Coronary artery and graft spasm after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting

Toshihiro Fukui1, Shuichiro Takanashi, Yasuyuki Hosoda

  • 1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Shin-Tokyo Hospital, Chiba, Japan.

The Japanese Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery : Official Publication of the Japanese Association for Thoracic Surgery = Nihon Kyobu Geka Gakkai Zasshi
|March 24, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Severe coronary artery spasm occurred in a patient after bypass surgery. Standard treatments failed, but observational measures resolved the spasm, allowing the patient

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Surgery
  • Interventional Cardiology
  • Vascular Medicine

Background:

  • Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a common procedure for severe coronary artery disease.
  • Postoperative coronary artery spasm can lead to graft dysfunction and myocardial ischemia.
  • Off-pump CABG (OPCAB) aims to reduce complications but can still be associated with vasospastic events.

Observation:

  • A 52-year-old male patient developed severe coronary artery and graft spasm following triple-vessel OPCAB.
  • Emergent coronary angiography confirmed the vasospasm.
  • Intracoronary vasodilators were ineffective in alleviating the spasm.

Findings:

  • Observational management, including intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) support and inotropic agents, was initiated to enhance coronary perfusion.
  • These supportive measures facilitated the resolution of the coronary spasm.
  • The patient experienced a full recovery and was discharged.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the potential for severe, refractory coronary artery and graft spasm after OPCAB.
  • It underscores the importance of considering non-pharmacological, supportive interventions when standard vasodilator therapy fails.
  • Successful management of such vasospastic events is crucial for favorable patient outcomes after coronary revascularization.

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