Noninvasive Recanalization of a Coronary Chronic Total Occlusion

Abstract

Background. Spontaneous recanalization of a chronically occluded artery is rare and reported anecdotally. Case Summary. We report a case of a patient with a chronically occluded right coronary artery, found on a coronary angiography performed due to acute ST elevation myocardial infarction with an occluded circumflex artery as a culprit lesion. Three months later, a follow-up angiography was performed and a recanalization of the occluded right coronary artery was detected. Discussion. There is a possibility that intrinsic fibrinolytic mechanisms with the additional effect of standard antithrombotic drugs administrated after the acute coronary event led to the recanalization.