Coronary Artery Perforation and Regrowth of a Side Branch Occluded by a Polytetrafluoroethylene-Covered Stent Implantation

Stenting of the right coronary artery stenosis caused coronary perforation and profound dye (blood) extravasation in a 69-year-old female patient. Instantaneous balloon inflation followed by implantation of a polytetrafluoroethylene- (PTFE-)covered stent sealed the coronary perforation, restored the blood flow, and perceivably caused acute occlusion of a large side branch (SB). The immediate in situ balloon inflation prevented the development of cardiac tamponade. Surprisingly, followup coronary angiography 4 and 11 months later showed spontaneous recanalization of the SB occluded by PTFE-covered stent. The SB was filled through a channel beginning at the end of the covered stent streaming retrogradely beneath it toward the SB ostium. Up to the best of our knowledge, this is the first described case of late spontaneous recanalization of as SB occluded by a PTFE-covered stent.