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DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1813039
Deploying Steerable Sheath to Improve Safety, Efficiency, and Efficacy of Body and Peripheral Interventions
Autoren
Abstract
Steerable vascular sheaths are designed to be used in the human vasculature to facilitate the introduction of diagnostic and/or therapeutic devices. Despite a broad indication, steerable sheaths are most commonly used in aortic intervention, particularly when there is a need for access through fenestrations. However, steerable sheaths have a wide variety of interventional radiology (IR) applications in the body and periphery. In this case series, we review the use of a steerable sheath in diverse applications, including arterial embolization, arterial thrombectomy/thrombolysis, stenting/recanalization, urinary, and foreign body retrieval. Steerable sheaths are found to provide enhanced stability of access, improved pushability, maintenance of access, control of directionality (i.e., steerability), and/or a combination of these factors. Steerable sheaths have broad uses in the body and peripheral far beyond their typical use in endovascular aortic work. Adoption of these techniques allows for improved safety, efficacy, and efficiency of several IR procedures.
Keywords
endovascular - procedures - embolization - therapeutic - thrombectomy - stents - foreign bodiesIntroduction
Interventional radiology (IR) focuses on minimally invasive, image-guided treatments obviating surgery.[1] [2] IR physicians work across nearly all organ systems and commonly perform procedures inside arteries and veins. To perform such procedures, IRs are necessarily familiar with obtaining “access.” Access implies the ability to introduce devices stably, reliably, and safely into deeper structures via percutaneous approaches. Wires, catheters, and sheaths may come preshaped, unshaped, or even with shapable characteristics. Vascular sheaths are instrumental in providing stable access points through which to repetitively deploy devices.
Steerable sheaths such as TourGuide (Medtronic, Dublin, Ireland) have historically been marketed and used primarily for narrow indications. Available literature focuses on fenestrated endografts,[3] cardiac ablations,[4] and unique case reports like untying catheters percutaneously.[5] A recent literature review of steerable catheters also focused primarily on aortic disease.[6] However, the unique dynamic steerability of these sheaths can provide immense flexibility during a variety of vascular and nonvascular interventions. While curved sheaths can provide some of these benefits, the ability to shape a sheath in real-time provides essentially infinitely more angles for interventional stability and access. Smaller case reports have discussed the use of steerable sheaths in removing foreign bodies[7] and visceral cannulation for nonaortic work such as mesenteric stenting,[8] but a comprehensive case review has not yet been published.
In our practice, the TourGuide sheath is used in a variety of body IR interventions. This case series describes numerous scenarios where the TourGuide sheath saves time, improves procedural ease, and enhances intervention.
Materials and Methods
This retrospective case review was performed with Institutional Review Board approval. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliant retrospective search of our institutional picture archiving and communication system was performed to identify IR procedures with the TourGuide sheath from 2019 to the current day. Cases are categorized and reviewed to show varying use cases.
Arterial Embolization
The TourGuide sheath improves stability of access for embolization, facilitating catheterization and delivery of interventional tools. In tortuous arterial anatomy, it can further eliminate classic issues such as “bucking.” As a result, we have found that the TourGuide sheath has markedly enhanced IR performance with embolization.
Prostate Artery Embolization
We present a 77-year-old man with benign prostatic hyperplasia presenting for prostate artery embolization (PAE) ([Fig. 1]). In PAE, a 6.5-French 55-cm TourGuide sheath is formed to sit on the aortic bifurcation. From here, conventional diagnostic catheters—we prefer a 5-French 100-cm angled taper glide catheter—are advanced into the contralateral hypogastric artery. From there, microcatheter cannulation and embolization are performed. Thereafter, in many patients, the TourGuide sheath can cannulate the ipsilateral hypogastric artery with the aid of a contralateral oblique imaging plane and angiographic roadmap, allowing for completion of embolization. In tortuous ipsilateral iliac arterial anatomy, a reverse curve catheter (e.g., SOS Omni) may be used to cannulate the ipsilateral hypogastric artery.


Arterial Coil Embolization
We present an 87-year-old man with a bleeding duodenal ulcer presenting for gastroduodenal artery embolization ([Fig. 2]). In visceral artery embolization, stable access enhances delivery of coils or plugs. In contrast, poor stability can result in loss of access, poor control of devices, and even complications such as off-target embolization. Furthermore, arterial angulations may be variable; a radial or brachial arterial approach may even need consideration. However, in most cases, a 6.5-French 55-cm TourGuide sheath can be deployed to obtain secure access with sheath angulation customized to the target vessel. From here, a conventional diagnostic catheter and/or microcatheters can be easily advanced for embolization.


Interventional Oncology Embolization
We present a 70-year-old man with multicentric hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing treatment with yttrium-90 radioembolization ([Fig. 3]). Stability is particularly important when delivering high doses of intra-arterial radiation. Identical principles apply in related procedures such as transarterial chemoembolization. Furthermore, stenotic or acutely angled celiac arteries can present unique challenges for stable catheterization. In this example case, the patient presents with a downward-angled celiac artery with stenosis. During mapping angiography, an SOS-Omni catheter demonstrated limited stability. Therefore, on the day of radioembolization treatment, the TourGuide sheath was instead deployed at the celiac artery origin to ensure stable access. The TourGuide sheath has frequently facilitated our ability to perform complex cancer embolizations.


Bronchial Artery Embolization
We present a 78-year-old woman with chronic lung disease, hemoptysis, and bleeding from the right lung on bronchoscopy ([Fig. 4]). While most bronchial artery catheterization can be performed with conventional catheters (e.g., Mickelson), in certain instances, further stability may be required. For example, in this patient with extremely hypertrophied bronchial arteries, severe tortuosity prohibited microcatheter advancement. Customizing the angle of the TourGuide sheath to the shape of the bronchial artery takeoff allowed easy advancement of standard and microcatheter technology and subsequent embolization.


Arterial Thrombectomy/Thrombolysis
Complex arterial intervention such as thrombectomy and thrombolysis can be complicated by arterial vascular tortuosity, angulation, and access issues. Traditional catheters and sheaths can be technically limited; the operator may need to obtain more than one access, perform more than one procedure, or choose an unfavorable access site. The TourGuide sheath can also simplify arterial intervention.
Arterial Thrombolysis
We present a 72-year-old man with an aortobifemoral bypass graft presenting with Rutherford IIA acute limb ischemia of the left lower extremity and was found to have complete thrombosis of the left limb of his bypass graft ([Fig. 5]). Anatomy of bypass grafts presents challenges for going “up and over.” Accessing the thrombosed limb directly would result in incomplete treatment. Therefore, the TourGuide sheath was deployed in a novel fashion to mimic an “up and over” approach by forming the curve at the graft bifurcation. Thrombolysis was successfully performed.


Arterial Thrombectomy
We present an 84-year-old woman with a history of atrial fibrillation presenting with acute-onset abdominal pain and was found to have thrombosis of the superior mesenteric artery ([Fig. 6]). The TourGuide sheath can secure access to acutely angled visceral arteries. In this case, the TourGuide sheath not only secured access within a difficult angle of the superior mesenteric artery but also served as a conduit for delivery of a thrombectomy catheter.


Stenting/Recanalization
Recanalization of occluded or stenosed vessels, whether arteries or veins, can be technically challenging. Providing stable yet customized angles can typically improve pushability, which in turn enhances the ability to cross tough lesions. As such, the addition of the TourGuide sheath can not only improve probabilities of success but also speed up procedural time.
Venous Recanalization
We present a 29-year-old woman with chronic occlusion of the left common iliac vein ([Fig. 7]). In chronic venous occlusive disease, occlusions are extraordinarily difficult to cross in an antegrade fashion. For example, in this case, access from the left common femoral vein results in immediate passage into a dominant paraspinal collateral. In a fashion reminiscent of arterial work, the TourGuide sheath can be placed up and over the iliocaval bifurcation. From here, catheters and wires can be passed to cross the occluded iliac venous segments in a retrograde fashion, also reminiscent of peripheral artery work (e.g., pedal access, SAFARI technique, etc.). After flipping the access, the intervention can be completed.


Visceral Arterial Stenting
We present a 94-year-old man with worsening abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss, who was found to have severe arterial stenoses of the celiac artery and superior mesenteric artery ([Fig. 8]), and was brought in for visceral angiography and stenting. In the past, certain angles, stenoses, and/or occlusions of visceral arteries meant that brachial arterial access could become mandatory. In our practice, the adoption of the TourGuide sheath has liberalized the ability to perform nearly all complex visceral arterial interventions from a common femoral access, including the delivery of stents. Arteries most commonly treated include the celiac artery, superior mesenteric artery, and renal arteries.


Urinary Intervention
The urinary system presents unique challenges for IR, typically because of unfavorable angulations relative to access points. For example, from a nephrostomy access, the angle into the ureters is often acute. Introduction of steerable sheaths into urinary intervention may increase flexibility and technical success of complex intervention.
Complex Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy Access
We present a 73-year-old woman with a left renal staghorn calculus, for which a nephroureteral access is desired for percutaneous nephrolithotomy ([Fig. 9]). While most can be performed with conventional catheters, more directionality and pushability may become required. The TourGuide sheath is a consideration in the management of such complex cases, as it has more body than a catheter and can be used to direct the catheter and wire dynamically.


