673 A CRACK AND A CLOT


 A 74-year-old man with a history of ischaemic heart disease (multiple percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI)), broke his ankle. Therefore, he discontinued dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) -acetylsalicylic acid plus clopidogrel- and started enoxaparin sodium 4000 UI/day on medical advice. A few days later, he was admitted to the emergency department for refractory chest pain, vomit and syncope. Twelve-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) showed a sinus rhythm interrupted by frequent premature ventricular contractions in a pattern of trigeminy. The transthoracic echocardiogram revealed a mildly dilated LV with normal wall thickness and marked hypokinesis/ akinesis in apical, infero-lateral and antero-lateral walls, with a 33% ejection fraction. High sensitivity cardiac troponin was increased, and a second ECG showed a diffuse ST segment depression. The patient was loaded with aspirin and emergently taken to the cardiac catheterization lab. Coronary angiography showed a very late stent thrombosis of the left circumflex artery (LCx), with occlusion of the extreme distality of the second obtuse marginal artery and a 50-60% intrastent restenosis of the ostium-proximal tract of the left anterior descending artery (LAD). Given the non-obstructive nature of the thrombus, risk of peripheral embolization, TIMI flow grade 3 and improvement of symptoms, the decision was made to adopt a conservative strategy with loading dose of ticagrelor, heparin and tirofiban infusion. Besides, an optical coherence tomography (OCT) control was scheduled for the next day.
 OCT of the LCx revealed a well apposed and well expanded stent with a non-obstructive residual thrombus, nevertheless not visible on angiography. Thus, the tirofiban infusion was prolonged up to 48 hours. OCT of the LAD detected a fibro-calcific disease determining a significant restenosis of the distal left main (LM)-LAD ostium. OCT-guided provisional stenting with two drug eluting stents on LM-LAD-LCx was performed successfully. The patient was discharged home on acetylsalicylic acid (lifelong), ticagrelor (for 12 months) and enoxaparin sodium 4000 UI/day (according to specialist indication).
 DAPT is superior to anticoagulant therapy in preventing stent thrombosis in patients undergoing PCI, and a more informed inter-specialist communication is needed. Intracoronary imaging can help in the management of stent failure and in the guidance of complex PCI, allowing a patient-tailored treatment.