Echocardiographically documented acute aortic insufficiency induced by Amplatz left guide catheter

This paper examines a case of sudden systolic pressure fall, tachycardia, low pulse pressure, and high pulmonary artery wedge pressure due to acute aortic insufficiency which was induced by an Amplatz left (AL-1) guide catheter used for better guide support during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty of the right coronary artery. AL guide catheters can cause acute aortic insufficiency, of which practitioners should be aware when sudden hemodynamic collapse occurs. (Int J Cardiovasc Intervent 2000; 3: 237-239)