Extensive coronary dissection treated with endarterectomy and coronary reconstruction

Acute coronary dissection is an uncommon event, usually not related to typical coronary risk factors, usually in women, and usually diagnosed at autopsy. This report describes a young woman with extensive left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) dissection, refused for intervention since there was no lesion to angioplasty and no artery to bypass. A long arteriotomy was made, removing under direct vision all of the torn and dissected tissue, just as would be done for extensive LAD endarterectomy. A vein was split and attached to reconstruct the artery. Normal left ventricular function was restored.