Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection: A Case Study with Nursing Implications

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a nontraditional cause of acute myocardial infarction found typically in younger women who have little to no cardiac risk factors. Once thought to be a rare disease process, there is now an increase in the diagnosis of spontaneous coronary artery dissection because of improved awareness and education. Registered nurses play an important role in the identification and management of this young and otherwise healthy population. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, nurses can facilitate providing standardized care to these patients. This article presents a real-life case study of a patient who experienced the trajectory of diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management of SCAD and the related nursing care implications.