Case report: A novel application of the MicroVascular Plug (MVP) in treating distal coronary perforation

Coronary artery perforation during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a rare but severe complication which has been associated with a high rate of major adverse outcomes and is potentially fatal. We report a case of a 70-year-old male who presented with an anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Coronary angiogram revealed a proximal left anterior descending (LAD) artery occlusion. Successful PCI was performed with stenting of the LAD. However, subsequent attempts to retrieve a jailed diagonal branch inadvertently led to distal coronary perforation of the LAD. After failed attempts to tamponade the perforation with prolonged balloon inflation, this was successfully sealed with the MicroVascular Plug (Medtronic) system. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of such an application in the coronary system. This may prove to be a viable alternative in closure of distal coronary perforations.