Project description:BackgroundSpontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an infrequent but potentially life-threatening condition in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Conservative medical therapy is recommended in patients with SCAD. However, very little evidence exists in the management of recurrent SCAD when conservative medical therapy fails.Case summaryA 48-year-old woman presented with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) on a background of cigarette smoking. Her coronary angiogram showed the first diagonal artery (D1) and right marginal branch (RM) occlusion with angiographic appearance that is consistent with SCAD. She was medically managed. She represented 2 months later with another NSTEMI, and her coronary angiogram showed healing SCAD in the D1 and RM, but a new SCAD in the first obtuse marginal artery (OM1). She was managed medically. She represented 4 months later complaining of angina every 2 days. This time her coronary angiogram showed healed SCAD in OM1 and RM, but the recurrence of SCAD in D1. Given that she had recurrent events despite medical therapy, we decided to proceed with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to D1. She presented with an atypical chest pain 10 months later and her coronary angiogram showed complete healing of all coronary arteries and a patent stent in D1. She has remained symptom free.DiscussionThe management of SCAD is contentious given the lack of randomized clinical trials to assess optimal treatment strategy. In most patients with SCAD, conservative medical therapy is recommended after the diagnosis is secured. We believe that PCI may be beneficial in patients with recurrent SCAD.
Project description:We presented the case of a patient with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction with coronary arteries of an anomalous origin, an interarterial course of the LMCA, a unique wide-angle "right" main bifurcation lesion, and a high SYNTAX score. Management with contemporary PCI and imaging may be an alternative to surgery.
Project description:BackgroundCompetent lateral and posterolateral valves showed proximal tortuosity that might hinder left ventricular (LV) lead implantation in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).Case summaryA 57-year-old woman was diagnosed as non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy, no other comorbidities, complaining of dyspnoea [New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III], and on optimal medical therapy. Electrocardiogram showed left bundle branch block with QRS duration 150 ms. The patient was candidate for CRT. However, during LV lead implantation, a competent posterolateral vein valve and proximal tortuosity hindered LV lead implantation that was overcome by balloon-assisted tracking technique. At 9 months of follow-up, the patient had NYHA class II, ejection fraction improved to 38%, and all implanted leads were still in place.DiscussionBalloon-assisted tracking technique can be used to cross coronary sinus and smaller veins with competent valves and coronary veins tortuosity.
Project description:Iatrogenic type A dissection caused by percutaneous coronary intervention is a rare but life-threatening condition. Computed tomographic angiography is an excellent diagnostic tool commonly utilized if such procedural complication is clinically suspected. There are, however, potential diagnostic challenges. Herein, we present an illustrative case of iatrogenic type A dissection successfully diagnosed on computed tomography angiography along with a potential diagnostic pitfall.
Project description:IntroductionThis case report aims to describe in detail the acute isolated cilioretinal artery occlusion (CLRAO) secondary to complicated therapeutic percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Case descriptionA 68-year-old Chinese man with coronary artery disease (CAD) complained of sudden, sharp chest pain. Coronary angiography revealed severe stenoses of the coronary arteries. The patient was then treated with PCI. One hour after the procedure, the patient presented with a sudden reduction in vision in the right eye. The patient was diagnosed with acute isolated CLRAO and treated with Salvia miltiorrhiza injections.ConclusionsThis is the report to provide a detailed description of acute isolated CLRAO secondary to therapeutic PCI treated with Salvia miltiorrhiza. The visual prognosis of the untreated patients is poor. Suitable management and prevention are essential for interventional cardiologists to prevent these complications.
Project description:Background:Acquired coronary cameral fistula is an extremely rare condition that involves an abnormal communication between a coronary artery and a cardiac chamber. It usually occurs after chest trauma or cardiovascular interventions, such as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and is associated with various outcomes, ranging from a stable status to haemodynamic instability. Acquired coronary cameral fistula frequently arises from the right coronary artery and drains generally into the right ventricle. Case summary:We report the unusual case of a 56-year-old male patient referred to an invasive cardiology centre for a suspected left anterior descending (LAD) coronary-left ventricular (LV) fistula resulting from a primary PCI for an anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Here, the confirmed LAD-LV fistula was successfully treated by retrograde PCI with covered stent implantation. Clinical and angiographic outcomes were favourable at 1-month follow-up. Discussion:Coronary cameral fistula can be a severe complication of primary PCI. Various treatment strategies can be considered based on haemodynamic status and anatomical features. In the case described herein, the use of a retrograde approach led to permanent fistula closure and complete revascularization.
