title: Guidewire fracture: an unusual complication of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.
abstract: We report a patient in whom fracture of the guidewire occurred while attempting a percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, requiring emergency surgical intervention. This case indicates that, despite the fact that complications of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty are decreasing, the availability of open heart facilities remains mandatory during this procedure.
mesh_terms: D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000601:surgery*; D004630:Emergencies; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged