Intracoronary nitroglycerin reversal of life-threatening ergonovine maleate-induced coronary artery spasm

Ergonovine maleate was given to a patient suspected as a case of Prinzmetal's variant angina following demonstration of normal coronary arteries by angiography. Profound shock, heart block, and severe pain accompanied marked spasm of the left coronary artery. Direct infusion of nitroglycerin into the left coronary artery reversed the spasm when sublingual and intraaortic nitroglycerin failed to prevent further hemodynamic and clinical deterioration.