Aortic dissection extending from the left coronary artery during percutaneous coronary angioplasty.

A 72-year-old woman with acute aortic dissection as a complication of percutaneous coronary angioplasty was successfully treated. She received a graft replacement of the ascending aorta as well as triple coronary artery bypass grafts. The dissection had extended from the left coronary artery. Although acute aortic dissection is a rare complication of percutaneous coronary angioplasty, physicians and cardiac surgeons should keep its potential occurrence in mind.