Woman suffers rare one-in-a-million case of coronary artery rupture while coughing
A 52-year-old resident of Karadeniz Ereğli suffered a rupture of the right coronary artery after a severe coughing fit amid pneumonia. Doctors sealed the damage with a stent and discharged the patient after treatment.
In the Turkish city of Karadeniz Ereğli, a 52-year-old woman suffered a spontaneous rupture of the right coronary artery after a severe coughing fit that developed amid pneumonia. The patient was urgently taken for coronary angiography, and the damaged vessel was repaired with a stent. After treatment, the woman was discharged from the hospital.
According to Professor Dr. Mehmet Yaman, a cardiology specialist, the case is an extremely rare and potentially deadly complication. The doctor noted that a coronary artery rupture caused by severe coughing occurs in roughly one case per million.
How the complication developed
The woman was diagnosed with pneumonia accompanied by worsening cough. During an examination, one coughing fit was so severe that the patient described her sensations in the words: “Doctor, it feels like something is tearing in here.”
Later, her chest pain intensified. During the examination, doctors found signs of a heart attack and decided to perform angiography immediately. The study showed a large rupture of the right main coronary artery, designated as the RCA. No abnormalities were found in the other coronary vessels.
According to Mehmet Yaman, the damage did not arise from a ruptured atherosclerotic plaque but in a previously normal section of the vessel. In medicine, this condition is called spontaneous dissection. It can occur after trauma, including car accidents or blows to the chest, and in some cases with a significant increase in intrathoracic pressure.
Why help was needed urgently
Doctors placed a stent to seal the damaged section of the artery. According to the cardiologist, a delay could have led to death: with a more extensive rupture, bleeding around the heart or into the chest cavity is possible.
Mehmet Yaman stressed that the patient had no known chronic diseases or risk factors for cardiovascular disorders. He recommended not delaying seeking medical help in case of a severe, unusual or prolonged cough, and also undergoing regular check-ups taking into account age and individual risk factors.
Source: cnnturk.com
