Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection Clinic
The Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) Clinic at St. Michael’s Hospital provides care to patients who have been diagnosed with spontaneous coronary artery dissection. SCAD occurs when a tear forms in a coronary artery. The tear itself can cause symptoms of chest discomfort but can also interfere with blood flow resulting in a heart attack.
Our clinic focuses on diagnosing SCAD and educating patients about the condition. SCAD is becoming increasingly recognized as a cause of heart attack, particularly in young women. At St. Michael’s Hospital, we are heavily involved in researching the causes of this and are embarking on clinical trials evaluating the effects of treatment for this.
Location
St. Michael’s Hospital
Toronto, ON
M5B 1W8
The main entrance is located near Queen St. East and Victoria St. The Bond St. entrance is not open to the public at this time.
Robert McRae Heart Health Unit
7th Floor Donnelly North
Patients
Common risk factors for SCAD:
- Female (>90%)
- Hormonal changes (Pregnancy, perimenopause, hormone therapy)
- Fibromuscular Dysplasia
- Stress (Emotional or Physical)
- Inflammatory conditions
- Genetic conditions
Possible further investigations
- CT scans
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- Abdomen
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- Cardiac MRI
- Echocardiogram
- Coronary angiogram +/- angioplasty
Treatment:
Medicines – the majority of patients require some medications for at least a short period of time. These typically include:
- Aspirin
- Beta blockers
- Angioplasty – Rarely, patients require angioplasty and/or a stent
- Cardiac surgery – Very, very rarely, bypass surgery is required