ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION (AMI) DUE TO COMPRESSION OF THE LEFT MAIN CORONARY ARTERY (LMCA) BY A FALSE CHANNEL CREATED BY AN ACUTE AORTIC DISSECTION (AAD)

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) due to compression of the left main coronary artery (LMCA) by a false channel created by an acute aortic dissection (AAD)

Muhammad Tanw 212f51c ir Arshad   

We describe a case of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) due to compression of the left main coronary artery (LMCA) by a false channel created by an acute aortic dissection (AAD). The dynamic pattern of artery obstruction is detailed as a key element to the diagnosis of extrinsic coronary compression throughout the angiography. Treatment by direct stenting restored complete anterograde coronary flow and improved myocardial perfusion.

The goal of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treatment is reperfusion,¹ which can be achieved either by percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)^2,3 or thrombolytic therapy.^4-6 In most cases, the cause of acute coronary artery occlusion is the presence of thrombus superimposed on a more or less severe atheromatous plaque.⁷ We describe a patient with AMI in whom the etiology was not thrombotic, but rather compression of the left main coronary artery (LMCA) by a false channel created by an acute aortic dissection (AAD).