Coronary artery dissection in the postpartum period--a case study

Spontaneous coronary dissection is a rare condition occurring more often in women, with a higher frequency during the peripartum period. No specific aetiology has been defined to this uncommon, but often fatal disease. We describe the case of a young woman admitted to our intensive care unit with ECG-findings of acute anterior myocardial infarction presented one week after delivery. The acute coronary angiography didn't show significant stenoses or occlusion, therefore angioplasty was not done. Cardiogenic shock developed, which could be reverted by mechanical circulatory support and the condition of our patient stabilized. Later, new-onset cardiac ischemic signs presented warranting a repeated coronary angiography, which detected dissection on the distal part of the left main coronary artery with signs of flow-limiting even in the circumflex artery. Therefore, urgent coronary bypass surgery was performed with good results. Spontaneous coronary dissection must be considered when evaluating a patient in the peripartum period with signs of acute coronary syndrome, given its high overall mortality. The treatment holds specific points of consideration.