Conservative management of guidewire coronary artery perforation with pericardial effusion during angioplasty for acute inferior myocardial infarction

Intracoronary thrombin injection using a microcatheter to treat guidewire-induced coronary artery perforation

Coronary artery perforation (CAP) is an infrequent yet a very dangerous complication of percutaneous coronary intervention. We describe the successful treatment of a guidewire-induced distal coronary branch vessel perforation using localized distal injection of intracoronary thrombin with a microcatheter. This technique appears to be safe and effective for the treatment of life-threatening distal guidewire perforations, even in the smallest tertiary coronary branches.

Closure of guide wire-induced coronary artery perforation with a two-component fibrin glue

Perforation or rupture of a coronary artery with subsequent pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade is a potentially life-threatening complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Several emergency treatment strategies exist to close the perforation including reversal of anticoagulation, prolonged balloon inflation, implantation of stent grafts, local injection of thrombogenic molecules, placement of microcoils, or open heart surgery. Here we report on a 66-year-old patient who underwent urgent PCI for acute stent thrombosis in the proximal LAD. The artery was reopened, a new stent implanted successfully, and a GPIIb/IIIa-antagonist was given. Shortly thereafter the patient suffered from cardiac tamponade requiring pericardiocentesis and pericardial drainage. The coronary angiogram indicated a severe guide wire-induced perforation and pericardial effusion originating from a distal diagonal branch segment. Prolonged balloon inflation did not stop the leakage. Therefore the monorail balloon was exchanged for an over-the-wire balloon. A two-component commercial fibrin glue consisting of fibrinogen and thrombin was rapidly but separately injected through the wire channel of the balloon into the distal segment of the diagonal branch. The coronary leak was successfully closed and the patient recovered quickly. In comparison with the previously reported cases of thrombin injection important differences should be noticed: (1) a two-component hemostatic seal was used without reversal of anticoagulation, (2) rapid injection instead of prolonged infusion of the hemostatic drugs was performed, and (3) the rescue technique was applied in a cath lab that routinely uses monorail catheter systems. Therefore we consider this a novel and effective approach for closure of coronary ruptures.

Endovascular treatment of a massive retroperitoneal bleeding: Successful balloon-catheter delivery of intra-arterial thrombin

Retroperitoneal bleeding is a potentially lethal complication of percutaneous intervention, when the common femoral artery is used as vascular access. Surgery, the traditional treatment for this complication in patients with persistent bleeding or hemodynamic instability, carries a considerable risk of morbidity and mortality. We report a case of life-threatening retroperitoneal bleeding successfully treated percutaneously with balloon occlusion and catheter delivery of thrombin to attain thrombosis of a lacerated branch of the common femoral artery. Endovascular catheter-based percutaneous treatment for massive retroperitoneal bleeding is often effective and should be pursued in selected patients.

Successful treatment of distal coronary guidewire-induced perforation with balloon catheter delivery of intracoronary thrombin

Distal coronary artery perforation with a coronary guidewire is a relatively rare but potentially fatal complication during PTCA. Historically, these types of perforations have been easy to control with reversal of heparin anticoagulation combined with prolonged distal balloon inflation. In the modern era, with widespread use of potent glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, this type of distal wire perforation has become more difficult to manage and potentially lethal. In this article, we report two cases of guidewire-related distal coronary artery perforation, successfully treated using a new technique using localized, distal intracoronary thrombin injection. During prolonged low-pressure balloon inflation, a small dose of thrombin was injected just proximal to the wire perforation site via the lumen of a coronary balloon catheter. This approach appears to be a relatively rapid and effective way to control this troublesome complication.

Occurrence of a saccular pseudoaneurysm formation two weeks after perforation of the left anterior descending coronary artery during balloon angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction

We describe the occurrence of a localized saccular pseudoaneurysm in a 69-year-old patient 2 weeks after perforation of the left anterior descending coronary artery during balloon angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction. The therapy of perforations requires prolonged balloon inflations, perfusion balloons, covered stents, or surgery. Coronary peudoaneurysm formations are rare; their therapy requires covered stents or surgery. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 47:341-346, 1999.

[Perforation and rupture of coronary arteries]

Spontaneous rupture of coronary arteries as well as coronary perforation during percutaneous interventions are rare but potentially life-threatening incidents often resulting in emergency surgery. Frequency of acute perforation due to therapeutic catheterization varies according to the devices employed. With conventional balloon angioplasty it is estimated to be 0.1 to 0.2% whereas substantially higher rates of up to 3% have been reported with the use of so-called "new devices" (i.e. directional atherectomy, rotablation, excimer laser angioplasty or extractional atherectomy). Interventional strategies for nonsurgical treatment of acute coronary perforations during catheterization procedures have been developed. In recent times, availability of coronary stent-grafts allows for a percutaneous resolution of acute perforations while maintaining vessel patency. Whereas iatrogenic perforations in the catheterization laboratory may thus be treated immediately at the site of their occurrence, rupture of pre-existing but potentially unknown coronary pathology frequently is associated with a diagnostic interval, giving rise to serious clinical events (i.e. myocardial infarction, cardiac tamponade, malign arrhythmias or sudden death). It may be warranted to advocate prophylactic treatment of rupture-prone coronary conditions even on incidental diagnosis. This can either be performed by cardiothoracic surgery or, in suitable cases, by interventional therapy. Implantation of coronary stent-grafts could prove to become the therapy of choice due to its technical facility, safety and the short length of hospital stay associated with it. Before general recommendations can be made, however, as to the extension of indication for these novel coronary devices, further clinical studies encompassing long-term clinical and angiographic follow-up are needed.

Perforation of a side branch of the right coronary artery during selective coronary angiography using 5 French Judkins catheters

In this case report the first known case of a perforation of a side branch of the right coronary artery during diagnostic coronary angiography using 5 French Judkins catheters is described which occurred by selective intubation. Although catheter placement was controlled by contrast test injection the catheter occasionally intubated the conus artery super selectively just prior to the diagnostic injection. Thus, perforation of small side branches may be encountered especially by the use of 5 French Judkins catheters.

Management of coronary artery rupture: covered stent or microcoil embolization

The management of three cases of coronary artery rupture is described: (1) after high-pressure balloon angioplasty following uneventful placement of three Gianturco-Roubin stents, (2) following balloon angioplasty of an occluded diagonal branch, and (3) subsequent to rotational ablation of a left main and proximal circumflex arteries. Placement of an autologous vein-covered Palmaz stent or microcoil embolic vessel occlusion solved each problem. In each case, emergency surgery was avoided; subsequent management, including anticoagulation (when indicated), was performed without incident. This is the first communication detailing correction of a coronary vessel rupture with an autologous vein-covered stent or by microcoil embolic vessel occlusion.