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A Case of Aborted Sudden Cardiac Death Due to Coronary Artery Spasm
Primero Ng1, Jon Spiro1,2, Imran Shiekh1
1Department of Cardiology, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Australia.
Insights
Coronary artery spasm can cause myocardial ischemia, leading to serious heart events. This case highlights its role in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and cardiac arrest, diagnosed via invasive testing.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Research
- Clinical Case Studies
Background:
- Coronary artery spasm is an under-recognized cause of myocardial ischemia.
- It can present as vasospastic angina, ventricular arrhythmia, or sudden cardiac death.
Observation:
- A case of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) complicated by cardiac arrest is presented.
- The cardiac arrest was secondary to coronary artery spasm.
Findings:
- Invasive coronary function testing was utilized for diagnosis.
- This confirmed coronary artery spasm as the cause of STEMI and cardiac arrest.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering coronary artery spasm in STEMI with cardiac arrest.
- Emphasizes the utility of invasive coronary function testing for accurate diagnosis.
- Informs clinical practice for managing potentially life-threatening ischemic events due to coronary spasm.
Abstract:
Coronary artery spasm remains an important yet rarely recognized cause of myocardial ischemia, which may manifest as vasospastic angina, ventricular arrhythmia, or sudden cardiac death. Here we present a case of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction complicated by cardiac arrest secondary to coronary artery spasm, diagnosed with invasive coronary function testing.
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