Surgical Intervention for Anomalous Origin of Left Coronary Artery From the Pulmonary Artery in Children: A Long-Term Follow-Up

Ventricular Tachycardia Storm in a Young Adult Post-ALCAPA Repair

Anomalous left coronary artery to pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a leading cause of pediatric myocardial ischemia. This paper presents a case of a young man presenting with ventricular tachycardia storm 18 years after ALCAPA repair. Clinicians should recognize the risk of ventricular tachycardia in this patient population.

Past, Present, and Future of Surgical Treatment of Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery

In recent years, with advancements in surgical techniques and the widespread utilization of extracorporeal cardiac assist devices such as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), the treatment outcomes for ALCAPA (Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery) have demonstrated significant improvements. However, the surgical indications and methods of ALCAPA, especially the surgical methods of ALCAPA with intramural coronary artery, and whether to treat MR at the same time are still controversial. The long-term prognosis remain discouraging simultaneously, with significant variations in outcomes across different centers. The present review specifically addresses these aforementioned concerns. This article reviews the pathophysiology and classification, diagnosis, indications, surgical strategy and prognosis of ALCAPA. We believe that this review will provide some reference for future researchers and provide new ideas for reducing the adverse prognosis of children with congenital heart disease in future.

Outcome of surgical repair of anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery in a single-center experience

BACKGROUND

This study aims to review the midterm results of surgical repair of anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) in our center and assess the postoperative cardiac function recovery and misdiagnosis.

METHOD

Patients who underwent repair of ALCAPA between January 2005 and January 2022 at our hospital were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

A total of 136 patients underwent repair of ALCAPA, among which 49.3% were misdiagnosed before referral to our hospital. On multivariable logistic regression analysis, patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (odds ratio = 0.975, p = 0.018) were at increased risk for misdiagnosis. The median age at surgery was 0.83 years (range, 0.08 to 56 years), and the median LVEF was 52% (range, 5% to 86%). The mortality rate was 6.6% (n = 9), and four patients underwent reintervention. The median postoperative recovery time of left ventricular function (LVF) was 10 days (1 to 692 days). Competing risk analysis revealed that a low preoperative LVEF (hazard ratio = 1.067, p < 0.001) and age younger than 1 year (hazard ratio = 0.522, p = 0.007) were risk factors for a longer postoperative recovery time of LVF. During the follow-up period, 91.9% (113/123) of the patients had no aggravation of mitral regurgitation.

CONCLUSION

The perioperative and intermediate outcomes after ALCAPA repair were favorable, but preoperative misdiagnosis deserved attention, especially in patients with low LVEF. LVF normalized in most patients, but patients younger than 1 year and with low LVEF required longer recovery times.

Ostial stenosis of reimplanted left main coronary artery and supravalvular pulmonary stenosis: a case report of two complications of surgery for anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery

Background

Anomalous origin of the coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital disease. Surgical re-implantation of the left main coronary artery (LMCA) to the aorta is a definitive treatment with a good prognosis.

Case summary

A 9-year-old boy was admitted with a complaint of exertional chest pain and dyspnoea. At 13 months of age, he was diagnosed to have ALCAPA as a workup of severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction and underwent coronary re-implantation of ALCAPA. Coronary angiogram displayed the high takeoff of re-implanted LMCA with significant ostial stenosis, and echocardiogram showed significant supravalvular pulmonary stenosis (SVPS) with a peak gradient of 74 mmHg. After a multidisciplinary team discussion, he underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with stenting to ostial LMCA. On follow-up, he was asymptomatic and a cardiac computed tomography scan showed a patent stent in LMCA with an under-expanded area in the mid-segment. The proximal part of the LMCA stent was located very close to the stenotic segment of the main pulmonary artery making it a high risk for balloon angioplasty. The surgical intervention of SVPS is delayed to allow the somatic growth of the patient.

