OUTCOMES OF THE JAILED BALLOON TECHNIQUE FOR CORONARY BIFURCATION LESIONS IN ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME

Coronary bifurcation lesions in patients with acute coronary syndrome are associated with a high risk of side branch occlusion after main vessel stenting. The jailed balloon technique is a simple strategy for side branch protection; however, real-world data remain limited. This prospective descriptive interventional study without a control group aimed to evaluate the outcomes of the jailed balloon technique and identify factors associated with side branch occlusion following percutaneous coronary intervention in acute coronary syndrome. This study included 31 patients with true bifurcation lesions undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention using the jailed balloon technique at Interventional Cardiology Unit, Intensive Care and Toxicology Department, Tay Ninh General Hospital from May 2025 to June 2026. The incidence of side branch occlusion was 22.6%. Post-procedural residual stenosis is <30% in the main vessel was achieved in 96.8% of cases, and no patient required side branch stenting. Procedural complications were infrequent (3.22% side branch dissection). Acute heart failure occurred more frequently in patients with side branch occlusion (p<0.05). Multivariable logistic regression identified longer side branch lesion length as an independent predictor of side branch occlusion (adjusted OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.02–1.55; p = 0.031). In conclusion, the jailed balloon technique in coronary bifurcation intervention among patients with acute coronary syndrome demonstrates high technical success and a low complication rate. Side branch lesion length is an independent predictor of post-procedural side branch occlusion.