[Acute cardiogenic shock with inferior myocardial infarction associated with an abnormal origin of the coronary arteries].
METHODS
A 45-year-old previously healthy man was admitted as an emergency having suddenly gone into cardiogenic shock. He had not been on any medications. The only known risk factor for cardiovascular disease was heavy smoking.


METHODS
The patient was awake and responsive on admission but showed early signs of cardiogenic shock with hypotension (systolic blood pressure 70 mmHg) and a peripheral pulse rate of 25 beats/min, cold sweat, peripheral cyanosis, nausea and retching. A 12-lead electrocardiogram revealed a bradycardic idioventricular rhythm with a wide QRS and monophasic ST segment elevation in the inferior and posterolateral leads.


METHODS
The patient required resuscitation immediately after admission because of ventricular fibrillation and was intubated. Cardiopulmonary measures of resuscitation had to be continued while an emergency coronary angiography was performed. This demonstrated an anomalous origin of both coronary arteries from the right sinus of Valsalva and proximal occlusion of a dominant right coronary artery (RCA). Several episodes of ventricular fibrillation required repeated DC cardioversion until a regular rhythm was maintained. Closed-chest cardiac compression had to be continued until percutaneous coronary angioplasty had re-established flow in the artery and a long stent had been inserted, with subsequent hemodynamic stabilization and restitution of a normal cardiac rhythm. The patient was extubated 3 days after admission.


CONCLUSIONS
Sudden onset of cardiogenic shock and extensive monophasic ST elevations in the ECG without clear-cut localization of coronary supply to the infarcted area should bring to mind an atypical coronary supply pattern or possible coronary artery anomaly.
Meissner
A
A
Medizinische Klinik II (Schwerpunkte Kardiologie und Angiologie), Marienhospital Herne, Klinikum der Ruhr-Universität Bochum. axel.meissner@marienhospital-herne.de
Trappe
H J
HJ
Plehn
G
G
D000208:Acute Disease; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D003330:Coronary Vessel Anomalies / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003422:Critical Care; D004554:Electric Countershock; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004630:Emergencies; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012151:Resuscitation; D012770:Shock, Cardiogenic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000628:therapy