Coronary Dissection

A coronary artery dissection occurs when there is injury to the intima resulting in its separation from the media creating a false lumen.

This can result in hemodynamically significant stenosis and even coronary artery rupture causing a bloody pericardial effusion, cardiac tamponade and death.

Coronary artery dissections are common complications of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Coronary artery dissection can also occur spontaneously, most commonly during pregnancy or in association with a vasculitis.