guidewire
Thin, flexible wire used to navigate through blood vessels and provide support for catheter advancement during endovascular procedures.
Full Definition
A guidewire is an essential interventional tool consisting of a flexible metallic wire with specialized tip configurations designed for vessel navigation and catheter support. Different guidewire types serve specific purposes: hydrophilic wires for crossing tight stenoses, stiff wires for support during device delivery, and steerable wires for selective catheterization. Wire characteristics include diameter (measured in inches), length, tip shape, coating, and support strength. Proper wire selection and handling technique are crucial for procedural success and complication avoidance. Common complications include wire fracture, perforation, and entrapment within complex lesions.
Usage
Usage note: Specify wire diameter, type, and characteristics when documenting device selection in procedural reports.
In Context
- "A 0.035-inch hydrophilic guidewire was successfully advanced across the stenotic lesion." — Procedure report
- "Guidewire position was confirmed fluoroscopically before balloon catheter advancement." — Technical documentation