부산대학교 도서관

Vasospastic angina is a form of angina caused by coronary artery spasm. This usually determines rest chest pain and electrocardiogram changes. In some patients severe ventricular tachyarrhythmias or bradyarrhythmias may develop during myocardial ischemia. Vasospastic angina attacks can be prevented by calcium antagonists and nitrates but artery spasm may be refractory to optimal medical therapy. A 66–year–old woman, affected by Hailey–Hailey disease was brought to the emergency department for hemorrhagic shock after anti–conservative purposes. She underwent emergency surgery for haemostasis of the neck lesion, reinsertion of the subhyoid muscles and right parotidectomy. After surgery an electrocardiogram (ECG) showed inferior and posterior ST–segment elevation, total atrioventricular block (AVB) and torsades de pointes (FIG 1), then evolved in asystole and cardiac arrest . ROSC occurred in 4 minutes. Temporary pacemaker (PM) was placed. Coronary angiography showed right coronary artery and left anteriori descending artery vasospasm, slightly reduced after nitroglycein infusion (FIG 2). Transdermal nitrates and calcium channel blocker were started. Hospitalization has been prolonged due to infectious/psychiatric problems, with necessity of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and tracheostomy, A new episode of vasospastic angina developed during hospitalization with recurrence of total AVB and torsades de pointes. Temporary PM was placed but after 24 hours perforated the right ventricle free wall. Echocardiogram showed small circumferential pericardial effusion. The patient underwent transvenous removal of the right ventricular catheter and two lead DDD PM was implanted. She was discharged with nitrate and calcium channel blocker therapy. No recurrence of angina was documented at 6–months follow–up. The management of this clinical case was complex because it was a form of vasospastic angina complicated by 2 cardiac arrests, unresponsive to medical therapy and with temporary PM that perforated the right ventricle. We therefore opted for a definitive PM implant for protection. Few case report describes definitive PM implantation in fatal bradyarrhythmias during vasospastic angina. To date, the best treatment of coronary vasospasm refractory to medical therapy is debated, pecutaneous revascularization and sympathectomy are considered, treatment methods that we will consider at follow–up in case of (probable) anginal recurrences.