Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection of the Left Circumflex Artery Causing Cardiac Tamponade and Presenting With Atrial Fibrillation: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Christopher R. Hayes, MRCP1*
and
Debbie Lewis, MRCP2
1 Hereford Hospital NHSTrust
2 Darent Valley Hospital NHS Trust
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: chrisrushayes{at}doctors.org.uk.
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Abstract |
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Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is rare. When it does occur, it can present in a myriad of ways and can mimic more common clinical scenarios. Undiagnosed it can be fatal. In this article, the authors present a case of coronary artery dissection in a middle aged man presenting as fast atrial fibrillation with hemodynamic compromise. He was unsuccessfully cardioverted and later arrested and died. Postmortem showed a ruptured dissection of the left circumflex artery causing cardiac tamponade and death. Incidence, associations, pathophysiology, investigations, and treatment options are reviewed.
