Interventional catheterization in Kawasaki disease

The experiences of catheter interventional treatment in Kawasaki disease are quite limited. In this article, we report our experiences of catheter intervention. We performed the percutaneous transluminal coronary revascularization (PTCR) in 18 cases, the percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in 12, the stent implantation in 7, and the percutaneous transluminal coronary rotational ablation (PTCRA) in 7, which resulted in success in 55.5%, 75%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. In this article, we discuss the indications and methods for coronary artery lesions of long-term Kawasaki disease. PTCR is useful for treatment of acute myocardial infarction and for prevention of massive thrombus formation, particularly within 2 years from the onset of Kawasaki disease. PTCA is effective in many instances, particularly in patients without severe calcification of the coronary artery. However, neoaneurysm had developed in a certain number of the patients. Stent implantation is more preferable than PT CA, because it may potentially prevent neoaneurysmal formation and restenosis. Rotational ablation is effective for the stiff stenotic lesions with severe calcification, particularly for ring calcification, which frequently develops in the long- term Kawasaki disease patients. The intravascular ultrasound is very useful in evaluating the tissue characterization of the coronary artery and to select the treatment strategy, and to evaluate the catheter interventional treatment.