Acute myocardial infarction and the five-chambered heart.
The case of a patient presenting with acute inferior ST-elevation myocardial infarction is described. Emergent coronary angiography of the right coronary artery revealed what appeared to be the abrupt drainage of contrast into a large, peculiar cavity or chamber. Echocardiography and cardiac computed tomography demonstrated a giant right coronary aneurysm in the right coronary artery that gave the impression of a "fifth heart chamber." The patient underwent successful surgical resection of the aneurysm. Diagnostic and treatment approaches to giant coronary aneurysms are discussed.
Lardizabal
Joel A
JA
Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, Fresno, CA, USA. dr_jolar@yahoo.com
Javed
Usman
U
Ambrose
John A
JA
D000368:Aged; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D003323:Coronary Aneurysm / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography