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Coronary artery dissection
From WikEM
Contents
Background
- Usually presents as an Anterior MI with ST changes in anterior Precordial leads (V1-V3)
Causes
- Hormonal changes in vessel wall (eg pregnancy, contraceptives)
- Shear forces
- Fibromuscular dysplasia
- Underling connective tissue disorder
Clinical Features
- Chest or shoulder pain
- Syncope
- Dyspnea
- Diaphoresis
- Nausea
Differential Diagnosis
ST Elevation
- Myocardial infarct (STEMI)
- Post-MI (ventricular aneurysm pattern)
- Previous MI with recurrent ischemia in same area
- Wellens' syndrome
- Coronary artery vasospasm (eg, Prinzmetal's angina)
- Coronary artery dissection
- Drugs of abuse (eg, cocaine, crack, meth)
- Pericarditis
- Myocarditis
- Aortic dissection in to coronary
- LV aneurysm
- Early repolarization
- Left bundle branch block
- Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH)
- Pneumomediastinum
- Pneumothorax
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Myocardial tumor
- Myocardial trauma
- External compression of artery
- Medications: Tricyclic (TCA) toxicity, Digoxin
- RV pacing (appears as Left bundle branch block)
- Hyperkalemia (only leads V1 and V2)
- Hypothermia ("Osborn J waves")
- Brugada syndrome
- Takotsubo cardiomyopathy
- AVR ST elevation
Evaluation
- Diagnosis made at time of coronary angiography
Management
- Aspirin, beta blocker, and 1 year of clopidogrel[1]
- PCI can be challenging given vessel wall fragility
Disposition
See Also
References
- ↑ Saw J, Aymong E, Sedlak T, et al. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection: association with predisposing arteriopathies and precipitating stressors and cardiovascular outcomes. Circ Cardiovasc Interv 2014; 7:645.
Authors
Daniel Eggeman, Daniel Ostermayer, Ross Donaldson, Neil Young, Claire