Discussion

Percutaneous coronary intervention in re-implanted LMCA is a feasible option. If stenosis of re-implanted LMCA is accompanied by SVPS, the latter can be best treated surgically and staged to decrease the operative risk. Our case also demonstrates the importance of long-term follow-up of post-operative complications of patients with ALCAPA.

The utility of speckle-tracking echocardiography in early and midterm follow-up after anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery repair

Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a reversible cause of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in infants. The LV function is expected to improve serially and return to normal by 1 year after surgical repair. The pattern of improvement in LV function has not been serially analyzed after ALCAPA repair. We report our preliminary experience with serial assessment of LV function in infants undergoing ALCAPA repair utilizing speckle tracking echocardiography.

Effectiveness and Safety of Mitral Valve Plasty in Patients with an Anomalous Origin of the Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery

The study aimed to determine the effectiveness and safety of anomalous coronary artery from pulmonary artery (ACAPA) patients with moderate or severe mitral valve regurgitation (MVR) receiving mitral valve plasty (MVP) concurrently. Consecutive ACAPA patients undergoing surgery between 2015 and 2021 were retrospectively included. Patients were divided into three groups: moderate MVR without MVP (non-MVP (moderate) N = 14), moderate MVR with MVP (MVP (moderate) N = 13), and severe MVR with MVP (MVP (severe) N = 13). The primary safety endpoint was in-hospital surgery-related complications. The primary effectiveness outcome was left ventricular ejection function (LVEF) and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) z-score at 2- and 24-month follow-ups. Multivariable linear regression models were used to obtain the β coefficient. The median age of the included patients was 7.5 years (IQR 1.4-26.5). The in-hospital surgery-related complication rates were 7.1%, 15.4%, and 7.7% in non-MVP (moderate), MVP (moderate), and MVP (severe) groups, separately. At the 2-month follow-up, the non-MVP (moderate) group had a better LVEF and LVEDD z-score compared with the MVP (moderate) group (LVEF β = 9.22, 95%CI 1.09 to 17.35; LVEDD z-score β = -2.49, 95%CI -4.53 to -0.45). At the 24-month follow-up, the LVEF of all patients and the LVEDD z-score of 90% of patients in the three groups returned to normal. For ACAPA patients with moderate MVR, MVP was not necessary, especially for pediatric patients (age < 3 years) and patients with secondary MVR. Further studies for ACAPA patients with severe MVR are still needed.

Surgical Outcomes for Children with Anomalous Origin of the Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery

Objective of this study is to summarize surgical outcomes of patients with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) in a single center. The clinical data of 89 children undergoing surgical treatment in Beijing Children's Hospital from January 2007 to January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. seven patients underwent ECMO support for acute left heart failure after operation, and 2 patients were discharged after weaning successfully. Eight patients died in the early postoperative period, all of them were infants, of which 5 patients underwent ECMO support, 2 patients died of cerebral hemorrhage, 2 patients died of multiple organ dysfunction, and 4 patients died of left heart failure. Three patients died late, 3 patients were lost to follow-up, and 78 patients (96.3%) completed long-term follow-up. A logistic regression model multivariate analysis showed that postoperative moderate or severe mitral regurgitation (MR) (OR 26.948 P = 0.024) and prolonged aortic cross-clamp time (OR 1.038 P = 0.050) were independent risk factors of early mortality. Compared with the Non-MVP group (20/36), the MVP group (patients with moderate or severe MR who underwent MVP at the same time) (16/36) had more significant improvement in early postoperative LEVEF [(50.68 ± 13.85)% vs (40.50 ± 13.58)% P = 0.033] and had a lower proportion of moderate or severe MR after operation (2/16 vs 11/20 P = 0.014). Children with ALCAPA can obtain a good prognosis by reconstructing the blood supply of both coronary arteries. Mitral valvuloplasty (MVP) is more helpful in improving the prognosis of children with moderate or severe MR and mitral valve structural disease. Reasonable placement of ECMO can help reduce the mortality of critically ill children after operation, but be alert to complications in the central system.

