Fig. 1

Schematic drawing of MVP release technique. In A, the correct pull-back technique is reported; in step 1 MVP is positioned into the catheter (proximal and distal radiopaque markers are indicated by long black segments while the radiopaque detachment point by short black segment); in step 2 MVP is advanced up to the tip of the catheter; in step 3 the catheter is moved backward in order that MVP is completely expanded outside the catheter; in step 4 MVP is detached with mechanical torqueing; in step 5 MVP properly occludes the vessel lumen with the blood flaw being interrupted. In B, the wrong pushing technique is reported; in steps 1 and 2, as in A, MVP is positioned into the catheter and advanced up to the tip of the catheter; in step 3 MVP is pushed forward outside from the catheter, with its nitinol skeleton kinked and crushed not properly expanded; in step 4 MVP is detached with mechanical torqueing; in step 5 MVP is wrongly released not interrupting the blood flow into the vessel lumen