Multivessel coronary artery vasospasm masquerading as surgical coronary atherosclerotic disease. 2021

Navneet Singh, and Parma Nand
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.

OBJECTIVE We report a case of a 39-year-old lady presenting with worsening angina. METHODS This is a case report study. Clinical case data was retrieved from hospital paper and electronic records. RESULTS Invasive coronary angiography revealed disease in the left main stem, proximal left anterior descending (LAD) artery and circumflex artery. The patient proceeded to on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. Intraoperatively, there were multiple unsuccessful attempts to wean off cardiopulmonary bypass. An on-table angiogram-which initially triggered asystole requiring internal cardiac massage and institution of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)- showed no native coronary artery disease. Instead, this angiogram revealed severe vasospasm with narrowing in the grafts and distal LAD. The patient received calcium channel blockers and bilateral thoracic sympathectomies to suppress any further coronary vasospasm. She was subsequently successfully weaned off ECMO. CONCLUSIONS This case reveals the life-threatening nature and diagnostic dilemma posed by severe multivessel coronary vasospasm. We also highlight the novel role of thoracic sympathectomy for definitive management of refractory vasospastic angina.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D003324 Coronary Artery Disease Pathological processes of CORONARY ARTERIES that may derive from a congenital abnormality, atherosclerotic, or non-atherosclerotic cause. Arteriosclerosis, Coronary,Atherosclerosis, Coronary,Coronary Arteriosclerosis,Coronary Atherosclerosis,Left Main Coronary Artery Disease,Left Main Coronary Disease,Left Main Disease,Arterioscleroses, Coronary,Artery Disease, Coronary,Artery Diseases, Coronary,Atheroscleroses, Coronary,Coronary Arterioscleroses,Coronary Artery Diseases,Coronary Atheroscleroses,Left Main Diseases
D003329 Coronary Vasospasm Spasm of the large- or medium-sized coronary arteries. Coronary Artery Spasm,Coronary Artery Vasospasm,Artery Spasm, Coronary,Artery Vasospasm, Coronary,Coronary Artery Spasms,Coronary Artery Vasospasms,Coronary Vasospasms,Spasm, Coronary Artery,Vasospasm, Coronary,Vasospasm, Coronary Artery
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D001026 Coronary Artery Bypass Surgical therapy of ischemic coronary artery disease achieved by grafting a section of saphenous vein, internal mammary artery, or other substitute between the aorta and the obstructed coronary artery distal to the obstructive lesion. Aortocoronary Bypass,Bypass, Coronary Artery,Bypass Surgery, Coronary Artery,Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting,Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery,Aortocoronary Bypasses,Artery Bypass, Coronary,Artery Bypasses, Coronary,Bypass, Aortocoronary,Bypasses, Aortocoronary,Bypasses, Coronary Artery,Coronary Artery Bypasses
D017023 Coronary Angiography Radiography of the vascular system of the heart muscle after injection of a contrast medium. Angiography, Coronary,Angiographies, Coronary,Coronary Angiographies

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