Case report: A rare case of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery accompanied with unilateral absence of pulmonary artery in an adult patient

Both the anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) and unilateral absence of the pulmonary artery (UAPA) are rare congenital malformations, ALCAPA accompanied with UAPA is extremely rare. Here, we reported a middle-aged man admitted to our department for evaluation of chest pain during exercise. Physical examination and lab tests did not unveil obvious abnormality; however, transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) revealed multivessel myocardial collateral blood flow signals in the left ventricular wall and ventricular septum, a shunting flow from the left coronary artery into the pulmonary artery and dilated right coronary artery (RCA), which supported but did not confirm the diagnosis of ALCAPA. Coronary angiography (CAG) showed an absent left coronary ostium and a dilated RCA, with extensive collaterals supplying the left coronary system. Multidetector computed tomography angiography (MDCTA) was then performed and revealed the anomalous origin of the left main coronary artery (LMCA) arising from the pulmonary artery, and it incidentally unveiled another rare congenital malformation of UAPA. The patient underwent surgical correction of ALCAPA by reimplantation of the LMCA to the aorta, without surgical treatment of UAPA. The patient had been in good clinical condition and remained angina free with good exercise tolerance during follow-up (∼6 months so far). In this case, we discussed the diagnostic value of TTE, CAG, and MDCTA on rare abnormalities as ALCAPA and UAPA. We highlighted the role of multiple non-invasive imaging modalities in diagnosing rare causes of angina in adult patients, and the importance of careful examination in avoiding misdiagnosis. To our best knowledge, this is the first report of ALCAPA accompanied with UAPA in an adult patient.

Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery: Outcomes and management of mitral valve

Objective

Use of concomitant mitral valve repair remains controversial in the anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) with mitral regurgitation (MR). This study aimed to evaluate postoperative mitral valve function and explore the indication for concomitant mitral valve repair.

Materials and methods

The medical records of 111 patients with ALCAPA and MR who underwent ALCAPA surgery between April 2006 and November 2020 were reviewed. The patients were categorized into three groups for comparison, namely, group I consisted of 38 patients with trivial or mild MR who underwent ALCAPA repair only; group II consisted of 37 patients with moderate or severe MR who similarly had only surgery of the ALCAPA performed; and group III consisted of 36 patients who had concomitant mitral valve repair for moderate or severe MR.

Result

Overall mortality was 7.2% (8 of 111). The mortality of group II (16.2%, 6 of 37) was higher than those of groups I (5.3%, 2 of 38) and III (0%, 0 of 36) (p = 0.027). All three patients who underwent mitral valve reintervention were in group II. At the last follow-up, none of the patients had more than moderate MR in group I. The percentage of patients with improved MR grade was 79.4% (27 of 34) in group III and 51.4% (19 of 37) in group II (p = 0.001). The multivariate logistic regression revealed that concomitant mitral valve repair (adjusted odds ratio = 4.492, 95% CI: 1.909–12.794; p < 0.001) was the major factor influencing MR grade improvement.

Conclusion

The long-term outcomes after ALCAPA repair were favorable. For mild MR, ALCAPA repair only can be performed. For moderate and severe MR, we suggest concomitant mitral valve repair.

Pre-operative evaluation and mid-term outcomes of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery based on left ventricular ejection fraction

Objective

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognosis of patients with anomalous left coronary artery originating from pulmonary artery with varying cardiac function after surgical correction.

Methods

This was a single-center retrospective cohort study including 51 patients with anomalous left coronary artery originating from pulmonary artery, all of whom underwent surgery at our center.

Results

All 5 deaths occurred in the pre-operative low cardiac function group (n = 39). After corrected by body surface area, parameters such as left coronary artery, right coronary artery, left atrial diameter, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left ventricular end-systolic diameter, and main pulmonary artery diameter, were lower in patients in the normal cardiac function group than in the low cardiac function group. The rate of collateral circulation formation was higher in the normal cardiac function group. The proportion of changes of T wave was higher in the low cardiac function group (P = 0.005), and the duration of vasoactive drugs (dopamine, milrinone, epinephrine, nitroglycerin.) was longer in the low cardiac function group. Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left ventricular end-systolic diameter, main pulmonary artery diameter, and left atrial diameter were smaller than those pre-operatively (P < 0.05). Left ventricular ejection fraction was higher than that pre-operatively (P = 0.003). The degree of mitral regurgitation in the low cardiac function group was reduced post-operatively (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

There was a significant difference between the pre-operative baseline data of the low cardiac function group and the normal cardiac function group. After surgical repair, cardiac function gradually returned to normal in the low cardiac function group. The low cardiac function group required vasoactive drugs for a longer period of time. The left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left ventricular end-systolic diameter, left atrial diameter, and main pulmonary artery diameter decreased and gradually returned to normal after surgery. The degree of mitral regurgitation in the low cardiac function group was reduced after surgery.

Anomalous Left Coronary Artery Arising from the Pulmonary Artery (ALCAPA): The Critically Important Role of Color Flow Doppler in Identifying a Rare Intramural Course

•ALCAPA must be considered in an infant with ischemia and/or heart failure. •A rare variant with intramural aortic course may appear normal on 2D echo. •Retrograde color flow in the LCA is highly suspicious for this lesion. •Ambiguous cases will benefit from multimodality imaging via catheterization or CT. •Early recognition may lead to lifesaving surgical correction.

Outcomes of surgical repair of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery in infants and children

OBJECTIVES

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery is associated with high mortality if not timely surgery. We reviewed our experience with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery to assess the preoperative variables predictive of outcome and post-operative recovery of left ventricular function.

METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted and collected data from patients who underwent anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery repair at our institute from April 2005 to December 2019. Left ventricular function was assessed by ejection fraction and the left ventricular end-diastolic dimension index. The outcomes of reimplantation repair were analysed.

RESULTS

A total of 30 consecutive patients underwent anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery repair, with a median age of 14.7 months (range, 1.5-59.6 months), including 14 females (46.67%). Surgery was performed with direct coronary reimplantation in 12 patients (40%) and the coronary lengthening technique in 18 (60%). Twelve patients had concomitant mitral annuloplasty. There were two in-hospital deaths (6.67%), no patients required mechanical support, and no late deaths occurred. Follow-up echocardiograms demonstrated significant improvement between the post-operative time point and the last follow-up in ejection fraction (49.43%±19.92% vs 60.21%±8.27%, p < 0.01) and in moderate or more severe mitral regurgitation (19/30 vs 5/28, p < 0.01). The left ventricular end-diastolic dimension index decreased from 101.91 ± 23.07 to 65.06 ± 12.82 (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical repair of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery has good mid-term results with low mortality and reintervention rates. The coronary lengthening technique has good operability and leads to excellent cardiac recovery. The decision to concomitantly correct mitral regurgitation should be flexible and be based on the pathological changes of the mitral valve and the degree of mitral regurgitation.

Anomalous Origin of the Left Coronary Artery From the Pulmonary Artery: A Retrospective Multicenter Study

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to describe characteristics and operative outcomes from a multicenter cohort of infants who underwent repair of anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery. We also aimed to identify factors associated with major adverse cardiovascular events following anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery repair.

DESIGN

Retrospective chart review.

SETTING

Twenty-one tertiary-care referral centers.

PATIENTS

Infants less than 365 days old who underwent anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery repair.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Major adverse cardiovascular events were defined as the occurrence of postoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, left ventricular assist device, heart transplantation, or operative mortality. Factors independently associated with major adverse cardiovascular events were identified using multivariable logistic regression analysis. We reviewed 177 infants (< 365 d old) who underwent anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery repair between January 2009 and March 2018. Major adverse cardiovascular events occurred in 36 patients (20%). Twenty-nine patients (16%) received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, 14 (8%) received cardiopulmonary resuscitation, four (2%) underwent left ventricular assist device placement, two (1%) underwent heart transplantation, and six (3.4%) suffered operative mortality. In multivariable analysis, preoperative inotropic support (odds ratio, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.4-8.5), cardiopulmonary bypass duration greater than 150 minutes (odds ratio, 6.9 min; 95% CI, 2.9-16.7 min), and preoperative creatinine greater than 0.3 mg/dL (odds ratio, 2.4 mg/dL; 95% CI, 1.1-5.6 mg/dL) were independently associated with major adverse cardiovascular events. In patients with preoperative left ventricular end-diastolic diameter measurements available (n = 116), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter z score greater than 6 was also independently associated with major adverse cardiovascular events (odds ratio, 7.6; 95% CI, 2.0-28.6).

