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An 87-year-old female patient was admitted to the emergency unit with the diagnosis of non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (MI). She complained of dyspnea and easy fatigue for 2 days. On admission she was without chest pain and hemodynamically stable (RR 105/65 mm Hg). The electrocardiogram revealed ST-segment depression in leads II, III, aVF and V4–V6 and ST-segment elevation in leads aVR and V1–V2. In the angiography performed from the right radial artery, acute left main coronary artery (LMCA) occlusion was found (Figures 1A, ​,B).B). During catheterization the patient developed cardiogenic shock with arterial pressure drop to 60/20 mm Hg. Immediate percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of LMCA was started. Due to severe spasm of the right radial artery, the introduction of a regular guiding catheter was impossible. Then sheathless 3.5JL catheter was effectively positioned in the ostium of the LMCA. After passing the occlusion with the BMW Universal wire (Abbott Vascular, USA), aspiration thrombectomy was unsuccessfully attempted. Predilatation with a small balloon (2.0 × 15 mm; Sprinter Legend, Medtronic, USA) was performed and complete flow through the LMCA was restored. Two zotarolimus-eluting coronary stents (3.0 × 26 mm and 2.5 × 18 mm; Resolute Integrity, Medtronic, USA) were implanted from the LMCA ostium to the proximal left anterior descending artery (Figure 1C). After implantation of the stents her systolic blood pressure stabilized at about 110 mm Hg without pharmacological support. She was transferred to the cardiac intensive care unit. After 30 min she developed severe pulmonary edema which was successfully treated with the standard pharmacological regimen. There were no further complications during the hospitalization. She was discharged home on the sixth day. Left ventricular ejection fraction at discharge was 45%. There were no cardiovascular events during 4-month follow-up.    Figure 1  Coronary angiography: A – coronary angiogram in the left cranial oblique view showing total occlusion of the left main coronary artery, B – coronary angiogram in the epicranial oblique view showing the right coronary artery without significant ...    Acute MI (AMI) due to LMCA occlusion is a rare situation but very often associated with severe clinical consequences (cardiogenic shock, life-threatening arrhythmias, sudden cardiac death) [1]. There have been no randomized trials comparing revascularization strategies (PCI vs. coronary artery bypass grafting) in this group of patients. However, according to certain assumptions (less invasive procedure, fast access, better acute results) PCI may be superior to cardiac surgery in this clinical scenario. Recent data show effectiveness of PCI of the LMCA in AMI even in centers without on-site cardiac surgical backup [2]. However, due to high probability of cardiogenic shock (from 16% to 69%) among patients with AMI due to an occlusion of the LMCA, hemodynamic support with an intra-aortic balloon pump or left ventricle assist device during the procedure is frequently required (from 23% to 89%) [3, 4]. The transradial approach for unprotected LMCA disease is a reasonable option also in patients with AMI, as the rate of procedural complications is similar to that reported for the femoral access [5]. Ostial/mid-shaft LMCA lesions are relatively straightforward to treat. Distal bifurcation lesions could be more tricky but treatable through the transradial approach. The transradial approach is also useful in patients with hemodynamic instability (pulmonary edema) after PCI, when a patient can be safely placed in a sitting position and effectively treated with pharmacotherapy only.

Images in intervention Transradial percutaneous coronary intervention for unprotected left main closure during acute myocardial infarction