Coronary artery dissection in a patient with traumatic femoral shaft fracture

Acta Anaesthesiol Taiwan. 2010 Dec;48(4):191-3. doi: 10.1016/j.aat.2010.12.007. Epub 2010 Dec 21.

Abstract

We report a 24-year-old man who developed postoperative pulmonary edema and desaturation, after open reduction with internal fixation for left femoral shaft fracture sustained in a motorcycle accident. Cardiac catheterization revealed a left anterior descending coronary artery dissection. Review of his present history, showed that he neither had chest discomfort nor suffered from hemodynamic decompensation preoperatively. Only the abnormal 12-lead ECG with moderate tachycardia was suggestive of myocardial ischemia. Coronary artery dissection, although uncommon, is a disastrous complication following blunt chest trauma, and needs thorough preoperative evaluation to exclude its occurrence.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Traffic
  • Aortic Dissection / etiology*
  • Coronary Aneurysm / etiology*
  • Femoral Fractures / complications*
  • Femoral Fractures / surgery
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Thoracic Injuries / complications
  • Wounds, Nonpenetrating / complications
  • Young Adult