Subintimal
Subintimal refers to the space within a blood vessel wall that lies between the intima and the media. Under normal anatomy, the subintimal space is a potential space that remains collapsed, but during endovascular procedures it can be created or exposed when a dissection plane is formed by a guidewire or catheter. This subintimal space is most commonly discussed in the context of chronic total occlusion (CTO) interventions, where crossing the lesion intraluminally is not feasible.
In endovascular practice, a subintimal pathway can be used to bypass an occlusive plaque. The goal is
Risks and limitations associated with subintimal techniques include propagation of dissection, vessel perforation, or creation of