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Coronary spasm as a cause of perioperative myocardial infarction
Japanese Heart Journal
|March 1, 1984
Insights
Coronary artery spasm can cause heart muscle damage during and after surgery, even in patients with severe left main trunk disease. This condition should be considered when the cause of perioperative myocardial infarction is unclear.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Intraoperative Medicine
Background:
- Severe left main trunk disease poses significant risks during cardiac procedures.
- Perioperative myocardial infarction (MI) is a serious complication with various potential etiologies.
Observation:
- A patient with severe left main trunk disease experienced intraoperative myocardial ischemia.
- This ischemia was directly linked to spasm of the right coronary artery.
Findings:
- Right coronary artery spasm was identified as the cause of intraoperative myocardial ischemia.
- The patient subsequently suffered a perioperative myocardial infarction attributed to this spasm.
Implications:
- Coronary artery spasm should be recognized as a potential cause of perioperative myocardial infarction.
- Consideration of coronary spasm is crucial for diagnosing unexplained perioperative MI.
Abstract:
The case of a patient with severe left main trunk disease is presented, in which spasm of the right coronary artery resulted in intraoperative myocardial ischemia and perioperative myocardial infarction. It is suggested that coronary spasm may be a cause of perioperative myocardial infarction, and has to be considered in case of unknown etiology.