A detailed review of management of coronary perforations by gelfoam closure

We report a rare case of inadvertent distal small diagonal branch perforation noted postleft anterior descending coronary artery revascularization, rescued by Gelfoam closure in a 43-year diabetic male presenting with acute anterior wall ST elevated myocardial infarction. Intermittent balloon inflation for 30 min was not able to seal off the perforation; because of impending late (3–6 h) cardiac tamponade, we closed the perforation with Gelfoam embolization through Caravel microcatheter. Although rarely practiced, this armamentarium should be there in the interventional cardiology laboratory to deal with small vessel perforation (<2 mm), for which traditionally covered stents are not available in size.