Restricted accessReview articleFirst published online 2007-10
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
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.
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