Acute coronary syndrome due to native coronary occlusion proximal to a patent bypass graft: a case report

BACKGROUND: Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute coronary syndrome has significantly contributed to improvements in overall outcomes. However, clinical challenges exist when performing urgent PCI for patients with a history of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). CASE SUMMARY: An 83-year-old man with a history of CABG presented with an inferior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Emergent coronary angiography showed an occlusion of the right coronary artery that had been previously grafted with the right gastroepiploic artery. Primary PCI for the native coronary artery was performed on the assumption that the bypass graft had been occluded. We were unable to attain angiographic antegrade flow after balloon angioplasty, and intravascular ultrasound revealed a ruptured plaque with a thrombus proximally and a patent bypass graft with complete recanalization distally. These findings suggested that the plaque rupture with resultant thrombus formation proximal to the anastomosis eventually overlay the patent bypass graft. Subsequent stent implantation covering only the culprit site with a residual stenosis proximal to the anastomosis was performed, resulting in good patency of both the native coronary artery and bypass graft for more than 3 years. DISCUSSION: This is the first documented case of a patient with STEMI due to proximal native coronary artery occlusion with a thrombus overlying a patent bypass graft. Intravascular ultrasound was helpful to recognize the distal patency and guide optimal stent implantation. This case illustrates the complexity of treating a patient with a history of CABG and the importance of a multifaceted approach in such an urgent situation.