Coronary Artery Perforation
Classification
The Ellis Classification[1] categorizes coronary artery perforations based on their angiographic appearance in the following manner:
- Type I - Extraluminal crater without extravasation
- Type II - Epicardial fat or myocardial blush without contrast jet extravasation
- Type III - Extravasation through frank (> 1 mm) perforation
- Type III "cavity spilling" (CS) - Refers to Type III perforations with contrast spilling directly into either the left ventricle, coronary sinus, or another anatomic circulatory chamber
Advantages of Each Choice
Prolonged balloon inflations can be performed rapidly. However, patients may not tolerate balloon inflations because of the development of ischemia, arrhythmias, or hemodynamic instability. Therefore, perfusion balloon use may be optimal if it is available.
PTFE coated stent placement can rapidly and effectively close vessel wall defects, obviating open surgical procedures.
Surgical repair offers the advantage of visualizing difficult-to-identify perforations. Cardiopulmonary bypass may be needed to hemodynamically stabilize patients with perforations.
Coil embolization is suitable for small side branch perforations, but it will lead to tissue infarction and may not be available in all catheterization laboratories.
Making a Selection
Initial management of perforations should always begin with prolonged balloon inflation.
Once prolonged balloon inflation is attempted, other options may be explored. PTFE coated stents have now become more readily available and are deployed more frequently. They can be used for most coronary perforations, but small, excessively angulated or tortuous vessels may not be amenable to them.
Coil embolization is suited for small vessels, distal locations, arteries that supply limited viable myocardium, or situations where surgery is contraindicated.
Surgical closure is necessary for perforations that demonstrate continued bleeding despite minimal invasive therapy, refractory ischemia, or recurrent hemorrhage.
Pericardiocentesis is indicated to prevent overt cardiac tamponade for all patients who accumulate pericardial fluid as evidenced by increasing right atrial pressure.
Is Treatment Working?
There are several signs that indicate whether treatment is failing. Incomplete closure is signified by persistent dye extravasation, while pericardial fluid collection and impending cardiac tamponade is signified by increasing right atrial pressure. Peristent fluid accumulation or pericardial drain output (>24 h) should prompt surgical repair.
Serial echocardiography should be performed q 6-12h.