A rare case of right coronary artery dissection during routine left heart catheterization

Noreen Mirza1, Vikramjit Purewal2, Joanna Pater3

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Michael's Medical Center, Newark, New Jersey, USA.

Insights

Catheter induced coronary artery dissection (CICAD) is a rare complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This case highlights a rare instance of right coronary artery dissection extending to the aortic root, successfully managed with stenting.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Interventional Cardiology
  • Vascular Medicine

Background:

  • Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a standard treatment for coronary revascularization.
  • Complications can arise during PCI, including catheter-induced coronary artery dissection (CICAD).
  • CICAD is infrequent, with an incidence as low as 0.1%, and extension to the aortic root is even rarer.

Observation:

  • A 68-year-old female with multivessel coronary artery disease underwent left heart catheterization.
  • During the procedure, catheter-induced dissection of the right coronary artery (RCA) occurred.
  • The dissection propagated towards the aortic root, a rare and potentially severe complication.

Findings:

  • The catheter-induced RCA dissection with aortic root propagation was diagnosed.
  • The patient was treated with stenting to address the dissection.
  • A strategy of watchful waiting was employed following the intervention.

Implications:

  • Timely recognition and management of CICAD are crucial for optimal patient outcomes.
  • Stenting is an effective treatment for managing coronary artery dissections.
  • This case underscores the importance of vigilance for rare complications during PCI, even with standard procedures.