Diffuse coronary artery spasm induced by guidewire insertion
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Updated: Sep 25, 2026

Interventional Diagnostic Procedure: A Practical Guide for the Assessment of Coronary Vascular Function
Published on: March 15, 2022
George V Moukarbel1, Habib A Dakik
1Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon. hd01@aub.edu.lb
Abstract:
Coronary artery spasm is reported to occur in 1 5% of percutaneous coronary interventions. However, coronary spasm induced solely by guidewire insertion is very rare. We present a case of diffuse coronary artery spasm induced by guidewire insertion, which responded promptly to intracoronary nitrates. The case illustrates the importance of the recognition of this phenomenon for the selection of the optimal balloon and stent size.
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