Related Experiment Videos
Coronary thromboembolism with fatal outcome following coronary angiography
Insights
A rare case of fatal coronary artery occlusion during cardiac catheterization is presented. Thrombus transfer from one catheter to another during the procedure led to immediate, fatal blockage of major left coronary arteries.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Interventional Cardiology
- Pathology
Background:
- Selective coronary arteriography is a common diagnostic procedure.
- Complications, though rare, can occur during cardiac catheterization.
- Thromboembolic events are a known risk in invasive cardiovascular procedures.
Abstract:
A case of fatal thromboembolic occlusion of the left coronary artery at selective coronary arteriography is described. The course of events and the findings at autopsy suggest that thrombotic material was deposited on one intravascular catheter and transferred to a second catheter inserted over the same guide wire. Contrast injection through the second catheter into the left coronary ostium resulted in immediate and fatal occlusion of the two major branches of the left coronary artery.