Ureteral Stent Retrieval/Manipulation
We present an 80-year-old man with a renal pelvis defect and ureteral disruption with urinoma after a partial nephrectomy ([Fig. 10]). While the exact pathology presented in this case is particularly unique, this case demonstrates the unique flexibility of the TourGuide sheath in the manipulation of internal objects within the human body from a percutaneous access. In this case, the urologist obtained cystoscopic access and placed a wire into the ureter and into the region of the renal pelvis defect. Only with the deployment of the TourGuide sheath was this wire able to be snared and then pulled into the true ureteral and renal pelvis lumen, after which a nephroureteral stent was successfully placed. Building on principles from this case, in our practice, we have used the TourGuide sheath in many urinary cases, including the management of encrusted stents, malpositioned stents, fractured catheters, and foreign bodies.


Foreign Body Retrieval
As a specialty that regularly manages various catheters, stents, and devices, IR is uniquely positioned to capture and remove foreign bodies. Regular tools of the trade usually include vascular sheaths, guide catheters, and snares; none has the ability to create dynamic angles. Introduction of the TourGuide sheath in our practice has entirely changed the way in which most foreign bodies are addressed.
Malpositioned Ureteral Stent Repositioning
We present a 67-year-old man who underwent operative placement of a ureteral diversion stent to help heal a neobladder ([Fig. 11]). Initially, both stents terminated percutaneously at the skin surface. However, the left stent slipped back into the abdomen and was free-floating within the peritoneal cavity. The TourGuide sheath was necessary to “fish” for the end of the ureteral stent. The ability to actively torque and angle the tip of the TourGuide sheath allows capture and externalization of the malpositioned stent, obviating a return to the operating room.


Complex Inferior Vena Cava Filter Removal
We present a 53-year-old woman with an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter who presents for IVC filter removal ([Fig. 12]). In this case, the IVC filter could not be removed using the conventional snare technique due to tissue overgrowth along the recapture hook. We have historically used rigid endobronchial forceps in these cases; however, these were not available. Instead, the Raptor endoscopic grasping device (Steris, Mentor, Ohio, United States) was used; however, the Raptor device is not steerable. An 8.5-French TourGuide sheath can be used to angle the Raptor toward the IVC filter. In contrast with endobronchial forceps, this dynamic maneuver improves the ability to capture the filter. In conjunction with Raptor's stronger bite force, this has become a leading technique in our practice for complex IVC filter retrieval.


Discussion
In this case series, we presented several distinct uses of the TourGuide sheath in a variety of IR uses in the body and periphery. There are a variety of applications such as embolization procedures, arterial thrombectomy, arterial thrombolysis and thrombectomy, arterial recanalization and stenting, urinary procedures, and foreign body retrievals. In these various use cases, the TourGuide sheaths were found to provide enhanced stability of access, improved pushability, maintenance and management of access, control of directionality (i.e., steerability), and/or a combination of these factors, as summarized in [Table 1]. Steerable sheaths have broad uses in the body and peripheral far beyond their typical use in endovascular aortic work. Adoption of these techniques allows for improved safety, efficacy, and efficiency of several IR procedures.
|
Category |
Procedure type |
Anatomy |
Use cases |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Arterial embolization |
Prostate artery embolization |
Aortoiliac bifurcation and hypogastric artery |
Increases stability of access for difficult catheterizations |
|
Arterial coil embolization |
Various; commonly visceral |
• Tackles acute arterial angulations • Improves stability for delivering coils |
|
|
Interventional oncology embolization |
Celiac artery |
Improves stability for delivering embolics, particularly in visceral tortuosity |
|
|
Bronchial artery embolization |
Bronchial artery |
Provide flexible angles of access to optimize cannulation |
|
|
Arterial thrombectomy/thrombolysis |
Arterial thrombolysis |
Various; commonly visceral or lower extremity |
Tackle atypical access or angulations, such as bypass grafts |
|
Arterial thrombectomy |
Various; commonly visceral |
• Deliver thrombectomy tools even in acutely angled target vessels such as mesenteric arteries • Avoid higher-risk access such as brachial artery |
|
|
Stenting/recanalization |
Venous recanalization |
Various; commonly iliocaval |
• Deliver novel angles and access for crossing occlusions, such as “up and over” • Avoid second sticks or flipping patient from prone-to-supine |
|
Visceral arterial stenting |
Celiac artery, superior mesenteric artery |
• Customized angles and direction for recanalization • Stable access for balloon and stent delivery • Avoid higher-risk access such as brachial artery |
|
|
Urinary intervention |
Complex percutaneous nephrolithotomy access |
Kidney |
Enhanced pushability and customized angles for providing access past occlusive renal pelvis stones |
|
Ureteral stent retrieval/manipulation |
Kidney/bladder |
Full manipulation of tools inside a body cavity such as an operative defect or bladder |
|
|
Foreign body retrieval |
Malpositioned ureteral stent repositioning |
Various |
Full manipulation of tools inside a body cavity such as the peritoneal cavity |
|
Complex inferior vena cava filter removal |
Inferior vena cava |
Obtain full control of unsteerable devices to allow novel techniques for inferior vena cava filter retrieval |
Conclusion
Application of the TourGuide sheath in body and peripheral intervention creates many novel and unique opportunities to improve the safety, efficiency, and efficacy of IR intervention.
Conflict of Interest
Dr. Alexander S. Misono reported a research grant from SinglePass and Stryker/Inari Medical. Consulting fees received from AIDoc, Argon Medical, MediView, Medtronic, Merit Medical, Penumbra, SinglePass, Sirtex, Stryker/Inari Medical, Terumo, TriSalus, and Vasorum. Payment or honoraria received from AIDoc, Argon Medical, MediView, Medtronic, Merit Medical, SinglePass, Sirtex, Stryker/Inari Medical, TriSalus, and Vasorum. Direct support for attending meetings and/or travel from Argon Medical, Medtronic, Merit Medical, Penumbra, SinglePass, Sirtex, Stryker/Inari Medical, Terumo, and TriSalus.
Stock options with SinglePass. All other authors report no conflict of interest.
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References
- 1 Society of Interventional Radiology. What is interventional radiology?. Accessed May 24, 2025, at: https://www.sirweb.org/for-patients/what-is-interventional-radiology/
- 2 Seldinger SI. Catheter replacement of the needle in percutaneous arteriography; a new technique. Acta Radiol 1953; 39 (05) 368-376
- 3 Gallitto E, Faggioli G, Bertoglio L. et al. Steerable sheath for cannulation and bridging stenting of challenging target visceral vessels in fenestrated and branched endografting. Ann Vasc Surg 2020; 67: 26-34
- 4 Joseph J, Wong KC, Ginks MR, Bashir Y, Betts TR, Rajappan K. Steerable sheath technology in the ablation of atrial fibrillation. Recent Pat Cardiovasc Drug Discov 2013; 8 (03) 171-177
- 5 Plasek J, Peichl P, Kautzner J. Untying of diagnostic decapolar catheter knot using a steerable sheath and ablation catheter. Europace 2018; 20 (07) 1224
- 6 Mazzaccaro D, Castronovo EL, Righini P, Nano G. Use of steerable catheters for endovascular procedures: report of a CASE and literature review. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2020; 95 (05) 971-977
- 7 Strohmer B, Altenberger J, Pichler M. A new approach of extracting embolized venous catheters using a large-diameter steerable sheath under biplane fluoroscopy. Clin Imaging 2012; 36 (05) 502-508
- 8 Pedersoli F, Hitpass L, Isfort P. et al. Recanalization and stenting of the celiac and the superior mesenteric artery supported by use of a steerable introducer sheath: report on 2 years' experience. Vasc Endovascular Surg 2021; 55 (02) 158-163
Address for correspondence
Publikationsverlauf
Artikel online veröffentlicht:
21. November 2025
© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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References
- 1 Society of Interventional Radiology. What is interventional radiology?. Accessed May 24, 2025, at: https://www.sirweb.org/for-patients/what-is-interventional-radiology/
- 2 Seldinger SI. Catheter replacement of the needle in percutaneous arteriography; a new technique. Acta Radiol 1953; 39 (05) 368-376
- 3 Gallitto E, Faggioli G, Bertoglio L. et al. Steerable sheath for cannulation and bridging stenting of challenging target visceral vessels in fenestrated and branched endografting. Ann Vasc Surg 2020; 67: 26-34
- 4 Joseph J, Wong KC, Ginks MR, Bashir Y, Betts TR, Rajappan K. Steerable sheath technology in the ablation of atrial fibrillation. Recent Pat Cardiovasc Drug Discov 2013; 8 (03) 171-177
- 5 Plasek J, Peichl P, Kautzner J. Untying of diagnostic decapolar catheter knot using a steerable sheath and ablation catheter. Europace 2018; 20 (07) 1224
- 6 Mazzaccaro D, Castronovo EL, Righini P, Nano G. Use of steerable catheters for endovascular procedures: report of a CASE and literature review. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2020; 95 (05) 971-977
- 7 Strohmer B, Altenberger J, Pichler M. A new approach of extracting embolized venous catheters using a large-diameter steerable sheath under biplane fluoroscopy. Clin Imaging 2012; 36 (05) 502-508
- 8 Pedersoli F, Hitpass L, Isfort P. et al. Recanalization and stenting of the celiac and the superior mesenteric artery supported by use of a steerable introducer sheath: report on 2 years' experience. Vasc Endovascular Surg 2021; 55 (02) 158-163

























