Treatment of a large left main coronary artery thrombus by aspiration thrombectomy

A left main coronary artery thrombosis is a life-threatening condition demanding immediate therapeutic management. Traditional treatment options include thrombolysis, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stenting or cardiac bypass surgery. The number of reported cases in which aspiration thrombectomy has been used is limited. Indications for this therapeutic approach are determined by coronary anatomy, clinical stability, and hemodynamic condition of the patient. We present the case of an acute left main coronary artery thrombosis leading to progressive deterioration of left ventricle function that was successfully treated with aspiration thrombectomy.     

Left main dissection and thrombosis in a young athlete

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rare but morbid event. We present the case of a previously healthy 38-year-old man who experienced severe chest discomfort while vigorously exercising. An acute anterolateral myocardial infarction was diagnosed. The patient underwent coronary angiography, demonstrating acute thrombosis of the left main coronary artery. The patient was referred for immediate bypass surgery. Examination of the left main coronary artery in the operating room revealed a dissection flap with thrombosis. With successful surgical intervention, the patient made an uneventful recovery. This case is discussed and the literature reviewed.     

Complete obstruction of the common trunk of the left coronary vessel. Observation of a case

A case of complete left main coronary artery obstruction is described. After an anterolateral and inferior subendocardial myocardial infarction, the patient remained symptomatic and underwent an angiographic investigation. Complete left main artery obstruction was disclosed and an important coronary collateral circulation was evidenced. This collaterality explains the absence of extensive transmural myocardial infarction of some patients with left main coronary artery thrombosis.     

Acute promyelocytic leukemia as a cause of intracoronary drug-eluting-stent thrombosis

Stent thrombosis is a potentially lethal complication of percutaneous coronary intervention. We describe the case of a 51-year-old man who presented with acute anterior ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction and underwent successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and placement of 3 drug-eluting stents in the left anterior descending coronary artery. Despite receiving dual antiplatelet therapy, the patient presented a week later with a non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction and was found to have nonocclusive thrombosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery stents and his ostial left main and left circumflex coronary arteries. Subsequently, bone marrow biopsy analysis indicated that the patient had acute myelogenous leukemia, which we believe was the underlying cause of his prothrombotic state and stent thrombosis.     

Iatrogenic left main coronary artery thrombosis during percutaneous coronary intervention

During diagnostic angiographic procedures or percutaneous coronary angioplasty-stenting of the other coronary arteries, the overall risk for a complication related to the left main coronary artery (LMCA) is low; however, if such complications occur, they tend to be life-threatening and contribute to a large part of the total catheter-related mortality. We encountered a case of iatrogenic significant subtotal left main coronary artery thrombotic stenosis in a patient who had undergone prior percutaneous transluminal coronary artery angioplasty-stenting of the left circumflex artery. In light of the literature, an extremely rare clinical presentation of iatrogenic left main coronary artery thrombosis is discussed.     

Acute left main coronary arterial thrombosis - a case series

Acute left main coronary artery thrombosis is an uncommon, but important clinical entity. We report 6 consecutive cases of acute left main thrombosis that highlight the spectrum in clinical presentation of this entity, and the potential of an initial medical approach in managing a subset of these patients.     

Intracoronary recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in an infant with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and complete left main coronary artery thrombosis

An infant with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) presented with complete heart block and severe myocardial dysfunction requiring ECMO support due to complete left main coronary artery (LMCA) thrombosis. Current guidelines for managing coronary artery thrombosis in infants with single ventricle physiology are inadequate. We describe successful LMCA and branch recanalization via intra coronary infusion of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator and discuss management of acute coronary thrombosis in children with single ventricle physiology.     

Left main perforation and acute stent thrombosis—a cath lab nightmare

Coronary perforation is a rare, but life‐threatening, complication that can develop during a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Prompt nonsurgical treatment such as covered stent deployment can potentially arrest progression of the condition; however, other lethal complications such as acute stent thrombosis or side branch occlusion can occur. This report describes a case of perforation of the left main coronary artery that was successfully managed via stenting; however, acute stent thrombosis and side branch occlusion subsequently occurred under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. Means of avoiding this tragic outcome involve the routine use of intravascular ultrasound in patients undergoing PCI of the left main coronary artery, being respectful of circumferential calcification, and keeping the procedure as simple as possible. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Left main coronary artery thrombosis in a 19 year-old patient

Left main coronary artery occlusion is a very rare entity that often results in death. It usually manifests as acute myocardial infarction (MI) with cardiogenic shock and fatal arrhythmias. Here, we report the case of a 19 year-old patient who presented with acute anterior MI secondary to left main coronary artery thrombosis. There were no classical risk factors for coronary heart disease in the anamnesis of the patient. Leukaemia was regarded to be the most probable predisposing condition in the patient.     

