Location of coronary culprit lesions at autopsy in 41 nondiabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Am J Forensic Med Pathol

Divisions of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Medical School, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.

Published: September 2010

Background: Coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction (MI) are major causes of patient morbidity, hospital mortality, and out-of-hospital sudden death. The precise location of culprit lesions in acute MI at autopsy has not been reported.

Objective: The purpose of this retrospective histopathologic autopsy study was to determine the distribution of coronary culprit lesions in acute fatal MI.

Methods: Cross-sections of epicardial coronary arteries were evaluated microscopically. For each culprit lesion, its distance from the coronary ostium and its grade of luminal stenosis were recorded.

Results: The study group included 41 nondiabetic patients (mean age of 65 years, 66% males) who underwent autopsy at Mayo Clinic Rochester (1994-2005). Culprit lesions occurred within the proximal 3.0 cm of the left anterior descending artery in 86% and the left circumflex artery in 100%. In contrast, culprit plaques within the right coronary artery (RCA) were distributed evenly throughout its length.

Conclusions: Among nondiabetic patients with acute fatal MI, culprit lesions exhibited proximal clustering in the left anterior descending artery and left circumflex artery, in contrast to more uniform distribution in the RCA. Thus, for the autopsy investigation of sudden death, evaluation for culprit lesions in the entire length of the RCA, not just its proximal region, is recommended.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/PAF.0b013e3181dd7949DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

culprit lesions
24
nondiabetic patients
12
culprit
8
coronary culprit
8
patients acute
8
myocardial infarction
8
coronary artery
8
sudden death
8
lesions acute
8
acute fatal
8

Similar Publications

Troponin level elevation without an obstructive culprit lesion is caused by heterogenous entities. The effect of aging on this condition has been poorly investigated. After screening 24,775 patients between 2010 and 2021, this study included a total of 373 patients with elevated troponin levels without an obstructive culprit lesion or suspected myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCAs) categorized into four age groups containing 78 patients (<51 years), 72 patients (51-60 years), 81 patients (61-70 years), and 142 patients (>70 years).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

: ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide, primarily caused by acute thrombosis over atherosclerotic plaques. Simultaneous acute thrombosis in two coronary arteries is an exceptionally rare event. This report highlights a unique case of STEMI associated with cardiogenic shock due to dual coronary artery thrombosis and provides insights from a literature review on this rare condition.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study focused on elderly patients (70+) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) at a tertiary center in Upper Egypt, highlighting a growing concern for cardiovascular disease in aging populations.
  • The research included data from 3,627 patients, finding that 15.9% were elderly, with significantly higher in-hospital mortality rates, particularly among octogenarians (23.3%) compared to younger patients (4%).
  • Elderly patients showed distinct clinical characteristics, such as higher rates of hypertension and chronic kidney disease, and were more likely to have severe complications post-procedure, emphasizing the need for tailored strategies in managing this demographic in cardiovascular care.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Outcomes among patients with coronary artery bypass grafts presenting with acute coronary syndrome: impact of revascularization.

Ther Adv Cardiovasc Dis

January 2025

Section of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba Max Rady College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB, Canada Y3006 - 409, Tache Avenue, St. Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6, Canada.

Background: Patients post-coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) can re-present with acute coronary syndrome (ACS); however, culprit lesion identification, as well as revascularization, is often challenging. Furthermore, the impact of revascularization in this patient group is relatively unknown.

Objectives: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with previous CABG surgery presenting with ACS.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Elective unprotected left main (ULM) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has long-term mortality rates comparable to surgical revascularization, thanks to advances in drug-eluting stent (DES) design, improved PCI techniques, and frequent use of intravascular imaging. However, urgent PCI of ULM culprit lesions remains associated with high in-hospital mortality and unfavourable long-term outcomes, including DES restenosis and stent thrombosis (ST). This analysis aimed to examine the long-term outcomes and healing of DES implanted in ULM during primary PCI using high-resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!