Background: Factors leading to subacute vessel closure after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have not been well established in lesions treated with balloon angioplasty or atherectomy.
Methods and results: We used intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) to determine the pre- and post-PCI characteristics involved in subacute vessel closure after PCI. Of 3,403 patients undergoing IVUS imaging during coronary balloon angioplasty or atherectomy, 8 patients (0.2%) developed angiographically documented subacute vessel closure within 1 week post-PCI and were compared to a group matched by procedure date (within 6 months), age, gender, stable or unstable angina, lesion location and treatment (balloon angioplasty or atherectomy). IVUS identified at least one cause for subacute vessel closure in 87% of patients (vs 25% in matched lesions, p < 0.01). Causes were all procedure-related and included inadequate final lumen (60%), dissection (50%) and thrombus (25%). Pre-procedure lesion characteristics were not different from matched lesions.
Conclusions: Subacute vessel closure after balloon angioplasty or atherectomy is mostly related to insufficient post-procedure lumen dimension or dissection.