Bifurcation balloon for left main shock syndrome: facilitating the simultaneous percutaneous reperfusion of the LAD and circumflex
De Man, K.; Patterson, M.; Kiemeneij, F.
Journal of Invasive Cardiology 18(11): E270-E272
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 1557-2501 PMID: 17090827 Document Number: 602412
Acute occlusion of the left main coronary artery frequently causes cardiogenic shock and, when this occurs with an initial TIMI 0 flow, has an extremely poor prognosis. The use of a bifurcation system has not been described previously in this situation but has advantages that may result in a simpler and quicker solution then other strategies. This case describes a distal LMCA occlusion, 2 weeks post-stenting of the proximal LAD and proximal Cx, where this strategy was successfully used as a bridge to surgery. Such a strategy may be crucially beneficial in this commonly fatal condition.