Bilateral anterior compartment syndrome after routine coronary artery bypass surgery and severe hypothyroidism

Jane Mills; Victor Pretorius; Tim Lording; Ashutosh Hardikar; Mark Murton

doi:10.1016/j.athoracsur.2010.03.028

Bilateral anterior compartment syndrome after routine coronary artery bypass surgery and severe hypothyroidism

Ann Thorac Surg. 2010 Oct;90(4):1338-40. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2010.03.028.

Authors

Jane Mills¹, Victor Pretorius, Tim Lording, Ashutosh Hardikar, Mark Murton

Affiliation

¹ Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Royal Hobart Hospital, Hobart, Australia.

PMID: 20868840
DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2010.03.028

Abstract

Compartment syndrome is a very rare complication of coronary artery bypass grafting and previously it has only been described unilaterally. We describe the development of compartment syndrome in bilateral anterior compartments of the lower leg after vein harvest for coronary artery bypass grafting. We describe a series of predisposing factors contributing to this condition and its delayed diagnosis, including severe undiagnosed hypothyroidism. We advise a high index of suspicion in patients postvein harvest and recommend thyroid function testing for all patients who have compartment syndrome develop.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Acute Coronary Syndrome / complications
Acute Coronary Syndrome / surgery*
Aged
Anterior Compartment Syndrome / etiology*
Coronary Artery Bypass / adverse effects*
Coronary Artery Bypass / methods
Humans
Hypothyroidism / complications
Hypothyroidism / diagnosis*
Leg / blood supply*
Male
Saphenous Vein / transplantation
Tissue and Organ Harvesting / adverse effects*