Electrification of a Guidewire to Assist in Crossing an Aortic Coarctation (The BEACON Technique)

Aortic coarctation presents in adult life in a significant number of patients. The preferred treatment in this age group is percutaneous stent implantation without which life expectancy is reduced due to the complications of uncontrolled hypertension. We present the first case of an "uncrossable" aortic coarctation transversed using the BEACON (Brief Electrification of a guidewire to assist in crossing an Aortic CoarctatiON) technique, a novel approach incorporating the electrification of a guidewire. It requires standard transcaval equipment and techniques but crosses from aortic lumen-to-lumen instead of cavato-aorta, thus creating a rail for successful stent delivery. (C) 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.