Coronary artery perforation complicated by recurrent cardiac tamponade: a case illustration and review.

Coronary artery perforation during percutaneous intervention is a rare but potentially life threatening complication. The treatment of coronary perforation can be challenging in view of potential life threatening consequences such as cardiac tamponade or myocardial infarction. Presented is a clinical course of a 69year-old female who developed cardiac tamponade as a result of presumed wire related perforation of the posterolateral branch of the right coronary artery. Her clinical course was further complicated by recurrent tamponade, atrial fibrillation, stress induced cardiomyopathy, heparin induced thrombocytopenia and cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Based on review of the medical literature a treatment algorithm for wire perforation is suggested.