Clinical considerations during spontaneous coronary artery dissection in the post-partum period: a case report
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ABSTRACT: Background
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a common and under-recognized cause of myocardial infarction during the post-partum period. Case summary
We report a case of a young women presenting with chest pain in the post-partum period. Her clinical appearance was that of a myocardial infarction, and angiography was indicative of a Type 2 SCAD. The patients had persistent chest pain, reduced left ventricular function, and critical left anterior descending artery stenosis. Percutaneous coronary intervention was done with caution. Shared decision-making with the patient helped guide the medical treatment plan and follow-up. Discussion
We discuss the clinical considerations surrounding the management of this patient.
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PROVIDER: S-EPMC10448854 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rare condition that can precipitate acute coronary syndrome in pregnant and peripartum women. A 32-year-old previously healthy female, 2-weeks post-partum, presented to the emergency department after sudden cardiac arrest. Return of spontaneous circulation was achieved after multiple rounds of resuscitation. Electrocardiogram revealed ST elevations in the anterolateral leads with reciprocal changes. She was taken to the catheterization lab by cardiology and was found to have a dissection of the distal left anterior descending coronary artery. The patient was subsequently treated medically with heparin and antiplatelet therapy, but ultimately died of anoxic encephalopathy. The purpose of this report is to describe the risk factors, presentation, and management of spontaneous coronary artery dissection which can be easily overlooked given its rarity.TopicsSpontaneous coronary artery dissection, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, peri-partum complications.
| S-EPMC10332733 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Coronary artery dissection is a rare but well-described cause for myocardial infarction during the post-partum period. Dissection of multiple coronary arteries is even less frequent. Here we present a case of recurrent post-partum coronary artery dissections. This unusual presentation poses unique problems for management. A 35 year-old female, gravida 3 para 2, presented with myocardial infarction 9 weeks and 3 days post-partum. Cardiac catheterization demonstrated left anterior descending (LAD) dissection but an otherwise normal coronary anatomy. The lesion was treated with four everolimus eluting stents. Initially the patient made an unremarkable recovery until ventricular fibrillation arrest occurred on the following day. Unsynchronized cardioversion restored a normal sinus rhythm and repeat catheterization revealed new right coronary artery (RCA) dissection. A wire was passed distally, but it was unclear whether this was through the true or false lumen and no stents could be placed. However, improvement of distal RCA perfusion was noted on angiogram. Despite failure of interventional therapy the patient was therefore treated conservatively. Early operation after myocardial infarction has a significantly elevated risk of mortality and the initial dissection had occurred within 24 hours. This strategy proved successful as follow-up transthoracic echocardiography after four months demonstrated a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction of 55-60% without regional wall motion abnormalities. The patient remained asymptomatic from a cardiac point of view.
| S-EPMC2958892 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundSpontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an infrequent and often misdiagnosis of a non-atherosclerotic cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). It is an important cause of ACS in young women, responsible for up to 25% of all cases in women <50 years of age without cardiovascular risk factors. Clinical presentation ranges from ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (MI) to ventricular fibrillation and sudden death. The treatment of patients with SCAD is a challenge and the ideal management strategy has yet to be determined.Case summaryA 42-year-old woman without family history of cardiac disease and neither traditional atherosclerotic risk factors presented to our centre with an anterior acute ST-segment-elevation MI secondary to multiple spontaneous dissections of the left main, anterior descending, and ramus intermedius coronary arteries. Stenting was performed in the left anterior descending coronary artery and left main coronary artery to resolve its occlusion. Fibromuscular dysplasia was confirmed via computed tomography angiography.DiscussionMore cases are now being identified of SCAD due to increased clinical index of suspicion, earlier use of invasive angiography, and intracoronary imaging in patients presenting with acute chest pain. Despite this, the absence of previous cardiovascular risk factors and the ignorance of this pathology delay the start of an adequate medical treatment and the performance of a cardiac catheterization. Prognostic data are limited, partly because of its underdiagnosis and lack of prospective studies, so its knowledge is necessary to improve the prognosis of these patients.
