Acute coronary occlusion after surgical replacement of the aortic valve treated with emergency off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting

Abstract

Acute coronary occlusion after surgical replacement of the aortic valve is a rare but potentially fatal event. Due to its rarity, there is no univocal treatment with the percutaneous approach being the most commonly used for its promptness and ease of use. Only a few cases have been treated with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and, to the best of our knowledge, none has been reported with the use of off-pump CABG (OPCABG). Here we describe the case of acute coronary occlusion of the circumflex artery immediately after surgical replacement of the aortic valve in a 79-year-old patient. The occlusion was promptly diagnosed and treated with interval emergency balloon angioplasty followed by OPCABG of the circumflex artery. The patient made a full recovery and was discharged home 12 days after the surgery.