Primary spontaneous coronary artery dissection complicated by iatrogenous aortic dissection: from David procedure to

Fadi Farhat1, Thomas Sassard, Albinka Maghiar

  • 1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery B (Pr Jegaden), Hôpital Pradel, Université Claude Bernard, INSERM 0226, Bron, France. fadi.farhat@chu-lyon.fr

Insights

Primary spontaneous coronary artery dissection (PSCAD) is a rare cause of heart attack. This case highlights the potential need for on-pump grafting in managing complex PSCAD cases to prevent severe complications.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Vascular Surgery
  • Interventional Cardiology

Background:

  • Primary spontaneous coronary artery dissection (PSCAD) is an infrequent cause of acute myocardial infarction.
  • Management strategies for PSCAD remain non-standardized, increasing the risk of fatal outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a case of a young woman with PSCAD of the right coronary artery.
  • To discuss the management challenges and outcomes in a complex PSCAD case complicated by iatrogenic aortic dissection.

Main Methods:

  • A 37-year-old woman with PSCAD of the right coronary artery underwent coronary angiography.
  • An iatrogenic type II aortic dissection occurred, necessitating aortic root replacement (David procedure).
  • Due to right coronary artery thrombosis post-surgery, on-pump grafting with a right internal thoracic artery (RITA) was performed, along with grafting of left coronary arteries using a left internal thoracic artery (LITA) T-graft.

Main Results:

  • The patient experienced cardiogenic shock due to right coronary artery thrombosis, requiring re-operation and on-pump grafting.
  • Postoperative recovery involved weaning from inotropic support and intra-aortic balloon pump, complicated by a pulmonary infection.
  • Imaging confirmed a patent RITA-to-RCA graft and healing of the left coronary network, with no residual aortic insufficiency.

Conclusions:

  • PSCAD is a serious condition with evolving management protocols.
  • On-pump grafting techniques and the use of coronary shunts may be beneficial in managing complex PSCAD cases to prevent ischemia and thrombosis.
Abstract