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A Low Mortality Rat Model to Assess Delayed Cerebral Vasospasm After Experimental Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Published on: January 17, 2013
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Spontaneous coronary vasospasm due to polytrauma
Donovan Huynh1, Marina Trilesskaya1
1Division of Interventional Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Highland Hospital of Alameda Health System, 1411 East 31st Street, Oakland, CA 94602, United States.
Trauma Case Reports
|May 4, 2019
Summary
Severe spontaneous coronary vasospasm is a rare complication of polytrauma. Prompt vasodilator therapy is crucial for successful treatment in trauma patients with unexplained hypotension or cardiac abnormalities.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Trauma Medicine
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Coronary vasospasm involves focal or diffuse spasm of epicardial coronary arteries.
- Diagnosis is typically confirmed via coronary angiography with vasodilator administration.
- Trauma-induced coronary vasospasm is exceptionally rare, with limited reported cases.
Observation:
- A patient with severe polytrauma experienced spontaneous coronary vasospasm.
- The condition presented with unexplained hypotension and new conduction abnormalities.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) showed evidence of myocardial ischemia.
Findings:
- The patient was successfully treated with a multi-modal vasodilator approach (intracoronary, intravenous, and oral).
- The proposed mechanism involves a compensatory catecholamine response to trauma.
Implications:
- Coronary vasospasm should be strongly considered in trauma patients presenting with unexplained hypotension, conduction abnormalities, or ischemic ECG changes.
- Early recognition and vasodilator therapy can lead to favorable outcomes in trauma-induced coronary vasospasm.
- This case highlights an under-recognized cardiac complication of severe trauma.
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