Death from coronary air embolism during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

A patient undergoing percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of a critical proximal stenosis of his anterior descending coronary artery died as a result of coronary air embolism from a defective dilatation catheter. The probable mechanism responsible for this lethal complication is discussed. Simple precautions are described that will prevent its future occurrence.