Project description:A 32-year-old African American female presented with dyspnea, and after several cardiac diagnostic tests, the diagnosis of an anomalous origin of the RCA from the pulmonary trunk was established by multislice coronary CT angiography. She underwent surgical correction with reimplantation of the RCA, from the pulmonary artery to the aortic root. However, 10 days after surgery, she developed frequent episodes of chest pain, and repeat coronary CTA showed a partially occlusive thrombus in the surgically reimplanted RCA. Anticoagulation with warfarin resulted in complete resolution of the patient's symptoms.
Project description:We present the case of 56-year-old woman who required complex coronary artery bypass grafting for high-risk anomalous left main coronary artery (LMCA) originating from right coronary cusp including conventional reimplantation of the LMCA plus left internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft to the left anterior descending (LAD) and saphenous vein graft (SVG) to the left circumflex (LCx). On subsequent cardiac computed tomography screening and cardiac catheterization, the LIMA graft was occluded after just a few centimeters, but the SVG graft was patent with good run-off into the native LCx and also filled the LAD retrogradely. The reimplanted left main stem demonstrated at least moderate ostial stenosis although pressure wire assessment of this was not significant (fractional flow reserve 0.89), probably due to good retrograde filling of the LAD from the SVG to LCx, therefore, we did not proceed with ostial LMCA stenting. She remains on yearly review with a low threshold for further revascularization should the SVG to LCx develop progressive stenosis. This case illustrates how patients with anomalous LMCA may sometimes benefit from grafting in addition to conventional reimplantation.
Project description:Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) is a rare pathology that may cause episodic ischemia owing to possible vessel compression during systolic expansion of the aortic root. This anomaly can lead to myocardial infarction, malignant arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death (SCD). Several surgical techniques have been described; however, there are no defined guidelines regarding the treatment of AAOCA. We report the case of a 47-year-old woman with ectopic origin of the right coronary artery (RCA) from the left sinus of Valsalva, with an interarterial course of the proximal segment of the artery, running between the aorta and the pulmonary trunk. Revascularization was accomplished by harvesting the right internal mammary artery (RIMA) and anastomosing it to the anomalous RCA, given the small portion of the RCA following an intramural course and our familiarity with the procedure. The RCA was ligated proximal to the anastomosis to avoid the string sign phenomenon. This procedure is safe and fast and can be considered an alternative to coronary reconstruction.
Project description:A 68-year-old male with a history of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia presented with recurrent episodes of chest discomfort. A 12-lead ECG and an echocardiogram were normal. A myocardial perfusion study could not rule out ischemia in the inferior wall. At coronary angiography using the transradial approach, the right coronary artery (RCA) could not be visualized. Angiography of the left coronary system demonstrated non-obstructive atherosclerosis involving the mid segment of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery and a normal circumflex (Cx) artery. The RCA originated from the mid LAD segment distal to the first septal perforator and the first diagonal branch and was free of atherosclerosis disease. A contrast-enhanced 64-slice multi-detector cardiac computed tomography showed that the LAD was severely calcified in the proximal part, and the RCA coursed anterior to the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) to reach the right atrioventricular groove. The patient was managed medically and became asymptomatic.
Project description:A 40-year-old man with no cardiac history was admitted for evaluation of atypical chest pain of 1-month duration. On investigation he was found to have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and an anomalous right coronary artery arising from the left sinus of Valsalva. This is of great clinical significance as both these conditions are independently associated with sudden cardiac death. Following extensive risk assessment and detailed discussion with the patient, he was discharged on medical therapy, comprising bisoprolol, aspirin and rosuvastatin. He has remained free of symptoms for 1 year. This report describes the rare coexistence of these two distinct clinical entities, examines the various treatment options and provides support for medical management as an acceptable treatment strategy in appropriately selected cases.
Project description:Anomalous origin of the coronary artery from the opposite sinus of Valsalva and a course of that artery between the ascending aorta and the pulmonary artery is a rare congenital anomaly. It can cause myocardial ischemia, syncope, and sudden cardiac death in young people. Herein, we report the case of a 24-year-old man who was brought to our hospital after cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation. Emergent coronary angiography revealed that the left coronary artery was normal; however, the right coronary artery originated at the left sinus of Valsalva. After admission, the patient was treated with mild therapeutic hypothermia for 48 hours and had a favorable neurologic recovery. Subsequent 16-slice multidetector computed tomography revealed that the right coronary artery arose from the left main coronary artery, took an intramural course, and was severely compressed between the ascending aorta and the pulmonary artery. The patient underwent direct implantation of the anomalous artery into the correct aortic sinus. Histologic specimens from the proximal end of the right coronary artery showed an intramural segment with intimal fibrous thickening, fragmentation and random arrangement of the elastic fiber, degeneration of the medial smooth-muscle cells, and an increase in the medial stromal substance. Postoperatively, repeat coronary angiography with provocation testing for coronary spasm revealed no myocardial ischemic change. The patient recovered uneventfully. We found that cardiac multidetector computed tomography was useful in evaluating the cause of the sudden cardiac arrest, identifying the anomalous coronary artery, and helping to guide the surgical decisions.
Project description:We present the case of a 55-year-old man who had a diagnosis of an acute anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Emergency angiography demonstrated that both coronary systems originated from the right coronary sinus with a culprit proximal left anterior descending artery lesion, which was stented. This is a rare presentation, with only 1 similar case found in published reports. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).