Giant ventricular pseudoaneurysm following inferior myocardial infarction: insights from multimodal imaging approach

Prevalence and Characteristics of Acquired Coronary Fistulas After Successful Revascularization of Chronic Total Occlusion

Background and Objectives: Acquired coronary fistulas (ACFs) are rare coronary artery abnormalities in patients with chronic total occlusion (CTO). It has been found after revascularization, and it may cause fluster during the CTO percutaneous coronary intervention (CTO PCI). How to distinguish between ACFs and coronary perforation (CP) is very important for CTO operators. Chronic total occlusion reopening may reveal the microchannel of the adventitial vascular layers. Some of ACFs have been seen after revascularization. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of ACFs after successful CTO PCI.

Methods: The clinical and procedural characteristics, medical history, and findings in electrocardiography (ECG), echocardiography, and coronary angiography were collected from 2,169 consecutive patients undergoing CTO PCI between January 2018 and December 2019 and analyzed retrospectively.

Results: About 1,844 (85.02%) underwent successful CTO PCI with complete revascularization. Acquired coronary fistulas were found in 49 patients (2.66%): the majority of patients with ACFs were men (81.63 vs. 60.78%; p = 0.016) and younger (62.8 vs. 66.69 years; p = 0.003), and had a history of myocardial infarction (MI) or Q-wave (69.39 vs. 54.21%; p = 0.035); 38 (77.55%) patients had multiple fistulas (≥3), and ACFs affected multiple branches of the CTO vessel (≥3) in 29 (59.18%) patients. None had pericardial effusion, tamponade, and hemodynamic abnormality before or after PCI.

Conclusion: Acquired coronary fistulas after successful CTO PCI are mainly present in young and male patients with a history of MI, and they often involve multiple fistulas and distal CTO vessels.

Medical Management of a Case of Inferior-Posterior Wall ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction Complicated by Pseudoaneurysm

Left ventricular pseudoaneurysm is a rare complication associated with high morbidity and mortality when symptomatic and is usually managed aggressively to prevent or reduce risk of mortality. Herein, we present the case of a 73-year-old man who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting 10 years ago, now presenting with an inferior-posterior wall myocardial infarction complicated by pseudoaneurysm. This case highlights the need for individual clinical assessment of patient presentation with consideration for medical management in acute settings in patients with pseudoaneurysm of the left ventricle. Despite the natural history of rare complications with pseudoaneurysms such as rupture and potentially fatal cardiac tamponade, infections, and arrhythmias, it is important to note that pseudoaneurysms can present with coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure, and clinicians need to have an index of suspicion for pseudoaneurysms despite advancement in medical and interventional management of coronary artery disease.