Cardiac arrest associated with sildenafil ingestion in a patient with an abnormal origin of the left coronary artery: case report.

BACKGROUND

Left coronary artery arising from the right sinus of Valsalva is an uncommon congenital coronary anomaly that seems to be associated with sudden death in young patients.

CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of cardiac arrest in a 59-year-old patient after sexual intercourse and Sildenafil ingestion. A coronary arteriography and an angiographic computed tomography scan subsequently revealed a LCA origin from the right aortic sinus along with an intramural course of the left main stem. In addition a distal stenosis of the right coronary artery was detected. After successful resuscitation without neurological deficits coronary artery bypass surgery was performed.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating sudden cardiac arrest associated with Sildenafil ingestion in a patient with this type of coronary anomaly. The question arises, whether a cardiac screening is necessary before a Sildenafil therapy is initiated.