Coronary sinus injury resulting from endarterectomy during multivessel bypass surgery

Abstract

Coronary sinus injury is a very rare complication of cardiac surgery and is usually related to coronary sinus perfusion catheter placement for retrograde cardioplegia infusion. It can be either a catheter-related perforation or high-perfusion pressure-related injury to the coronary sinus. Primary repair of the coronary sinus or over-sewing are two possible options to resolve this complication. Decellularized extracellular matrix from porcine intestinal submucosa is widely used as an approved material for repairing cardiac structures. We report a case of coronary sinus stenosis resulting from coronary artery endarterectomy during multivessel coronary artery bypass surgery, causing injury to the proximal part of the middle cardiac vein (MCV). Closure of the MCV resulted in a coronary sinus obstruction that was bypassed with a CorMatrix tube graft from the coronary sinus of the MVC to the right atrium.