[Extensive iatrogenic coronary dissection during coronary angioplasty: a series of 19 consecutive patients]

Spontaneous resolution of iatrogenic dissection of the left main coronary artery extending to the thoracic and abdominal aorta

Iatrogenic coronary artery dissection extending to the ascending aorta is a rare complication of percutaneous coronary interventions. Coronary stent implantation is usually sufficient to control the injury. In this report we describe an unusual case of spontaneous resolution of both left main coronary artery and aortic wall dissection. The patient was not operated on due to the location of the initial tear in the distal part of the left main coronary artery. Moreover, in computed tomography (CT) thrombus formation in the false lumen of the dissected aorta was seen. The in-hospital course was uneventful. The last follow-up CT showed complete resolution of dissection.

Anterior ECG changes following iatrogenic dissection of the right coronary artery into the aortic root: exclusion of left coronary obstruction with transoesophageal echocardiography

One of the most troublesome complications of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or angiography is retrograde dissection of the artery into the aortic root. We report a case involving the right coronary artery (RCA) which was treated with prompt deployment of stents. Recurrent chest pain and ST segment elevation in V(2-4) mimicked the ECG appearance of acute anterior infarction and prompted concern that the dissection had extended to impair flow in the left coronary artery (LCA). Transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) demonstrated that the aortic root dissection had been contained and that the LCA was not compromised.