STEMI in a young female? Consider Spontaneous Peripartum Coronary Artery Dissection

Spontaneous peripartum coronary artery dissection is a rare but potentially devastating event in premenopausal young women that is not discussed in core emergency medicine textbooks. Initial vitals were heart rate of 59 beats per minute, blood pressure of 155/105, respiratory rate of 18, and an oxygen saturation of 98% on room air. The cardiac catheterization laboratory was activated, and the patient received a heparin drip and nitroglycerin tabs with resolution of both pain and ST-segment changes.