Coronary artery spasm after aortic valve replacement

Refractory diffuse coronary artery spasm post aortic valve replacement

Postoperative coronary artery spasm occurs rarely after valve replacement surgery. We report the case of a 64-year-old man with normal coronary arteries who underwent aortic valve replacement. Nineteen hours postoperatively, his blood pressure plummeted with an elevated ST-segment. Coronary angiography demonstrated a 3-vessel diffuse coronary artery spasm, and direct intracoronary infusion therapy was performed with isosorbide nitrate, nicorandil and sodium nitroprusside hydrate within 1 h of onset. Nonetheless, there was no improvement, and the patient was resistant to treatment. The patient died due to prolonged low cardiac function and pneumonia complications. Prompt intracoronary vasodilator infusion is considered effective. However, this case was refractory to multi-drug intracoronary infusion therapy and was not salvageable.

Severe Coronary Artery Vasospasm after Mitral Valve Replacement in a Diabetic Patient with Previous Stent Implantation: A Case Report

Postoperative coronary vasospasm is a well-known cause of angina that may lead to myocardial infarction if not treated promptly. We report a case of a 70-year-old female with severe mitral regurgitation submitted to mitral valve replacement, and a history of diabetes mellitus type II, stroke, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura on steroid therapy, and previous percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for severe obstruction of the circumflex coronary artery, 4 months prior to surgery. Immediately after intensive care unit admission, the patient developed pulseless electrical activity which required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for hemodynamic support. The coronary angiography showed diffuse occlusive coronary artery vasospasm, ameliorated after intra-coronary administration of nitroglycerin. The following postoperative evolution was marked by cardiogenic shock and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Subsequent echocardiographic findings showed an increase in left ventricular function with an EF of 40%, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support was weaned after seven days. However, after a few hours, the patient progressively deteriorated, with cardiac arrest and no response to resuscitation maneuvers. Hemodynamic instability following the surgical procedure in a patient with previous PCI associated with an autoimmune disease and diabetes mellitus should raise the suspicion of a coronary artery vasospasm.

Postoperative diffuse coronary spasm after two valve surgery - a rare phenomenon

Postoperative coronary artery spasm is one of the grave complications of cardiac surgery and is usually seen in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. We describe the case of a 63 year old male patient developing postoperative spasm of the entire coronary tree after aortic & mitral valve replacement, manifesting as significant electrocardiographic changes. Urgent coronary angiography was performed which revealed diffuse spasm of the entire coronary tree. It resolved completely with intracoronary injection of Nitroglycerine. The present case highlights the likelihood of postoperative coronary spasm even after valve replacement surgery, and not just coronary bypass surgery. It also illustrated the usefulness of coronary angiography for both diagnosis and treatment of this entity.

Postoperative coronary artery spasm after mitral valve replacement

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Coronary artery spasm occurred after mitral valve replacement in a patient with normal coronary arteries.

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The patient had ST changes and inferior wall hypokinesia.

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The diagnosis was established by urgent postoperative coronary angiography.

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The spasm responded to the intracoronary injection of nitrates.

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The remaining postoperative course was uneventful and the left ventricular function returned to normal.

Introduction

Postoperative coronary artery spasm is an infrequent life-threatening event after cardiac surgery which can occur without an underlying coronary disease

Presentation of case

We report a documented case of a 67-year-old man with normal coronary arteries submitted to mitral valve replacement. Immediately after surgery he had a ST elevation in the inferior leads, and an inferior wall hypokinesia at the trans-oesophageal echo. A coronary angiography demonstrated a focal spasm in the right coronary artery which was successfully treated by intracoronary injection of nitrates. The following postoperative course was uneventful and the left ventricular function returned to normal.

Discussion

A coronary artery spasm should be suspected whenever a postoperative infarction occurs after valvular surgery especially in absence of associated coronary artery disease. In this cases postoperative coronary angiography allows both the diagnosis and the treatment.

Conclusion

This case-report summarizes the findings of this rare and potentially life-threatening cause of early postoperative ischemia and highlights the role of early coronary angiography in the cases of suspected myocardial infarction after cardiac surgery

Early diffuse coronary artery spasm after heart valve surgery in the carcinoid syndrome

BACKGROUND

Coronary spasm has been described in the context of carcinoid heart disease, but few information are available over perioperative coronary spasm.

METHODS

We describe the case of a patient developing severe spasm of the entire coronary tree immediately after tricuspid valve surgery for carcinoid heart disease, leading to severe myocardial failure.

RESULTS

The spasm was diagnosed by coronary angiography and resolved by intracoronary injection of trinitrine. We present the angiographic features of simultaneous spasm of all coronary arteries and of its evolution.

CONCLUSION

The present case illustrates the likelihood of perioperative spasm of the entire coronary tree in carcinoid heart disease, and the usefulness of coronary angiography for both diagnosis and treatment.

Intracoronary adenosine triphosphate for refractory coronary artery spasm

A 62-year-old woman underwent aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis. Her hemodynamics deteriorated with ST-T depression 6 hours postoperatively. Emergency coronary catheterization showed diffuse right coronary artery spasm. The spasm persisted despite intracoronary infusion of nitrates and calcium antagonists. Intracoronary adenosine triphosphate infusion finally resolved the spasm and stabilized the cardiac function.

Postoperative Coronary Artery Spasm Complicating Aortic Valve Replacement: Implications for Identification and Treatment

We report a case of coronary spasm soon after aortic valve replacement associated with hemodynamic and arrhythmic instability. The spasm was demonstrated at coronary angiography and was resolved with the intracoronary infusion of nitrates and antiarrhythmics.

Surgery Using Median Sternotomy for Diffuse Aneurysmal Disease of the Thoracic Aorta

We present our experience using an anterior approach for the replacement of an extensive aneurysm of the thoracic aorta. In recent years we have performed surgery on 20 patients by means of a median sternotomy for aneurysms of the ascending aorta, aortic arch, or descending thoracic aorta. In all but 1 of the patients, a procedure in the ascending aorta was also performed. In some patients a small anterior left thoracotomy at the 4th intercostal space was required to allow the replacement of the aorta as for the diaphragm. Antegrade selective cerebral perfusion (ASCP) according to Kazui's technique was used as a brain protection method. All procedures were performed successfully and the aneurysm was completely resected. No neurologic complications or other major complications occurred. We believe that the anterior approach for extensive thoracic aorta replacement is feasible, allows the use of ASCP, and has shown encouraging results.