Intraoperative identification and treatment of a giant right coronary artery aneurysm

Joel Ramirez1, Georg Wieselthaler1, Johannes Kratz1

  • 1Department of Surgery, Division of Adult Cardiothoracic Surgery, 400 Parnassus Ave, 6th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.

Insights

Giant coronary artery aneurysms, though rare, can present acutely. This case highlights emergent diagnosis and surgical management of a ruptured giant coronary aneurysm.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Vascular Surgery
  • Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

  • Giant coronary artery aneurysms (GCAAs) are uncommon cardiovascular conditions.
  • Diagnosis and treatment strategies for GCAAs remain challenging due to their rarity and varied presentations.

Observation:

  • A patient presented with sudden chest pain and symptoms of cardiac tamponade.
  • Computed tomography pulmonary angiography revealed hemopericardium and contrast near the aorta.

Findings:

  • Emergent sternotomy identified a large hemorrhagic mass on the right ventricle.
  • Dissection confirmed the mass as a giant right coronary artery aneurysm with contained rupture.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the importance of considering GCAAs in acute presentations.
  • Successful surgical ligation and bypass of the affected coronary artery were performed in this emergent scenario.

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