Rheolytic thrombectomy for thromboembolic occlusion of the internal carotid artery complicating coronary intervention

Stroke associated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is an infrequent, but devastating complication. Intra-arterial thrombolysis has been used with limited success, but there are no widely accepted strategies for acute ischemic stroke during PCI. We report a case in which the AngioJet rheolytic thrombectomy device was used in an attempt to re-establish patency of an occluded internal carotid artery in the setting of an acute stroke caused by thromboembolization from the right coronary artery during PCI.