Ace the 2025 ARRT Vascular Interventional Exam – Navigate Your Path to Success!

The most commonly associated type of guidewire with dissections is the straight guidewire. Straight guidewires are typically more rigid and can exert a greater force on the vessel walls when navigating through the vascular system. This rigidity may lead to complications such as dissection, especially if proper care is not taken during the advancement of the guidewire.

In interventional procedures, maintaining the integrity of the vessel is crucial. When using a straight guidewire, if it encounters resistance or is manipulated improperly, it can create a shear force that results in the vessel wall tearing, leading to dissection.

Other types of guidewires, like the Terumo or Rosen, are generally designed with more flexibility or specialized characteristics that help in negotiating curves and minimize the risk of vessel wall trauma. These wires are often chosen to reduce the likelihood of complications such as dissections, focusing on enhancing maneuverability and safety during catheter placement. Thus, straight guidewires are recognized for having a higher correlation with dissection events compared to more specialized options.