[Abnormal origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery: a retrospective study of 36 cases]

Arch Mal Coeur Vaiss. 2007 May;100(5):433-8.
[Article in French]

Abstract

The aim of this study was to show the evolution of diagnostic techniques revealing an abnormal origin of the left coronary artery and present the follow-up results of patients operated for this malformation at different ages. This retrospective study includes 36 children or adults, with a mean age at the moment of of 28 months old, ranging from 7 days to 39 years. In 9% of cases, patients were asymptomatic. Before 1990, 81% of children had a cardiac catheterization, versus 25% after. Indeed, echocardiography with color Doppler enabled the diagnosis of abnormal origin of the left coronary artery in 70% of cases. The pre-operative mortality is at 21% (12.5% after 1990). Twenty-three patients had surgery: left coronary artery reimplantation (n=16), bypass (n=5), at mean of 44 months old for the entire series, but 21 months old after 1990. The follow-up was clinical, ECG and radiographic and echocardiographic after 1975; when possible an exercise test, cardiac nuclear imaging and more recently coronary CT scan and MRI have been performed. In conclusion, children are operated earlier and the follow-up should focus on the detection of occlusion of the re-implanted left coronary artery by echocardiography, with or without stress, exercise test, cardiac nuclear imaging, MRI and sometimes, coronary angiography.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Cardiac Catheterization
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Coronary Angiography
  • Coronary Vessel Anomalies / diagnosis*
  • Coronary Vessel Anomalies / surgery
  • Echocardiography, Doppler, Color
  • Electrocardiography
  • Exercise Test
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Pulmonary Artery / abnormalities*
  • Pulmonary Artery / surgery
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Survival Rate
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed