Nanavati Vimal I, Knapp Andrew L, Passelaqua Susan
Comprehensive Cardiac Care, Inc., 1017 Butte Street, Redding, CA 96001, USA.
J Invasive Cardiol. 2003 Jun;15(6):355-8.
Total occlusion of the right coronary artery (RCA) typically manifests as ST-segment elevation in the inferior leads and sometimes the lateral precordial leads of the surface electrocardiogram (ECG). We report a case of a patient with a normal electrocardiogram on presentation who, on angiography, revealed a totally occluded proximal RCA. Emergency angioplasty and stenting was successfully able to recanalize the entire RCA and restore TIMI III flow. ECGs performed post-procedure showed minimal change. The existence of a subendocardial microvascular network may have allowed this patient to escape what typically would have been a large ST-elevation inferior myocardial infarction.