[Occlusion of the right coronary artery with acute right heart infarct and cardiogenic shock]

Abstract

In a 42-year-old patient with an acute inferior infarction the right coronary artery was recanalised by intracoronary streptokinase 4 hours after the onset of symptoms. In spite of early reperfusion the patient developed an extensive myocardial infarction and died three days later from cardiogenic shock. Autopsy revealed an almost complete necrosis of the right ventricle including the inferior interventricular septum and the adjacent left ventricular wall. Diagnostic and therapeutic problems in the so-called dominant right ventricular infarction are discussed.