Spontaneous resolution of an accidental total coronary occlusion

Intern Med. 2010;49(23):2593-7. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.49.4286. Epub 2010 Dec 1.

Abstract

In December 2007, a woman was involved in a traffic accident. At first, her vital signs were normal, but electrocardiogram showed ST-segment elevation in the inferior leads. She was diagnosed as a blunt chest trauma-induced myocardial infarction. Her right coronary angiography showed total occlusion. She underwent an emergency coronary artery bypass surgery; 64-multi-detector-row computed tomography (64-MDCT) demonstrated an intravascular protruding lesion, which suggested subintimal hematoma. One month later, repeat coronary angiogram showed spontaneous recanalization, and 64-MDCT showed no discontinuous vessel wall. Coronary artery occlusion secondary to blunt chest trauma is rare, and it's even rarer to have spontaneous recanalization.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Traffic*
  • Coronary Occlusion / diagnosis*
  • Coronary Occlusion / etiology
  • Coronary Occlusion / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Remission, Spontaneous
  • Thoracic Injuries / complications
  • Thoracic Injuries / diagnosis*
  • Thoracic Injuries / surgery
  • Wounds, Nonpenetrating / complications
  • Wounds, Nonpenetrating / diagnosis*
  • Wounds, Nonpenetrating / surgery
  • Young Adult