A Case of Post-partum Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection with Pulmonary Embolism: Survival with Thrombectomy and Stent Implant

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) is a rare life-threatening cause of acute coronary syndrome. It can affect young patients without atherosclerotic risk factors, particularly women in the antepartum or early post-partum period, as well as geriatric patients at high risk for atherosclerotic disease. The pathogenesis linking SCAD with pregnancy has not been fully elucidated. The few reported cases of SCAD in the setting of concomitant Pulmonary Embolism (PE) may highlight a potential mechanism in the pregnant or postpartum woman. Heretofore, cases of SCAD with the setting of pulmonary embolism have all been treated conservatively with medical therapy. We herein report a case of SCAD in the left anterior descending artery resulting in Non-ST elevation myocardial infarction and low ejection fraction associated with an acute pulmonary embolism in a young post-partum patient who was treated successfully with thrombectomy followed by stent placement. Her cardiac function returned to normal within six months with no recurrence of symptoms. To our knowledge, this is the first case of SCAD in the setting of pulmonary embolism who was successfully treated with thrombectomy and stent placement.