Myocardial infarction complicated by rheumatic heart disease.

This report describes the case of a 32-year-old woman with the sudden onset of chest pain and an evolving inferior wall infarction proved by the electrocardiogram and enzyme studies. The patient underwent embolectomy 2 months later for a thromboembolus in the right main coronary artery. An autologous patch graft was used to close the arteriotomy. Four years later, the patient is asymptomatic, having no activity limitations. The patch graft to the right coronary artery is patent. This case exemplifies and reaffirms the possibility of emboli being lodged in the coronary arteries in certain types of disease. It may be necessary to operate in order to re-establish proper coronary circulation.