Successful removal of a left main coronary artery thrombus induced by vasospasm to the aorta [correction of vasospasm of the aorta] after the injection of contrast medium.

A 51-year-old woman with acute myocardial infarction underwent emergency coronary angiography. The patient had an episode of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, and underwent splenectomy at the age of 36. On admission, platelet count in the peripheral blood was 43.2x10(4)/microl. During the initial emergency left coronary angiography, a thrombus was detected in the left main trunk. The thrombus was drawn back to the orifice of the left coronary artery, and finally disappeared into the aorta by injecting contrast media. After the thrombus disappeared, no stenotic lesion was detected in the left coronary artery. One month later, when acetylcholine-provocation coronary angiography was performed, marked vasospasm was detected in the left coronary arteries. Coronary thrombosis in the patient might have been induced by a coronary spasm, and the presence of thrombocytosis might also have affected the development of a coronary thrombus. However, it was spontaneously drawn back to the aorta by back flow of contrast media, which was injected via the entrance of the left coronary artery. A case of acute myocardial infarction whose thrombus occluded the left main coronary artery and was removed at first injection of contrast media is presented.     

Left main coronary artery occlusion with myocardial infarction in a cocaine user. Successful angioplasty with a drug-eluting stent

A patient presented with acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction following cocaine abuse. He was transferred for primary angioplasty. The emergent coronary angiography revealed acute left main coronary artery occlusion. Recanalization with balloon angioplasty was performed, followed by thrombectomy and stenting of the left main coronary artery with a paclitaxel-eluting stent. The patient recovered with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 35% at discharge. The pathophysiology of cocaine-induced myocardial infarction includes vasospasm, thrombosis and increased myocardial oxygen demand. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention allows local delivery of vasodilators and mechanical reperfusion in a timely manner. The authors argue that it is the best option for cocaine-induced ST segment elevation myocardial infarction. Recent data from randomized trials comparing bare metal and drug-eluting stents for primary percutaneous coronary intervention are discussed, as is the lack of evidence supporting the use of thrombectomy devices in acute myocardial infarction. The authors believe that primary percutaneous coronary intervention should be considered early for a patient presenting with cocaine-induced ST segment elevation myocardial infarction.     

Left coronary artery-to-right atrium fistula: an evaluation of MSCT angiography before and after transcatheter closure with a PDA occluder

The MSCT manifestations of a left coronary artery-to-right atrium fistula before and after the transcatheter closure were reported. Before treatment, MSCT showed a dilated left coronary sinus and the dilated left main trunk, which coursed along the coronary sulcus to form the left circumflex artery, draining directly into the right atrium in the left middle part. The fistula was occluded with a PDA occluder. Four days after the occlusion, MSCT showed that the fistula was completely occluded and there was massive thrombosis in the central part and around the occluder. The thrombus was found even in the segment near to the start point of the oblique marginal artery.     

Acute myocardial infarction with occlusion of all three main epicardial coronary arteries: when Mother Nature takes care more than physicians

Double-arterial coronary stent thrombosis in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is an infrequent but severe complication, especially when the third main coronary artery is chronically occluded. The conus artery (CA) can serve as a major source of collateral when the left anterior descendent coronary artery (LAD) becomes obstructed. We report a case of a 48-year-old man presenting with AMI due to a very late double-arterial stent thrombosis (ST) following drug-eluting stent implantation and a chronic occlusion of LAD collateralized by a large anomalous CA, which provided for the entire vascularization of the coronary tree.     

Left main coronary artery stenosis: state-of-the-art

Patients with stenosis of the left main coronary artery present difficult challenges. The risks associated with this lesion have been known since the early days of angiography when patients were found to have increased mortality during follow-up. This information led to the general guidelines that surgical revascularization should be considered the treatment of choice in patients with significant left main coronary artery stenosis. Current advances in invasive cardiology have brought important information to the field. Intravascular ultrasound is now used routinely to evaluate angiographically indeterminate lesions with criteria now set forward as to what constitutes an indication for revascularization. Stents have even further dramatically changed the landscape. There are substantial issues, however, that need to addressed. These include the following: (1) the effect of specific lesion location on outcome - it is known that patients with distal bifurcation left main disease have worse outcome; (2) the potential for subacute thrombosis of the left main coronary artery; (3) the impact of left ventricular function and patient comorbidities irrespective of the degree and location of left main coronary artery stenosis; and (4) the risk-benefit ratio of stenting versus coronary artery bypass graft surgery. These issues are currently being addressed in two seminally important trials including the SYNTAX trial, which randomizes patients with left main and/or three-vessel disease to either coronary artery bypass graft surgery or a TAXUS drug-eluting stent. This trial is in the final stages of patient recruitment and will have important implications for the field. The other trial is the COMBAT trial, which is focused exclusively on left main coronary artery stenosis and randomizes patients with left main coronary artery disease either to a Sirolimus-eluting stent (Cypher, Johnson and Johnson Cordis, USA) or to coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The field of left main coronary artery disease continues to expand in terms of the evidence available for optimal patient evaluation and selection of treatment modalities.     

