Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
culprit vessel
The coronary artery responsible for the acute coronary syndrome being treated.
Full Definition
In acute coronary syndrome, the specific coronary artery that contains the ruptured plaque or acute thrombosis causing the clinical presentation. Identification of the culprit vessel is crucial for directing primary PCI efforts and determining the most appropriate revascularization strategy. The culprit vessel is typically identified through a combination of ECG changes, echocardiographic wall motion abnormalities, and angiographic findings.
Usage
Usage note: Use specifically for the vessel causing acute symptoms, not chronic disease.
In Context
- "Angiography revealed the left anterior descending artery as the culprit vessel with 99% occlusion." — Catheterization report
- "Primary PCI was performed on the culprit vessel with successful restoration of TIMI 3 flow." — Procedure note
Also known as
target vessel
infarct-related artery
Don't confuse with
bystander lesion
target lesion