Published in:
Open Access 01-12-2014 | Case report
Intestinal cholesterol embolism resulting from intra-aortic balloon pumping: a case report
Published in: Journal of Medical Case Reports | Issue 1/2014
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Introduction
Intra-aortic balloon pumping is used in elective percutaneous coronary intervention for increasing coronary blood flow. However, intra-aortic balloon pumping may decrease visceral blood flow and cause mesenteric ischemia by visceral artery obstruction.
Case presentation
We report the case of a 79-year-old Asian man in whom elective percutaneous coronary intervention was performed with intra-aortic balloon pumping. He died from mesenteric ischemia 25 hours after the procedure. Microscopic findings showed that intra-aortic balloon pumping had detached the aortic plaque, breaking it into systemic emboli, leading to subsequent intestinal ischemia and necrosis.
Conclusions
We conclude that intra-aortic balloon pumping can cause an intestinal cholesterol embolism.