Ceiling technique to facilitate target vessel catheterization during complex aortic repair

Abstract Aim of this paper is to describe a simple and helpful technique for challenging visceral vessel catheterization during complex aortic endovascular procedures. In demanding anatomies when standard visceral vessel cannulation maneuvers result ineffective, inflating a compliant balloon above the target arteries may allow easy and safe advancement of the introducer sheath inside selected vessel. This approach lowers the shear forces enhancing device pushability. The use of a compliant aortic balloon with the Ceiling technique is a useful, easy and reproducible endovascular option that can be adopted for challenging vessel catheterization during advanced endovascular procedures.