ATS
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Personal Folders
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Author home page(s):
Hugh S. Paterson
Clifford F. Hughes
Right arrow Permission Requests
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Paterson, H. S.
Right arrow Articles by Hughes, C. F.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Paterson, H. S.
Right arrow Articles by Hughes, C. F.

Ann Thorac Surg 1998;65:1571-1573
© 1998 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

Original articles: cardiovascular

Lethal Postoperative Coronary Artery Spasm

Hugh S. Paterson, FRACSa, Michael W. Jones, FRACRa, Douglas K. Baird, FRACSa,1, Clifford F. Hughes, FRACSa

a Westmead and Royal Prince Alfred Hospitals, Sydney, Australia

Accepted for publication November 25, 1997.

Address reprint requests to Dr Paterson, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Westmead Hospital, Hawkesbury Rd, Westmead NSW 2145 Australia

Background. Coronary artery spasm in the immediate postoperative period after a coronary operation is recognized infrequently. Its severity is variable and manifestations unpredictable. The diagnosis is usually made by an awareness of the possibility and thereafter by exclusion of other causes of myocardial ischemia. An opportunity for a positive diagnosis is rarely available.

Methods. The case reports of 3 patients with similar presentations of ischemic heart disease and with severe manifestations of coronary artery spasm in the postoperative period are presented.

Results. All 3 patients were women aged 55 to 60 years. All had single-vessel coronary artery disease involving the left anterior descending artery and underwent a left internal mammary artery bypass graft. Severe manifestations of myocardial ischemia of abrupt onset developed approximately 7 hours postoperatively in each patient. One patient died of severe hemodynamic deterioration from which resuscitation was unsuccessful. Another sustained a large anterior myocardial infarction despite graft patency. The third patient was supported by an intraaortic balloon pump and made a full recovery.

Conclusions. The early diagnosis of coronary artery spasm is achieved by an awareness of the condition. The institution of early appropriate management may prevent its consequences.






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
ANN THORAC SURG ASIAN CARDIOVASC THORAC ANN EUR J CARDIOTHORAC SURG
J THORAC CARDIOVASC SURG ICVTS ALL CTSNet JOURNALS
Copyright © 1998 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.