Author/Authors :
Sinha, Archana Division of Cardiovascular Disease - Saint Luke’s University Health Network, Bethlehem, USA , Sibel, Michael Department of Emergency Medicine - Saint Luke’s University Health Network, Bethlehem, USA , Thomas, Peter Department of Trauma Surgery - Saint Luke’s University Health Network, Bethlehem, USA , Burt, Francis Division of Cardiovascular Disease - Saint Luke’s University Health Network, Bethlehem, USA , Cipolla, James Department of Trauma Surgery - Saint Luke’s University Health Network, Bethlehem, USA , Puleo, Peter Division of Cardiovascular Disease - Saint Luke’s University Health Network, Bethlehem, USA , Baker, Keith Department of Emergency Medicine - Saint Luke’s University Health Network, Bethlehem, USA
Abstract :
Blunt trauma to the chest resulting in coronary thrombosis and ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a rare but welldescribed occurrence in adults. Angiography in such cases has generally disclosed complete epicardial coronary occlusion with
thrombus, indistinguishable from the findings commonly found in spontaneous plaque rupture due to atherosclerotic disease. In
all previously reported cases in which coronary interrogation with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) was performed in association
with acute revascularization, coronary artery dissection was implicated as the etiology of coronary thrombosis. We present the
first case report of blunt trauma-associated coronary thrombosis without underlying atherosclerosis or coronary dissection, as
documented by IVUS imaging.
