Management of coronary artery rupture: Covered stent or microcoil embolization

The management of three cases of coronary artery rupture is described: (1) after high-pressure balloon angioplasty following uneventful placement of three Gianturco-Roubin stents, (2) following balloon angioplasty of an occluded diagonal branch, and (3) subsequent to rotational ablation of a left main and proximal circumflex arteries. Placement of an autologous vein-covered Palmaz stent or microcoil embolic vessel occlusion solved each problem. In each case, emergency surgery was avoided; subsequent management, including anticoagulation (when indicated), was performed without incident. This is the first communication detailing correction of a coronary vessel rupture with an autologous vein-covered stent or by microcoil embolic vessel occlusion.