Coronary artery ectasia presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction in a young indigenous man: a case report

John Lee1, Satish Ramkumar1, Nancy Khav1

  • 1Monash Cardiovascular Research Centre, MonashHeart, Monash Health, 246 Clayton Road, Clayton, Melbourne, VIC 3169, Australia.

Insights

This case study presents the first instance of triple coronary artery ectasia (CAE) in an Indigenous Australian. The patient experienced a severe heart attack, underscoring the need for improved management strategies for CAE.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Vascular Medicine
  • Indigenous Health

Background:

  • Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is a vascular condition often found incidentally during angiography.
  • Patients with CAE can experience acute coronary syndrome due to significant thrombus burden, necessitating interventions like percutaneous coronary intervention or emergency surgery.

Observation:

  • A 26-year-old Indigenous Australian male presented with an anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction and out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation arrest.
  • Coronary angiography revealed thrombotic occlusion of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery with a substantial thrombus burden.
  • Prominent ectasia was observed in all three major coronary arteries.

Findings:

  • This report details the first documented case of triple coronary artery ectasia in an Indigenous Australian individual.
  • The patient underwent successful surgical thrombectomy and coronary artery bypass grafting of the LAD.

Implications:

  • The case highlights the challenges in managing CAE due to a lack of prospective studies and a consensus approach.
  • Further research is needed to establish standardized treatment protocols for coronary artery ectasia, particularly in diverse populations.
Abstract

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