Sudden cardiac arrest with acute myocardial infarction induced by left subclavian artery occlusion in a patient with prior coronary artery bypass surgery

Korean Circ J. 2012 Dec;42(12):866-8. doi: 10.4070/kcj.2012.42.12.866. Epub 2012 Dec 31.

Abstract

Multivascular preventive and therapeutic approaches are necessary in patients with coronary artery disease because atherosclerosis has a common systemic pathogenesis. We present a rare case of sudden cardiac arrest with acute myocardial infarction induced by the total occlusion of left subclavian artery (LSCA) in a patient with a history of previous coronary artery bypass surgery using the left internal mammary artery. We initially performed blind-puncture of left brachial artery, attempting percutaneous coronary intervention because pulses were absent in both upper and lower extremities. However, the cause of sudden cardiac arrest was atherosclerotic total occlusion of LSCA. The patient was stabilized after successful revascularization of LSCA by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with stent insertion.

Keywords: Atherosclerosis; Coronary artery bypass surgery; Sudden cardiac arrest.