Fatal complication, rescue therapy; covered stent for coronary artery perforation

Introduction: Although coronary perforation is a rare complication observed during intervenetional procedures, it has a considerably high mortality rate. The prevelance of coronary perforation has been reported to be 0.20%-0.6%. Its sudden development, the patient’s agitation and development of rapid collapse render intervention difficult. Materials and Method: The presence of perfusion balloon and covered stent in clinics is life-saving. In the present study, we retrospectively reviewed 17 cases with coronary artery perforation that were treated between 2009 and 2012. Of these patients, 10 (58.8%) were men and 7 (41.2%) were women; the median age was 62.8 ± 8.3 years. The coronary artery perforation resulted from guide wire in 23.5%, balloon dilatation in 58.8% and stent implantation in 17.6%. All the lesions were either type B or C lesions. Results: The extensiveness of perforation was Ellis grade I in 23.5%, grade II in 47.1% and grade III in 29.4% of the cases. In the treatment of the perforation, polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stent graft was implemented in 9 (52.9%) patients, whilst conventional and emergency surgical therapy was performed in 8 (47.1%) patients. Grade I perforations occurred due to the guide wire and were managed with conventional therapy (p