“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.