Papers of the Week

Saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) are commonly used in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery patients. However, SVGs are prone to degradation and occlusion, resulting in poor long-term patency. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for SVG has been one of the options to treat SVGs disease despite its challenges. Embolic protection device (EPD) use along with proper stent and medications are considered to minimize complications in this procedure. A 61-year-old man, with 4-vessel coronary artery bypass using SVGs and left internal mammary artery (LIMA) 11 years ago, presented with chest pain for more than 3 months. Coronary angiography showed severe stenosis of the SVG to PDA with two lesions, chronic total occlusion in SVG to OM and LIMA to LAD, with patent SVG to D1. He was admitted for elective PCI using drug-eluting stents and distal embolic filter. There were no problems observed, and the procedure was completed with successful stenting in SVG to PDA without any complications. The patient was discharged on dual-antiplatelet therapy along with his previous medication history. PCI is preferred over repeated CABG in high-risk patients, and EPD should be considered whenever technically possible to minimize the risk of distal embolization and thereby improve outcomes in SVG PCI.