Coronary Thromboembolism with Fatal Outcome Following Coronary Angiography

ABSTRACT A case of fatal thromboembolic occlusion of the left coronary artery at selective coronary arteriography is described. The course of events and the findings at autopsy suggest that thrombotic material was deposited on one intravascular catheter and transferred to a second catheter inserted over the same guide wire. Contrast injection through the second catheter into the left coronary ostium resulted in immediate and fatal occlusion of the two major branches of the left coronary artery.