Iatrogenic Aortic Root Injury from Coronary Interventions: Early and Follow-up CT Imaging Findings
Luca A Cappellini1, Matthias Eberhard1, Christian Templin1
1Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology (L.A.C., M.E., R.M.), Department of Cardiology, University Heart Center (C.T., R.M.), and Department of Cardiac Surgery (P.R.V.), University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland; and Department of Radiology, Cardiovascular Imaging Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy (L.A.C., H.A.).
Insights
Aortic injury after invasive coronary angiography is rare. CT scans revealed subintimal contrast media staining in the aortic root, which resolved favorably in most patients, indicating a good short-term outcome.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Imaging
- Interventional Cardiology
- Radiology
Background:
- Aortic injury is a rare but serious complication of invasive coronary angiography.
- Prompt diagnosis and understanding of outcomes are crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the imaging findings and short-term outcomes of aortic injury following invasive coronary angiography.
- To characterize the presentation of subintimal contrast media staining in the aortic root.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of four patients experiencing aortic injury post-coronary angiography.
- Computed Tomography (CT) and CT angiography were used for diagnosis and follow-up.
- Analysis of contrast media (CM) distribution and communication with the aortic lumen.
Main Results:
- Three patients presented with subintimal CM staining in the aortic root without lumen communication.
- One patient developed classic aortic dissection with CM in the false lumen.
- Short-term follow-up CT demonstrated resolution of CM staining in all cases.
Conclusions:
- Iatrogenic aortic injury from invasive coronary angiography can manifest as subintimal CM staining.
- This specific finding, without lumen communication, appears to have a favorable short-term outcome.
- CT angiography is valuable for diagnosing and monitoring these injuries.
Abstract:
Aortic injury represents a rare but potentially fatal complication of invasive coronary angiography. The authors present a series of four patients with aortic injury after invasive coronary angiography and intervention (mean age, 71 years; three women). In three patients, CT showed subintimal staining from undiluted contrast media (CM) in the aortic root with no communication to the aortic lumen. Short-term follow-up CT showed resolution of CM staining in all patients. Classic aortic dissection occurred in one patient, with undiluted CM from invasive angiography in the false lumen in the aortic root. Preliminary evidence suggests that iatrogenic injury from invasive coronary angiography resulting in subintimal CM staining of the aortic wall at CT, without evidence of communication with the lumen of the aortic root, shows favorable short-term outcome. Keywords: CT Angiography, Percutaneous, Fluoroscopy Supplemental material is available for this article. © RSNA, 2021.
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