Chronic total occlusion of the iliac artery: endoluminal reentry using a metal stiffening cannula.

When chronic total occlusion of the iliac artery cannot be crossed with traditional guide wires and catheters, the metal stiffener from a universal drainage catheter kit can be shaped and used to direct a guide wire from a subintimal tract into the true lumen. In the present report, reentry was achieved in 12 of 12 patients with the use of the cannula. This technique provides a useful alternative for treatment of chronic total iliac occlusions.