The broken stethoscope

The broken stethoscope, originally imagined as a symbol of life and healing, holds a story of  the struggles lived during a difficult time. This was my actual stethoscope during the pandemic.

Very late stent thrombosis

A piece of thrombus is being held in filter basket after it was aspirated from the right coronary  artery of a 56-year-old man experiencing an ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI)—a  severe type of heart attack characterized by complete arterial occlusion. Notably, this thrombus  had obstructed an artery that had previously received a stent one year prior, a condition  referred to as stent thrombosis. Typically, most cases of stent thrombosis occur within the first month after stent implantation. In this instance, the patient had diligently followed all  prescribed protocols: maintaining regular exercise, adopting a healthier diet, and consistently  taking medications without missing any appointments. Despite his conscientious efforts, he  found himself grappling with vulnerability 15 months and 21 days after his first episode. He  told me he was thinking about his teenage son. He was terrified.

Daniel Gonzalez Abascal is a cardiology fellow, looking for ways to express his inner self.