BACKGROUND: Previous case reports have shown that regardless of the etiology, multiple channel structures can be treated successfully by routine percutaneous coronary intervention. However, there are no general recommendations for intervention because multiple channel structures are complex and rarely diagnosed.

CASE REPORT: A 71-year-old male was admitted to our hospital due to bronchial pneumonia. After admission, the patient experienced acute decompensated heart failure. Coronary angiogram revealed 3 diseased vessels with heavy calcification. Although the patient’s syntax score was high, we performed percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on each vessel based on his request and in consideration of his dementia. After PCI for the left circumflex and descending arteries, we performed PCI for the right coronary artery (RCA) using optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI). A multiple channel structure and calcified nodule were observed by OFDI. We performed rotational atherectomy (RA) on the RCA, and the 2 structures were ablated. After RA, we dilated the lesions with a scoring balloon and deployed a drug-eluting stent.

CONCLUSIONS: RA was effective in ablating partition walls of the multiple channel structure observed using OFDI.

Keywords: Atherectomy, Coronary, drug-eluting stents, optical imaging, percutaneous coronary intervention, Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary, Coronary Artery Disease, Tomography, Optical Coherence, vascular calcification