A patient who recently had a coronary artery stent could be at small risk for which iatrogenic complication?

A patient who recently had a coronary artery stent could be at small risk for which iatrogenic complication?

• A. Aortic Dissection
• B. Myocardial Infarction
• C. Pulmonary Embolism
• D. Aneurysm Rupture

Answer: (A)

During coronary catheterization and stent placement, instruments pass through the aorta and into the coronary arteries. This manipulation can injure the aortic wall, causing a tear in the intima that creates a false lumen—aortic dissection. It’s a rare but real iatrogenic complication of PCI, more likely if the aorta is heavily atherosclerotic, calcified, or if the catheter is advanced with aggressive or awkward maneuvers. Recognizing this possibility is important because a dissection can compromise blood flow and require urgent management, ranging from close monitoring to surgical or endovascular repair. MI is a plausible concern around PCI, but the scenario highlights a dissection risk associated with catheter-based access rather than an expected post-procedural MI. Pulmonary embolism and aneurysm rupture are less directly linked to the mechanics of coronary catheterization and stent placement.

During coronary catheterization and stent placement, instruments pass through the aorta and into the coronary arteries. This manipulation can injure the aortic wall, causing a tear in the intima that creates a false lumen—aortic dissection. It’s a rare but real iatrogenic complication of PCI, more likely if the aorta is heavily atherosclerotic, calcified, or if the catheter is advanced with aggressive or awkward maneuvers. Recognizing this possibility is important because a dissection can compromise blood flow and require urgent management, ranging from close monitoring to surgical or endovascular repair.

MI is a plausible concern around PCI, but the scenario highlights a dissection risk associated with catheter-based access rather than an expected post-procedural MI. Pulmonary embolism and aneurysm rupture are less directly linked to the mechanics of coronary catheterization and stent placement.