A Breath Away from Disaster: Successful Management of Coronary Stent Loss During Complex PCI

Coronary stent loss is a rare but potentially catastrophic complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), particularly during complex procedures involving calcified lesions and bifurcations. We report the case of a 74-year-old man undergoing PCI of a subacutely occluded proximal left anterior descending artery, complicated by stent dislodgement following an involuntary deep inspiration by the patient. The stent became partially detached from the delivery balloon and was successfully moved into the radial artery while remaining over the guidewire. A stepwise bailout strategy allowed safe completion of the coronary intervention via secondary access, followed by successful snaring and retrieval of the lost stent. This case highlights the importance of maintaining wire position, procedural patience, and structured problem-solving in managing rare but high-risk intraprocedural complications.