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Coronary artery rupture and pseudoaneurysm formation resulting from percutaneous coronary angioscopy
M R Wolff1, J R Resar, R S Stuart
1Division of Cardiology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland 21205.
Insights
Coronary angioscopy complications can arise from balloon deflation failure. Deliberately rupturing an occlusive balloon during coronary angioscopy may lead to severe arterial damage and necessitate bypass surgery.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Interventional Cardiology
- Medical Device Technology
Background:
- Coronary angioscopy is an advanced imaging technique used to visualize the inside of coronary arteries.
- Occlusion balloons are critical components of some angioscopy devices, facilitating controlled blood flow interruption for better visualization.
- Device malfunction, such as failure to deflate, can pose significant risks during interventional procedures.
Abstract:
We describe a case in which coronary angioscopy was complicated by inability to deflate the device's occlusion balloon. Rapid over-inflation to rupture the balloon resulted in massive dissection of the artery, pseudoaneurysm formation, and ultimately coronary bypass. While the cause of failure of balloon deflation remains obscure, deliberate over-inflation to cause rupture may be hazardous.