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Cardiology Research

Case Report

Volume 8, Number 6, December 2017, pages 327-330

Postpartum Sudden Cardiac Death After Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection in a Patient With Fibromuscular Dysplasia

We report a case of spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) presenting as sudden cardiac death (SCD) in a 38-year-old, 2 weeks postpartum female. Cardiac catheterization revealed an ulcerated plaque with suspicion for intramural hematoma in the mid-segment of the left main coronary artery, consistent with SCAD. This case poses several interesting clinical decision-making obstacles, including management of left main SCAD with a large minimal lumen cross-sectional area (CSA) on intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in true lumen, further diagnostic workup for fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) and the need for implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation in patients that present with SCD in presence of SCAD.

A 38-year-old female 2 weeks postpartum from an uncomplicated fourth pregnancy presented to the emergency room with cardiac arrest. The arrest occurred while the patient was breast-feeding her newborn and was witnessed by her husband. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was immediately initiated by her husband, and was found to be in ventricular-tachycardia when the EMS arrived. She was defibrillated several times, intubated in the field and regained a pulse on arrival to the emergency room.

On arrival, the patient was hypertensive (BP 155/85 mm Hg), tachycardic (HR 79/min), and tachypnic (RR 21/min) on constant manual ventilation with oxygen saturation of 97% on FiO₂ 100%. On neurologic examination, she opened her eyes in response to noxious stimuli, pupils were equal, round, and reactive to light, gag reflex was present and she was breathing over the ventilator. Her cardiac examination revealed normal heart sound, regular rhythm without appreciable rubs or murmurs with an otherwise unremarkable physical exam. Her electrocardiogram revealed normal sinus rhythm with non-specific ST changes. Her initial troponin level was 3.3 which peaked to 61 ng/mL. Transthoracic echocardiogram revealed moderate left ventricular dysfunction with ejection fraction of 40%, with anterior hypokinesis and without valvular abnormalities. Left heart catheterization revealed a large size left main coronary artery with a 50% irregular contour, eccentric, and ulcerated plaque and 70% mid-left anterior descending (LAD) tubular stenosis with thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) 3 flow (Fig. 1). Medical management with beta blockade, dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin/clopidogrel) and heparin was initiated. Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of the head and neck as well as abdominal arteries was performed to evaluate for the presence of other vascular involvement related to FMD. There were focal regions of dissection in the left vertebral artery with a high index of suspicion for FMD. The patient remained stable and was extubated 3 days after admission. A repeat angiography (5 days after initial) revealed improved angiographic appearance of her left main and LAD (Fig. 2). The IVUS revealed significant intramural hematoma and a left main artery lumen CSA of 8.1 mm² (Fig. 3). The stenotic area of the mid-LAD was also consistent with SCAD.

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Figure 1. Left anterior oblique caudal view revealing a large sized left main artery with a 50% irregular contoured, eccentric and ulcerated plaque.

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Figure 2. A repeat angiography revealing improved angiographic appearance of her left main.

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Figure 3. The intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) revealing significant intramural hematoma and a left main artery lumen cross sectional area (CSA).

The patient was treated with guideline directed medical therapy because CSA was > 6 mm², TIMI 3 flow, absence of hemodynamic instability, ischemia or arrhythmias at the time of diagnosis. The patient responded well to medical therapy and a repeat catheterization 3 months later demonstrated improved angiographic appearance. The vertebral artery dissection found on the MRA supported the diagnosis of FMD, while renal, splenic iliac and hepatic arteries were normal.

The patient was discharged home with a LifeVest wearable defibrillator on guideline directed medical therapy and was asymptomatic with no events at 3-month follow-up. A repeated angiography revealed continuous angiographic improvement of her left main artery lesion site (Fig. 4), while the IVUS revealed complete resolution of the intramural hematoma (Fig. 5).

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Figure 4. Repeat cardiac catheterization showing improved left main lesion (blue arrow).

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Figure 5. Intravascular ultrasound revealing healed intramural hematoma.

The management of SCAD is controversial, since no clinical trial has compared medical therapy against revascularization strategies. Standard medical therapy of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has not been particularly studied for SCAD [1]. Beta blockers theoretically reduce coronary arterial wall pressure, ventricular arrhythmias, and long-term survival; hence they are being administered usually in acute and long-term management of SCAD [1, 2]. Since SCAD is often healed spontaneously, conservative management has been preferred if possible [3-10]. Revascularization is considered for patients who are hemodynamically unstable, have ventricular arrhythmias, unstable lesions in major coronary arteries and unresolved/ongoing ischemia [11]. These cases may be managed by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), depending on the coronary anatomy [12].

This case posed challenges in our clinical decisions making. Foremost issue was the acute lesion management in presence of left main artery involvement. Options included revascularization with PCI or CABG as opposed to medical therapy [12]. We opted for medical therapy because of the patient’s absence of hemodynamic instability, arrhythmia, or ongoing ischemia, with TIMI 3 flow and a CSA in true lumen on IVUS of 8.2 mm². Furthermore, PCI in cases of intramural hematoma could lead to propagation of dissection (intramural hematoma) proximal and distal along the coronary tree requiring extensive stenting and compromising flow [13].

The second dilemma was secondary prevention of SCD in patients with cardiac arrest. The patient’s SCD was consequence of SCAD presenting as ACS. There are no randomized clinical trials comparing medical therapy and ICD in patients with SCAD and SCD [14]. We elected to use a wearable cardioverter defibrillator and monitor the patient. She had no events over the next 3 months, with normalization of left ventricular ejection fraction and healing of intramural hematoma on follow-up with IVUS. The wearable cardioverter defibrillator was discontinued after 3 months and no ICD was implanted. The patient remained on antiplatelet therapy for future prevention of coronary and cerebral events.

We report a rare case of SCAD in patient with FMD who presented with SCD as a result of left main coronary artery dissection. The patient was managed successfully with conservative medical therapy. A high index of suspicion for FMD should be maintained in young peripartum female patients presenting with ACS.

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