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A rare but serious complication of percutaneous coronary intervention: spinal cord embolism

Mehmet Akif Vatankulu1, Mehmet Kayrak, Yusuf Alihanoglu

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Selcuk University, Faculty of Meram Medicine, Konya, Meram, Turkey. vatankulu@hotmail.com

The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine
|April 20, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Coronary angiography can cause serious atherothrombotic complications, including spinal cord embolism. This case report details a patient who recovered after experiencing leg weakness post-procedure.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Neurology
  • Vascular Medicine

Background:

  • Coronary angiography is a common procedure for diagnosing coronary artery disease.
  • Atherothrombotic complications, such as embolism, can arise from invasive vascular procedures.
  • Spinal cord embolism is a rare but severe complication with significant morbidity and mortality.

Observation:

  • A 65-year-old woman presented with acute myocardial infarction.
  • Following coronary angiography, the patient developed lower extremity paresthesia and paraparesis.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging revealed hyperintensity in the conus medullaris, indicative of spinal cord injury.

Findings:

  • The patient received antiplatelet therapy and underwent physiotherapy.
  • Clinical symptoms and MRI findings showed improvement after 2 months of treatment.
  • This suggests potential for recovery from procedure-induced spinal cord embolism.

Implications:

  • Highlights the risk of atherothrombotic events, including spinal cord embolism, associated with coronary angiography.
  • Emphasizes the importance of prompt diagnosis and management of such rare complications.
  • Suggests that timely medical intervention and rehabilitation can lead to favorable outcomes in spinal cord embolism.
Abstract

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