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Coronary obstruction by a calcific pericardial ring
Suresh T Bhagia1, Aashish R Patel, George J Reul
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Texas Heart Institute, Houston 77030, USA.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery
|August 14, 2002
Insights
A rare case of intermittent left anterior descending artery obstruction caused by a calcified pericardial ring due to constrictive pericarditis is presented. This highlights a unique cause of coronary artery compression.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiac Surgery
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Constrictive pericarditis is a condition characterized by inflammation and thickening of the pericardium, potentially leading to impaired cardiac filling.
- Coronary artery compression is an uncommon complication of constrictive pericarditis, with few documented cases.
Observation:
- A 62-year-old male presented with intermittent obstruction of the left anterior descending artery.
- The obstruction was found to be caused by a heavily calcified pericardial ring.
Findings:
- The case demonstrates a unique etiology of coronary artery compromise, specifically compression by a calcified pericardial ring associated with constrictive pericarditis.
- This presentation is rare, emphasizing the diverse pathological mechanisms that can affect coronary blood flow.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering extrinsic cardiac compression in the differential diagnosis of coronary artery obstruction, even in the absence of typical atherosclerotic risk factors.
- Further investigation into the relationship between pericardial disease and coronary artery compromise may be warranted.
Abstract:
We report the unique case of a 62-year-old man whose left anterior descending artery was intermittently obstructed by a heavily calcified pericardial ring. This is a rare case in which a coronary artery has been compressed because of constrictive pericarditis.