A Case of ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction Secondary to Heparin-induced Thrombocytopaenia with Thrombosis

A 54 year-old woman with Noonan Syndrome presented with an acute anterolateral ST elevation myocardial infarction two weeks post septal myectomy and heparin exposure, on the background of known normal coronary arteries. Coronary angiography revealed acute thrombosis of the left main, left anterior descending and left circumflex arteries, which was successfully treated by percutaneous coronary intervention with overlapping bare metal stents. A positive heparin induced platelet antibody test and dramatic fall in platelet count confirmed the diagnosis of heparin induced thrombocytopaenia with thrombosis (HITTS) as the underlying diagnosis. This represents the first documented case of HITTS induced left main coronary artery thrombosis and occlusion.     

Coronary thrombosis and subsequent lysis after a marathon

A patient who developed an acute anterior myocardial infarction after completion of a marathon is presented. Coronary angiography performed 5 hours after the onset of symptoms showed occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery and nonocclusive thrombus in the proximal right coronary artery. Repeat angiography 10 days later showed complete resolution of thrombosis in both arteries. The relation between marathon running and coronary thrombosis is discussed.     

An avoidable complication of percutaneous coronary intervention-entrapment of stent and disconnected balloon catheter

During percutaneous coronary intervention, entrapment of catheter materials is a rare but life-threatening complication that sometimes requires emergency surgical treatment. Coronary artery stents have been developed to prevent acute coronary closure and reduce restenosis after coronary angioplasty. The most frequently reported complications of coronary stents are related to stent thrombosis and anticoagulation problems. This case study describes a 60-year-old female who had stable angina pectoris and underwent stent insertion into the left circumflex artery. Unfortunately, the coronary stent with balloon catheter was entrapped while crossing the angulated segment between the left circumflex and left main coronary artery. The stent catheter was surgically removed, and the patient underwent coronary artery bypass grafting successfully. Physicians should keep in mind that extremely angulated segments may reduce the successful rate of coronary stenting and contribute to the stent entrapment complication.     

无保护左主干病变患者经皮介入治疗的即刻及远期疗效分析

目的探讨无保护左主干病变患者经皮冠状动脉介入治疗(PCI)的近、远期疗效。方法解放军总医院2001年12月~2006年8月接受PCI的77例左主干病变的病例资料,2006年8月对上述患者进行随访,包括造影及电话随访。结果即刻成功率100%,无严重术中并发症,住院期间无死亡。术后随访0.5~54(12.95±10.31)个月,其中1例术后6个月行冠状动脉CT检查,支架内无狭窄;20例患者进行了冠状动脉造影检查,1例术后30天出现支架内亚急性血栓;10例分别在1~12个月造影时显示支架内再狭窄,其中4例发生在左主干支架内,其余再狭窄均发生在分叉远端,并分别进行了处理。其余患者进行了电话随访,1例复发心绞痛,接受药物治疗。结论对经过选择的无保护左主干病变患者进行支架置入是可行和安全的,并有良好的近、远期疗效。     

Emergency stenting of totally occluded left main coronary artery in acute myocardial infarction

We report a case of emergency stenting for acute occlusion of the left main coronary artery in the setting of acute myocardial infarction. Although stent implantation allowed prompt revascularization and successful immediate management of this life-threatening condition, subacute stent thrombosis occurred, requiring re-PTCA followed by surgical revascularization. This case suggests that stenting of an acutely occluded left main coronary artery may be a life-saving procedure but should only be used as a bridge to surgery rather than a definitive treatment modality.     

Multivessel coronary thrombosis treated with abciximab (reopro®) in a patient with essential thrombocythemia

A 50-year-old man was admitted with acute inferior and anterior myocardial infarction. The patient was diagnosed with essential thrombocythemia (ET) based on the findings of marked thrombocytosis of 1,113 × 10³/mm³, splenomegaly, and numerous clumping megakaryocytes on bone marrow biopsy. Emergent coronary angiography revealed extensive multivessel thrombosis involving the left main coronary artery and completely occluding the proximal right coronary artery. In addition to standard therapy with aspirin, heparin, and primary angioplasty of the right coronary artery, the patient received additional antiplatelet therapy with ticlopidine, hydroxyurea, and the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor-inhibiting monoclonal antibody drug abciximab (ReoPro®). Serial coronary angiograms 1 and 5 days following the infarction showed progressive thrombus resolution. The pathophysiologic mechanisms and therapeutic challenges of ET-associated coronary thrombosis are discussed in this report.