Double-guide-wire access through a single 6-F vascular sheath

Three techniques are described that employ double-guide-wire access through a single vascular sheath in the common femoral artery. One technique provides arterial side branch protection during balloon angioplasty of stenotic vascular branch points. Another maintains guide wire access within a dilated renal artery while postangioplasty aortography is performed. A third technique achieves superficial femoral artery access during antegrade femoral artery puncture.