Cardiac tamponade due to coronary perforation during percutaneous interventions successfully treated with microspheres

Conquer coronary artery perforation with magic hands

Coronary artery perforation (CAP) poses a significant challenge for interventional cardiologists. Management of CAP depends on the location and severity of the perforation. The conventional method for addressing the perforation of large vessels involves the placement of a covered stent, while the perforation of distal and collateral vessels is typically managed using coils, autologous skin, subcutaneous fat, microspheres, gelatin sponge, thrombin or other substances. However, the above techniques have certain limitations and are not applicable in all scenarios. Our team has developed a range of innovative strategies for effectively managing CAP. This article provides an insightful review of the various tips and tricks for the treatment of CAP.

Distal coronary perforation sealing with combined coil and fat embolization

Distal coronary perforation is a rare complication of percutaneous coronary intervention. While temporary balloon occlusion of the proximal coronary artery is the first step in perforation management, more definitive treatment options include covered stent implantation for large vessel perforations or fat/coil embolization for distal vessel perforations. We report a case of an 81-year old man who presented with inferior/posterior ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography showed a 90% distal left circumflex artery (LCx) stenosis. Percutaneous coronary intervention of the culprit vessel was challenging due to balloon uncrossable lesions in LCx and was complicated by distal coronary perforation due to excessive wire movement. Two Axium coils were delivered using a Finecross microcatheter but failed to seal the perforation. We performed fat embolization (proximal to the coils) that successfully sealed the perforation. In selected cases where coil embolization alone fails to seal a distal coronary perforation, combined coil and fat embolization might help achieve hemostasis.

"Incidence, clinical and angiographic characteristics, management and outcomes of coronary artery perforation at a high volume cardiac care center during percutaneous coronary intervention"

AIMS

To study the incidence, clinical and angiographic characteristics, management and outcomes of coronary artery perforation (CAP) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at a high volume center in South-east Asia.

METHODS

Data from patients who had CAP during PCI from January 2016 to December 2019 at our center were collected. Clinical features, angiographic and procedural characteristics, their management and outcomes were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

A total of 40,696 patients underwent PCI during the study period and the incidence of CAP was 0.13% (n = 51). Mean age was 60.0 ± 10.8 years and 69% were males. CAP cases involved complex type B2/C lesions in 73%, calcified lesions in 58%, and chronic total occlusions in 25%. Majority of patients presented as acute coronary syndrome (65%) and STEMI was the most frequent indication for PCI (33%). Most of the CAPs were Ellis type II (33%) and III (55%). CAP most frequently occurred during post dilation (n = 20) and wire manipulation (n = 17). Majority were treated by prolonged balloon inflation (53%) and covered stents (33%). Pericardiocentesis was required in 19 patients to alleviate tamponade. In one patient coil embolisation was done and two patients required bail-out emergency cardiac surgery. Periprocedural myocardial infarction occurred in 6% and in-hospital mortality was 10%. All-cause mortality accrued to 14% at 30 days and 16% at 6 months.

CONCLUSION

Although incidence of CAP in contemporary interventional practice remains low, the morbidity and mortality are considerable. Early recognition and management strategies tailored to the severity of perforation play a key role in achieving better outcomes.

Incidence, predictors, management and outcomes of coronary perforations

OBJECTIVES

We examined the contemporary incidence, types, predictors, angiographic characteristics, management and outcomes of coronary perforation.

BACKGROUND

Coronary perforation is a rare, but important, complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). There is lack of data on perforations stratified as large and distal vessel perforations.

METHODS

Retrospective, observational cohort study of all patients who underwent PCI at a high volume, tertiary hospital between the years 2009 and 2016. Angiograms of all coronary perforation cases were reviewed to determine the mechanism, type, and management of perforation. Risk-adjusted periprocedural complication rates were compared between patients with and without coronary perforation. One-year mortality outcomes of patients with large vessel vs. distal vessel perforation were also examined.

RESULTS

Coronary perforation occurred in 68 of 13,339 PCIs (0.51%) performed during the study period: 51 (75%) were large vessel perforations and 17 (25%) distal vessel perforations. Most (67%) large vessel perforations were due to balloon/stent inflation, whereas most (94%) distal vessel perforations were due to guidewire exit. Patients with coronary perforations had significantly higher risk for periprocedural complications (adjusted odds ratio 7.57; 95% CI: 4.22-13.50; P < 0.001). Only one patient with large vessel perforation required emergency cardiac surgery, yet in-hospital mortality was high with both large vessel (7.8%) and distal vessel (11.8%) perforations.

CONCLUSIONS

Coronary perforation is an infrequent, but potentially severe PCI complication. Most coronary perforations are large vessel perforations. Although coronary perforations rarely lead to emergency cardiac surgery, both distal vessel and large vessel perforations are associated with high in-hospital mortality, highlighting the importance of prevention.

Clinical Characteristics and Management of Coronary Artery Perforations: A Single-Center 11-Year Experience and Practical Overview

Background

Coronary artery perforation (CAP) is a potentially lethal complication of percutaneous coronary intervention. We report on the incidence, clinical characteristics, and management of iatrogenic coronary perforations based on an 11‐year single‐center experience.

Methods and Results

From February 9, 2005, through November 20, 2016, 150 CAP cases were identified from our percutaneous coronary intervention database of 21 212 procedures (0.71%). Mean age of CAP patients was 66±11 years, and 62.7% were male. Treated lesion type was B2/C in 94.6%, and 31.3% were chronic total occlusions. Nonworkhorse guidewires were applied in 74.3%. CAP types were Ellis type I in 2.9%, Ellis type II in 40.4%, Ellis type III in 54.8%, and Ellis type III cavity spilling in 1.9%. CAP treatment was conservative (including prolonged balloon inflation) in 73.3%. Covered stents, coiling, and fat embolization were used in 24.0%, 0.7%, and 2.0%, respectively. Pericardiocentesis for tamponade was required for 72 patients (48.0%), of whom 28 were initially unrecognized. Twelve patients (12.7%) required emergency cardiac surgery to alleviate tamponade. Periprocedural myocardial infarction occurred in 34.0%, and in‐hospital all‐cause mortality was 8.0%. All‐cause mortality accrued to 10.7% at 30 days and 17.8% at 1 year.

Conclusions

CAP is a rare complication of percutaneous coronary intervention, but morbidity and mortality are considerable. Early recognition and adequate management are of paramount importance.