Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 15, 2023

MINOCA may be due to: coronary spasm, coronary microvascular dysfunction, plaque disruption, spontaneous coronary thrombosis/emboli , and coronary dissection; myocardial disorders, including myocarditis, takotsubo cardiomyopathy, and other cardiomyopathies. See "Mechanisms of acute coronary syndromes related to atherosclerosis".)

Coronary Angiogram 109

Coronary Angiogram Plaque Thrombosis STEMI 109

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 19, 2023

The commonest causes of MINOCA include: atherosclerotic causes such as plaque rupture or erosion with spontaneous thrombolysis, and non-atherosclerotic causes such as coronary vasospasm (sometimes called variant angina or Prinzmetal's angina), coronary embolism or thrombosis, possibly microvascular dysfunction.

Plaque 127

Plaque Angina Blog Stents 127

DAIC

JANUARY 23, 2024

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), caused by plaque buildup in arterial walls, is one of the leading causes of disability and death worldwide.1,2 7 Research has shown inflammation plays a significant role in the development of atherosclerosis and ASCVD,8-10 and even the formation of plaque.11 4 In the U.S. References: 1.

Cardiovascular Disease 111

Cardiovascular Disease Heart attacks Heart Attack Coronary Artery Disease 111

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

To prove there is no plaque rupture, you need to do intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). An angiogram is a "lumenogram;" most plaque is EXTRALUMINAL!! One of the most common is rupture of a non-obstructive plaque, with thrombus formation and OMI that spontaneously lyses and leaves a wide open artery. It can only be seen by IVUS.

Plaque 52

Plaque Chest Pain Thrombosis Stenosis 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 4, 2022

Am J Med 2019, 132(5):622-630. Now there is a paper published in 2019 that proves the point beyond doubt, though makes it clear that this pattern is associated with very high mortality. American Journal of Medicine 132(5):622-630; May 2019. J Electrocardiol 2013;46:240-8 2. Harhash AA, Huang JJ, Reddy S, et al.

Ischemia 52

Ischemia STEMI Stenosis Chest Pain 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MARCH 8, 2025

Angiography was technically challenging as the patient was receiving CPR, but the cardiologist suspected acute stent thrombosis and initiated cangrelor, although no repeat angiography was able to be obtained. Mechanisms of plaque formation and rupture. Coronary plaque disruption. She was defibrillated perhaps 25 times.

Cardiomyopathy 75

Cardiomyopathy Myocardial Infarction Defibrillator Bradycardia 75