title: Balloon rupture due to lesion morphology during coronary angioplasty.
abstract: We report a case of coronary angioplasty of a left anterior descending artery lesion that was complicated by the rupture of three successive balloon catheters. Each rupture occurred as a pinhole jet of contrast into a diagonal side branch, causing subintimal staining. This case demonstrates that balloon rupture may result from lesion morphology.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Consultants, Inc., Mid America Heart Institute, St. Luke's Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kahn
authors.forename: G O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Hartzler
mesh_terms: D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011312:Pressure