| S-EPMC6439423 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundSpontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an infrequent but potentially life-threatening condition in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Conservative medical therapy is recommended in patients with SCAD. However, very little evidence exists in the management of recurrent SCAD when conservative medical therapy fails.Case summaryA 48-year-old woman presented with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) on a background of cigarette smoking. Her coronary angiogram showed the first diagonal artery (D1) and right marginal branch (RM) occlusion with angiographic appearance that is consistent with SCAD. She was medically managed. She represented 2 months later with another NSTEMI, and her coronary angiogram showed healing SCAD in the D1 and RM, but a new SCAD in the first obtuse marginal artery (OM1). She was managed medically. She represented 4 months later complaining of angina every 2 days. This time her coronary angiogram showed healed SCAD in OM1 and RM, but the recurrence of SCAD in D1. Given that she had recurrent events despite medical therapy, we decided to proceed with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to D1. She presented with an atypical chest pain 10 months later and her coronary angiogram showed complete healing of all coronary arteries and a patent stent in D1. She has remained symptom free.DiscussionThe management of SCAD is contentious given the lack of randomized clinical trials to assess optimal treatment strategy. In most patients with SCAD, conservative medical therapy is recommended after the diagnosis is secured. We believe that PCI may be beneficial in patients with recurrent SCAD.
| S-EPMC6439372 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundAlthough obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most likely cause of acute coronary syndromes (ACS), nearly one in 20 individuals with clinical myocardial infarction (MI) do not have obstructive CAD. For many such individuals, presentation of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy frequently mimics presentation of MI, though spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an increasingly recognized aetiology of MI in women.Case summaryThis case report describes a woman with chest pain, found to have non-obstructive CAD on angiogram and left ventricular apical dysfunction on echocardiogram raising suspicion for Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Additional suspicion for SCAD led to coronary CT angiogram (CCTA) which ultimately confirmed this diagnosis.DiscussionFamiliarity with a differential diagnosis for non-obstructive CAD is less common than that for obstructive coronary disease. This case emphasizes the clinical features that should raise suspicion for SCAD when Takotsubo is presumed and outlines the clinical utility of CCTA in making this diagnosis when angiography is unrevealing.
| S-EPMC6426097 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundSpontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) has gained attention as an important cause of acute coronary syndrome and sudden cardiac death (SCD) among women. Management strategies of SCAD differ from those of atherosclerotic disease. There is an elevated risk of complications and suboptimal outcomes in patients with SCAD undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs).Case summaryA 48-year-old woman without any traditional cardiovascular risk factors was admitted with severe central chest pain with associated dyspnoea and diaphoresis. The patient had a strong family history of SCD, affecting three female members in their 40s and 50s. Cardiac troponins were elevated. Coronary angiogram showed moderate to severe stenosis of the proximal circumflex coronary artery. Optical coherence tomography confirmed SCAD with sub-intimal haematoma. Despite significant stenosis in the proximal segment of a relatively large artery, a decision was made not to proceed with PCI. The follow-up angiogram demonstrated normal coronaries. Magnetic resonance imaging of renal arteries showed features suggestive of fibromuscular dysplasia affecting the right renal artery. Subsequent genetic counselling and gene testing were unremarkable.DiscussionConservative management of SCAD is recommended because the large majority of SCAD lesions heal naturally, whereas PCI is associated with increased risk of complications and adverse outcomes. Whether SCAD is associated with the sudden death events in our patient's family remains unclear. It certainly raises concerns as to an inheritable condition. In the absence of post-mortem findings in her family members, we can only speculate about this representing a possible inheritable form of SCAD.
| S-EPMC6764720 | biostudies-literature
Project description:IntroductionSpontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is defined as a non-traumatic, non-iatrogenic, non-atherosclerotic separation of the coronary arterial walls, creating a false lumen. The space created is filled with an intramural haematoma (IMH) that compresses the true arterial lumen, decreasing anterograde blood flow. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is commonly associated with small and medium sized extracoronary vascular abnormalities.Case presentationThis case report describes a case of SCAD presenting as an acute coronary syndrome together with aortic dilatation requiring aortic valve and aortic root replacement.DiscussionDespite the fact that SCAD and aortic dilatation share common aetiologies, this is the first case to our knowledge describing severe aortic dilatation and SCAD presenting concomitantly. This case highlights the importance of confirming the diagnosis of SCAD with intravascular imaging and of investigating for extracoronary arteriopathies.
