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Myocardial Infarction and Functional Outcome Assessment in Pigs
Published on: April 25, 2014
Acute myocardial infarction in a young man complicated with left ventricular thrombi
Chia-Pin Lin1, Feng-Chun Tsai, Pao-Hsien Chu
1Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei 105, Taiwan.
Insights
A rare case of premature coronary artery disease in a 23-year-old man with left ventricle thrombi after trauma is presented. This study reviews the pathophysiology of myocardial infarction in young adults.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Vascular Medicine
- Trauma Surgery
Background:
- Premature coronary artery disease (CAD) is uncommon, with left ventricle thrombus formation being an exceptionally rare complication.
- Myocardial infarction (MI) in young adults often presents unique etiological factors and management challenges.
Observation:
- A 23-year-old male presented with acute myocardial infarction following blunt chest trauma from a basketball impact.
- Echocardiography and computed tomography revealed two peduncle thrombi at the left ventricular apex and a totally occluded left anterior descending coronary artery.
Findings:
- The patient received anticoagulation therapy with heparin and warfarin, followed by coronary artery bypass grafting and thrombectomy.
- Evidence of ecchymosed tissue suggested a traumatic etiology for the coronary artery disease.
Implications:
- This case highlights the possibility of trauma-induced coronary artery disease and left ventricle thrombus in young individuals.
- Understanding the pathophysiology and natural history of CAD in this demographic is crucial for effective clinical management and prevention strategies.
Abstract:
Premature coronary artery disease is very rare and complication with thrombus formation in the left ventricle is rarer still. A 23-year-old man was admitted to hospital for recent acute myocardial infarction after being struck by a basketball eight days previously. Echocardiography identified two peduncle thrombi at the apex of the left ventricle, which were confirmed with computed tomography. The proximal left anterior descending coronary artery was totally occluded. Following two weeks of treatment with heparin and warfarin, the patient agreed to undergo a coronary artery bypass graft and thrombectomy. The ecchymosed tissue around the coronary artery implied that a trauma injury might have been the cause of the coronary artery disease in this case. This work reviews the pathophysiology and natural history of coronary artery disease in a case of very young myocardial infarction.
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