IMPORTANCE OF A NONDOMINANT RIGHT CORONARY-ARTERY OCCLUSION PRESENTING AS SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH WITH PROLONGED RIGHT-VENTRICULAR DYSFUNCTION AND MALIGNANT ARRHYTHMIAS

We report a case of a patient who presented with sudden cardiac death secondary to a subtotal occlusion of a small non-dominant right coronary system. Catheterization several weeks following the initial episode revealed persistent severe right ventricular dysfunction with moderate hemodynamic compensation. Continued unstable arrhythmogenic potential at this point led to placement of an AICD device. The case highlights the potential hazard and often complacency involved in dealing with benign appearing lesions as this one. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.