Percutaneous safenectomy: A potentially dreadful complication of cutting balloon angioplasty in safenous vein grafts

Vessel perforation is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening complication of percutaneous coronary intervention and is often associated with the use of atheroablative devices. While effective management means are currently available, such as PTFE-covered stent, pericardiocentesis, and perfusion balloon, a timely and skillful approach is of paramount importance to solve this dreadful complication. We hereby describe a case of saphenous vein graft (SVG) perforation occurring after cutting balloon angioplasty for in-stent restenosis. Despite the immediate occurrence of cardiac arrest due to massive extravasation of contrast in the mediastinum with pericardial tamponade, deep catheter intubation enabled the deployment of two PTFE-covered stents and subsequent sealing of the leak with repeated inflation of a perfusion balloon, while hemopericardium was drained by pericardiocentesis. This clinical vignette emphasizes the role of optimal backup in order to deploy life-saving devices and successfully manage life-threatening pericardial tamponade due to SVG rupture.