Project description:BackgroundCoronary artery pseudoaneurysms (PSAs) are uncommon and have poorly understood natural history. Unlike true aneurysms, PSAs do not have all the three layers of the vessel in the aneurysmal wall. The PSAs are most commonly seen after an overzealous percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) which causes damage to the vessel wall. They usually develop slowly after PCI and PSAs within a month of a PCI are not so common. The PSA may be asymptomatic or present with recurrent angina.Case summaryHere, we report a case of symptomatic PSA to right coronary artery (RCA). The patient had a myocardial infarction for which a PCI was performed to deploy a drug-eluting stent (DES) in the RCA. The patient had in-stent restenosis (ISR) within a week of PCI for which plain old balloon angioplasty (POBA) was performed. The patient continued to have unstable angina and within a month of POBA was diagnosed as a case of PSA by intravascular ultrasound. A covered stent was deployed which effectively sealed off the PSA and resumed normal blood flow to distal vessel. Patient has been doing well on medication [aspirin 75 mg once daily, atorvastatin 80 mg once daily, and P2Y12 platelet inhibitor (Ticagrelor) 90 mg twice daily].DiscussionThe PSAs usually take 6-9 months to develop. However, PSAs have been reported within 1-2 months of PCI. This case also shows that PSAs can occur within a month of PCI. It is possible that over-aggressive and/or high-pressure dilatation and/or deep engagement during POBA performed to open up the ISR could have damaged the struts of the DES and compressed it against the vascular wall. The resultant vascular wall injury could have been the cause of early PSA formation in this case. Hence, cardiologists should be vigilant enough to suspect PSA, especially in a patient presenting with angina. The case also shows that covered stents are a viable option to treat early presentations of PSA.
Project description:BackgroundCardiovascular disease (CVD) is the major cause of mortality worldwide. Coronary artery disease (CAD) contributes to half of mortalities caused by CVD. The mainstay of management of CAD is medical therapy and revascularisation. Revascularisation can be achieved via coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Peripheral arteries, such as the femoral or radial artery, provide the access to the coronary arteries to perform diagnostic or therapeutic (or both) procedures.ObjectivesTo assess the benefits and harms of the transradial compared to the transfemoral approach in people with CAD undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography (CA) or PCI (or both).Search methodsWe searched the following databases for randomised controlled trials on 10 October 2017: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science Core Collection. We also searched ClinicalTrials.gov and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform in August 2017. There were no language restrictions. Reference lists were also checked and we contacted authors of included studies for further information.Selection criteriaWe included randomised controlled trials that compared transradial and transfemoral approaches in adults (18 years of age or older) undergoing diagnostic CA or PCI (or both) for CAD.Data collection and analysisWe used the standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. At least two authors independently screened trials, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias in the included studies. We contacted trial authors for missing information. We used risk ratio (RR) for dichotomous outcomes and mean difference (MD) or standardised mean difference (SMD) for continuous data, with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). All analyses were checked by another author.Main resultsWe identified 31 studies (44 reports) including 27,071 participants and two ongoing studies. The risk of bias in the studies was low or unclear for several domains. Compared to the transfemoral approach, the transradial approach reduced short-term net adverse clinical events (NACE) (i.e. assessed during hospitalisation and up to 30 days of follow-up) (RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.94; 17,133 participants; 4 studies; moderate quality evidence), cardiac death (RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.54 to 0.88; 11,170 participants; 11 studies; moderate quality evidence). However, short-term myocardial infarction was similar between both groups (RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.02; 19,430 participants; 11 studies; high quality evidence). The transradial approach had a lower procedural success rate (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.96 to 0.98; 25,920 participants; 28 studies; moderate quality evidence), but was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality (RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.95; 18,955 participants; 10 studies; high quality evidence), bleeding (RR 0.54, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.74; 23,043 participants; 20 studies; low quality evidence), and access site complications (RR 0.36, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.59; 16,112 participants; 24 studies; low quality evidence).Authors' conclusionsTransradial approach for diagnostic CA or PCI (or both) in CAD may reduce short-term NACE, cardiac death, all-cause mortality, bleeding, and access site complications. There is insufficient evidence regarding the long-term clinical outcomes (i.e. beyond 30 days of follow-up).