Cardiac tamponade caused by acute spontaneous coronary artery rupture

J Card Surg. 2006 May-Jun;21(3):301-3. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-8191.2006.00239.x.

Abstract

Acute spontaneous coronary artery rupture is rare and the diagnosis might be missed due to high risk of mors subita. We present three patients hospitalized with signs of cardiac tamponade due to acute spontaneous coronary artery rupture. All the three were successfully operated with evacuation of the pericardial hematoma, identification of the bleeding site, and hemostasis. The patients were examined with coronary angiography and computer tomography, and no underlying cause of the rupture was detected. In patients presenting with cardiac tamponade, acute spontaneous coronary artery rupture is a possible diagnosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures / methods*
  • Cardiac Tamponade / diagnosis
  • Cardiac Tamponade / etiology*
  • Cardiac Tamponade / surgery
  • Coronary Angiography
  • Coronary Disease / complications*
  • Coronary Disease / diagnostic imaging
  • Coronary Disease / surgery
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Hemostasis, Surgical / methods*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Rupture, Spontaneous
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed