Bilateral anterior compartment syndrome after routine coronary artery bypass surgery and severe hypothyroidism

Compartment syndrome is a very rare complication of coronary artery bypass grafting and previously it has only been described unilaterally. We describe the development of compartment syndrome in bilateral anterior compartments of the lower leg after vein harvest for coronary artery bypass grafting. We describe a series of predisposing factors contributing to this condition and its delayed diagnosis, including severe undiagnosed hypothyroidism. We advise a high index of suspicion in patients postvein harvest and recommend thyroid function testing for all patients who have compartment syndrome develop.