INTIMAL INVAGINATION DUE TO CORONARY-ARTERY STRAIGHTENING - A TEMPORARY IATROGENIC CAUSE OF PROXIMAL ARTERIAL NARROWING DURING ANGIOPLASTY

Coronary artery spasm, dissection, and thrombosis are known causes of vessel occlusion during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty . Another cause is reported herein: invagination of the vessel wall ca used by mechanical straightening and shortening of the proximal portio n of a tortuous coronary artery caused by the dilatation apparatus. Ea rly recognition of this phenomenon may help avoid the risk of unnecess ary dilation. This angiographic artifact resolves after removal of the guidewire which allows the vessel to again assume its normal configur ation.