Summary

The case of a coronary artery perforation in which overinflation of a balloon at an angulated segment of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery after stent deployment resulted in an Ellis type III coronary artery perforation is presented. A bare metal stent (BMS) was used successfully to seal this high-grade perforation. Here, it is demonstrated that it may not be illogical to consider BMS as the first choice before embarking on use of a covered stent if the clinical/haemodynamic condition of the patient allows it and if a covered stent is not available.