A rare mechanism of embolic stroke complicating coronary thrombus aspiration

Abstract

Abstract Aspiration thrombectomy is often performed in patients with acute myocardial infarction with high thrombus burden. Current guidelines, however, recommend against it because of stroke risk. We report a case of embolic stroke complicating coronary thrombus aspiration in a 62‐year‐old man. Aspiration thrombectomy during percutaneous coronary intervention migrated thrombus to the proximal right coronary artery (RCA), and the thrombus was subsequently released into the aorta by backflow of the contrast injection causing aspiration thrombectomy‐associated stroke. This is an extremely rare mechanism by which complications arise from failed aspiration thrombectomy.

Keywords

• contrast agent
• myocardial infarction
• stroke
• thrombus
• thrombus aspiration