A rare cause of chest pain mimicking myocardial infarction

Kudret Keskin1, Murat Başkurt2, Faruk Aktürk3

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Bahçelievler Medicana Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey. keskinkudret@yahoo.com.

Insights

A rare complication following endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) mimicked heart attack symptoms. This case highlights the importance of considering non-cardiac causes for chest pain after ERCP.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Cardiology
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a common procedure for bile duct issues.
  • Sphincterotomy during ERCP can lead to rare but serious complications.

Observation:

  • A patient developed severe chest pain post-ERCP, initially suspected as myocardial infarction.
  • Coronary angiography revealed severe coronary lesions but no complete blockages.

Findings:

  • Further investigation identified pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, and free air in the abdomen and retroperitoneum.
  • These findings indicate a rare complication of ERCP involving gas dissection.

Implications:

  • Cardiologists must be aware of these rare ERCP complications when evaluating chest pain.
  • Differentiating ERCP-related complications from cardiac events is crucial for appropriate patient management.

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