Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41299001›Full record

ArticleCVIR endovascular2025

FRAP-CROSS technique: Fracking and Rendezvous-PIERCE for intracalcium crossing in femoropopliteal diffuse calcified occlusions.

Takuya Haraguchi, Masanaga Tsujimoto, Ricky Wang-Hei Leung, Yaowen Chang, Yuhei Kasai, Daisuke Hachinohe, Yoshifumi Kashima

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in CVIR endovascular, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Advanced Needle-Based Strategies for Complex Calcified Peripheral Artery Disease: A Systematic Review.Journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions · 2026
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Takuya HaraguchiDepartment of Cardiology, Sapporo Cardiovascular Clinic, Sapporo Heart Center, Asia Medical Group, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. t.haraguchi@scvc.jp.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2116-2178
Masanaga TsujimotoDepartment of Cardiology, Sapporo Cardiovascular Clinic, Sapporo Heart Center, Asia Medical Group, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
Ricky Wang-Hei LeungDepartment of Cardiology, Sapporo Cardiovascular Clinic, Sapporo Heart Center, Asia Medical Group, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
Yaowen ChangDepartment of Interventional Medicine, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.
Yuhei KasaiDepartment of Cardiology, Sapporo Cardiovascular Clinic, Sapporo Heart Center, Asia Medical Group, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
Daisuke HachinoheDepartment of Cardiology, Sapporo Cardiovascular Clinic, Sapporo Heart Center, Asia Medical Group, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
Yoshifumi KashimaDepartment of Cardiology, Sapporo Cardiovascular Clinic, Sapporo Heart Center, Asia Medical Group, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFemoropopliteal diffuse calcified occlusions (FPDCOs) are challenging, especially in high-bleeding-risk patients for whom a stentless strategy is preferred. We introduce FRAP-CROSS, combining Fracking and Rendezvous-PIERCE, to achieve intracalcium guidewire crossing and facilitate stentless revascularization. MATERIALS AND

methodsWhen bidirectional intracalcium wiring fails across dense calcification in FPDCO, FRAP-CROSS is applied. Fracking is initially performed by inserting a 20-gauge metal needle into a guidewire-uncrossable plaque and applying hydraulic pressure to create microfractures, facilitating subsequent guidewire crossing. If device tracking remains unsuccessful after guidewire passage, Rendezvous-PIERCE is employed. An 18-gauge needle is advanced toward the intralesional guidewire tip, and the guidewire is externalized through the needle (Needle Rendezvous). A 20-gauge needle is then advanced over the externalized guidewire to create a lumen within the calcification (inner PIERCE). After successful all-intracalcium crossing, balloon angioplasty is performed. Inadequate expansion prompts additional Fracking alone or with Jetstream atherectomy (JET-Frack). Drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty completes the stentless strategy.

resultsA 90-year-old man at high bleeding risk with bilateral FPDCOs underwent FRAP-CROSS. The right limb required three Fracking and two Rendezvous-PIERCE; the left required four Fracking and two Rendezvous-PIERCE, respectively, with adjunctive JET-Frack. Following DCB-based stentless treatment, final angiography and intravascular ultrasound confirmed adequate luminal expansion and blood flow in both limbs, without major complications.

conclusionFRAP-CROSS provides a practical approach to achieve all-intracalcium guidewire crossing and stentless revascularization in complex FPDCOs. Further studies should assess its safety and long-term outcomes.

Indexed as

AtherectomyCalcificationChronic total occlusionEndovascular treatmentFrackingNeedlePeripheral artery diseaseRecanalization

Identifiers

PMID41299001
PMCPMC12657688

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.