Coil embolization of a coronary artery to left ventricular fistula using detachable coils.

Coronary artery fistulas are rare congenital anomalies noted during coronary angiography of both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Percutaneous treatment options have been described previously in case series of varying size. We present the successful percutaneous coil embolization using electrically detachable coils of a symptomatic combined distal left anterior descending artery fistula and distal right coronary artery fistula that join to form a single drainage into the left ventricle.

Barriers to clopidogrel adherence following placement of drug-eluting stents.

Background: Nonadherence to clopidogrel after drug-eluting stent (DES) placement is associated with in-stent thrombosis and adverse cardiac events.

Objective: To identify the incidence of and barriers associated with nonadherence to clopidogrel in patients receiving DES.

Methods: Patients who received a DES between March 1, 2004, and August 31, 2005, from a single academic medical center were eligible.