Double jeopardy: Failure to deflate stent balloon in rescue angioplasty

Abstract

Failure to deflate the angioplasty balloon following its inflation during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is an unusual complication. We report a case of an undeflatable stent balloon in a 70-year-old male, who underwent PCI for the right coronary artery after failed thrombolysis with streptokinase. After many failed attempts, the patient was cautiously managed by controlled puncture with a stiff guide wire. The procedure was successful without any hemodynamic compromise and ventricular tachycardia.