| S-EPMC6426025 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundSpontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare cause of acute coronary syndrome that is often misdiagnosed.Case summaryWe describe a case of multi-vessel SCAD in a 73-year-old patient with no evidence of fibromuscular dysplasia that is presented with Type A aortic dissection after undergoing an ascending aorta and aortic arch replacement with stent placement in the abdominal aorta. The use of percutaneous coronary intervention with cutting balloons and drug-eluting stent implantation helped wean the patient off extracorporeal membrane oxygenation successfully.DiscussionTo our knowledge, this is the first reported case of multi-vessel SCAD presenting concomitantly with aortic dissection. More research is needed to help understand the pathophysiology of the two conditions as well as possible links between them.
| S-EPMC9263159 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundSpontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an important cause of acute coronary syndrome and is associated with fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD). The diagnosis of stress cardiomyopathy in patients with SCAD and FMD is uncommon, though an important consideration given the shared risk profile. Complications of severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction associated with stress cardiomyopathy, such as LV thrombus, complicate the management of SCAD where anticoagulation is controversial in the context of SCAD-associated intramural haematoma.Case summaryA 65-year-old female presented with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction with a recent diagnosis of hypertension but no other traditional cardiovascular risk factors. There was, however, a family history of early cardiac death from myocardial infarction affecting her mother. Echocardiography demonstrated severe biventricular dysfunction with circumferential akinesis of the mid to apical segments. Coronary angiography demonstrated type 2A SCAD involving the first diagonal artery. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed a diagnosis of stress cardiomyopathy with biventricular involvement, complicated by LV apical thrombus and a focal region of myocardial infarction. Vascular imaging confirmed the presence of FMD. Guideline-directed heart failure therapy in addition to clopidogrel and rivaroxaban was prescribed. Follow-up contrast echocardiography at six-weeks confirmed resolution of LV dysfunction and resolution of the LV thrombus with no adverse events.DiscussionThe dual diagnosis of SCAD and stress cardiomyopathy is uncommon. Cardiac MRI was useful for confirming the diagnosis of stress cardiomyopathy and the presence of LV thrombus, where anticoagulation may complicate the management of intramural haematoma in patients with concomitant SCAD and FMD.
| S-EPMC9149788 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundSpontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is still an underdiagnosed condition that requires a detailed assessment of angiographic signs. It also shares similar clinical presentations with Takotsubo syndrome (TTS). The concomitant presentation of SCAD with TTS is a possible occurrence, making it difficult for clinicians to treat and manage.Case summaryThis study included a 49-year-old woman with retrosternal chest pain who was admitted to the emergency department. Coronary angiography indicated Type 2A SCAD involving the middle part of the left anterior descending artery, while the left ventriculography indicated a typical left ventricular apical ballooning compatible with TTS. A conservative approach to the management of SCAD was observed. After a 3-month follow-up, the control coronary angiography showed a complete angiographic resolution. The results of the transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) and cardiac magnetic resonance revealed a complete normalization of the pathological features. The patient remained asymptomatic and showed no recurrence of chest pain.DiscussionAlthough TTS and SCAD are commonly observed in patients who share certain characteristics (women, without atheromatous terrain, stress-related factors), it is difficult to establish a pathophysiological link between them. This observation confirms the non-random association of two rare entities of myocardial infarction with no obstructive coronary arteries. Although TTS can be easily diagnosed via non-invasive imaging, the diagnosis of SCAD is more difficult. The findings of this study suggest a concomitant presentation between SCAD and TTS. Although the treatment approach to SCAD is usually conservative, severe forms of this disease require early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
| S-EPMC9071323 | biostudies-literature