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Posttraumatic coronary artery aneurysm
S Westaby1, G Drossos, N Giannopoulos
1Oxford Heart Centre, Oxford Radcliffe Hospital, John Radcliffe, England.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery
|September 1, 1995
Insights
Blunt trauma can cause coronary artery dissection and aneurysm. Surgical repair and grafting successfully restored blood flow and improved heart function in a patient.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Trauma Surgery
- Vascular Surgery
Background:
- Blunt deceleration trauma can lead to serious cardiovascular injuries, including coronary artery dissection.
- Posttraumatic coronary aneurysms are rare but pose a risk of vessel occlusion and myocardial infarction.
Observation:
- A 31-year-old male presented with blunt deceleration trauma resulting in left anterior descending coronary artery dissection.
- A posttraumatic coronary aneurysm was identified, requiring surgical intervention to prevent future complications.
Findings:
- Surgical repair of the coronary aneurysm was performed to maintain patency of the recanalized vessel.
- An internal mammary artery graft was utilized prophylactically to mitigate the risk of postoperative thrombosis.
- Twelve-month follow-up revealed significant improvement in left ventricular function.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of recognizing and managing coronary artery injuries following blunt trauma.
- Timely surgical repair and revascularization can prevent adverse cardiac events and improve long-term outcomes.
- Internal mammary artery grafting serves as a viable option for preventing graft occlusion in complex coronary reconstructions.
Abstract:
A 31-year-old man sustained blunt deceleration trauma with dissection of the left anterior descending coronary artery. We repaired a posttraumatic coronary aneurysm to prevent late occlusion of the recanalized vessel. An internal mammary artery graft was applied as a precaution against postoperative thrombosis. Follow-up at 12 months showed improved left ventricular function.