The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Vol 71, 433-435, Copyright © 1976 by The American Association for Thoracic Surgery and The Western Thoracic Surgical Association
Myocardial infarction complicated by rheumatic heart disease
FW Schoonmaker and Sr Grow JB
This report describes the case of a 32-year-old woman with the sudden onset
of chest pain and an evolving inferior wall infarction proved by the
electrocardiogram and enzyme studies. The patient underwent embolectomy 2
months later for a thromboembolus in the right main coronary artery. An
autologous patch graft was used to close the arteriotomy. Four years later,
the patient is asymptomatic, having no activity limitations. The patch
graft to the right coronary artery is patent. This case exemplifies and
reaffirms the possibility of emboli being lodged in the coronary arteries
in certain types of disease. It may be necessary to operate in order to
re-establish proper coronary circulation.