0 s. The mean degree of difficulty in maneuvering the catheter to the target position was 2.3 ±1.3 (easy) on a 6-point scale. The only complication observed was mild vasospasm in 1 patient.

The Direxion steerable microcatheter is characterized by unique steerability, allowing yttrium 90 delivery to be performed safely without use of a guidewire.