Coronary artery bypass surgery in a patient with symptomatic ventricular arrhythmia : a case presentation and review of the literature
Date
1984-04
Authors
Przybojewski, J. Z.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Health and Medical Publishing Group -- HMPG
Abstract
A 42-year-old White man suffered from recurrent symptomatic ventricular tachycardia but not angina pectoris. Cardiac catheterization demonstrated a normally contracting left ventricle and coronary angiography delineated significant atherosclerotic obstructions in the left circumflex (LC) coronary artery and the first diagonal branch of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery was carried out on the anterolateral and mid-lateral branches of the LC coronary artery as well as the first diagonal branch of the LAD coronary artery. Frequent postoperative Holter monitoring as well as maximum-exercise stress testing has failed to show any recurrence of the ventricular arrhythmia, and the patient has remained asymptomatic and medical therapy has been discontinued. Some 30 months after operation left ventricular cine angiography demonstrated normal contractility. Selective coronary arteriography indicated that the CABG to the anterolateral branch of the LC coronary artery was occluded at its proximal aortic anastomosis. However, the CABGs to the mid-lateral branch of the LC and LAD coronary arteries were still patent. Repeat serial resting ECGs failed to show any evidence of postoperative myocardial infarction. It is concluded that CABG surgery was responsible for eliminating the episodes of life-threatening ventricular tachycardia, presumably by correcting myocardial ischaemia. The role of CABG surgery in the control of medically unresponsive and dangerous ventricular arrhythmias is reviewed.
Description
The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.za
Keywords
Coronary artery bypass -- Surgery
Citation
Przybojewski, J. Z., 1984. Coronary artery bypass surgery in a patient with symptomatic ventricular arrhythmia : a case presentation and review of the literature. South African Medical Journal, 7 April: 573-587.