Cor Vasa 2003, 44(2):95-98

Iatrogenic femoral vein thrombosis with subsequent pulmonary embolism as a complication of percutaneous coronary intervention

František Holm^*, Josef Kořínek, Vít Řezníček, Michael Aschermann

Kardiocentrum, II. interní klinika kardiologie a angiologie, Všeobecná fakultní nemocnice a 1. lékařská fakulta Univerzity Karlovy, Praha, Česká republika

Femoral vein thrombosis with subsequent pulmonary embolism is a rare iatrogenic complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We report the case of a 62-year-old man who, after a successful PCI with coronary stent implantation into the right coronary artery, developed iatrogenic right femoral vein thrombosis as a result of groin compression following the withdrawal of an arterial introducer. The patient's status became complicated by a clinically significant pulmonary embolism. Following successful treatment of the pulmonary embolism, the patient developed-10 days later-subacute coronary stent thrombosis; he was treated by warfarin only, and antiaggregation therapy was withdrawn. The condition was managed by emergency coronary angioplasty. Femoral vein thrombosis as a complication of groin compression following PCI is a rare finding, making one think of congenital or acquired hypercoagulation state. The subacute stent thrombosis confirms that antiaggregation therapy alone does not confer adequate prevention to intracoronary thrombosis following coronary stenting, and that antiaggregation agents should also be coadministered.

Keywords: Percutaneous coronary intervention; Iatrogenic thrombosis; Femoral veins; Pulmonary embolism

Published: February 1, 2003  Show citation