Reperfusion Through Balloon Catheter to Minimize Myocardial Infarction During the Interval Between Failed Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty and Emergency Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

A 65-year-old man was admitted with chest pain. A diagnosis of spastic angina was made because of symptoms of recurrent anginal attacks associated with ST-segment elevations in the electrocardiogram. A selective coronary arteriogram revealed a 90% diameter narrowing of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). No angiographically visible collaterals from the right coronary artery to the LAD were observed. The ventriculogram showed normal contraction of the left ventricle with an ejection fraction of 65%. Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) failed resulting in total occlusion of the stenosis. Repeat PTCA at a higher pressure and of longer duration failed to redilate the artery. Reperfusion with the blood from the femoral artery through the balloon catheter, which was used for the PTCA, was carried out until coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Blood flow rate of perfusion was approximately 25 ml/min. Reperfusion through the balloon catheter reduced chest pain and ST-segment elevations in the electrocardiogram. The patient tolerated the operative procedure well and his post-operative course was uncomplicated. The interval between the acute occlusion and revascularization by CABG was approximately 4 1/4 h. The ventriculogram taken 56 days after the CABG demonstrated normal contraction of the anterior wall of the left ventricle with an ejection fraction of 63%. Abnormal Q waves did not appear in precordial leads of the electrocardiogram after the surgery. The thallium scintigram showed no perfusion defects.