CONCLUSIONS

In this contemporary multicenter analysis, one in five children who underwent surgical repair of anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery experienced major adverse cardiovascular events. Preoperative characteristics such as inotropic support, creatinine, and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter z score should be considered when planning for potential postoperative complications.

The salutary effect of peritoneal dialysis catheters on enhanced recovery among high-risk pediatric patients undergoing the left coronary transfer procedure: a cohort study

BACKGROUND

Evidence for peritoneal dialysis catheter (PDC) usage in pediatric patients undergoing surgery for deteriorating cardiac dysfunction is lacking. This investigation explored factors associated with PDC usage and its effectiveness in children with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA).

METHODS

Eighty-four children undergoing left coronary artery transfer were retrospectively recruited. The primary endpoint was the postoperative ratio of the general ward/[intensive care unit (ICU)] length of stay. Univariable and multivariable analyses were fitted to assess factors related most strongly to PDC and the ratio of general ward/ICU length of stay.

RESULTS

Of the 84 patients, 17 (20.2%) underwent postoperative PDC placement. Patients with extreme cardiac dysfunction [left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤25%] were much more likely to require a PDC (OR, 9.88; 95% CI, 2.13-45.76; P = 0.003). Moreover, univariate analysis indicated that concomitant mitral repair significantly decreased the likelihood of PDC placement (OR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.07-0.85; P = 0.026). In those with cardiac dysfunction (LVEF ≤50%), PDC use was associated with a reduced ratio of ward/ICU length of stay (B, - 1.62; 95% CI, - 2.77- -0.46; P = 0.008), as was age ≤ 12 months (B, - 1.57; 95% CI, - 2.88- -0.26; P = 0.02). At the 1-year follow-up, cardiac improvement was significantly greater in patients with PDC usage than in those without it (P <  0.001), and the number of mitral recoveries was comparable between the groups (64.2% vs. 53.3%, P = 0.434).

CONCLUSION

In cohorts with ALCAPA, PDC placement following surgery may be necessary for patients with extreme cardiac compromise, while concomitant mitral repair can probably reduce their usage rate. PDC is beneficial in conferring an improvement in cardiac and mitral performance. Importantly, after patients are transferred from the ICU, recovery efficiency in the general ward can be enhanced by PDC placement, and hospital discharge can therefore be achieved early, especially for patients younger than 12 months or with LVEF ≤50%.

Successful Repair of Non-facing Sinus ALCAPA Associated With Left-Sided Cardiomegaly Using Takeuchi Technique

Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital heart disease that may present isolated or may be associated with other cardiac malformations. Most of the patients develop symptoms during infancy but some may remain asymptomatic up to adulthood. Symptoms range from mild distress to severe irritability and feed intolerance. We report a case of a five-month-old male child who presented with congestive heart failure and was diagnosed as a case of ALCAPA with left atrial and left ventricular dilation based on two-dimensional echocardiography and computed tomography (CT) coronary angiogram. Left main coronary artery was shown to be arising from the posteroinferior wall of main pulmonary artery. Various surgical approaches have been suggested in the repair but the Takeuchi technique was preferred owing to its origin from the non-facing sinus of the pulmonary artery and co-existing dilatation of left atria and ventricle. The surgery was uneventful and there were no postoperative complications. A cardiac CT dynamic study was also done on the follow-up visit five months later and no signs of abnormality or complications were reported. Early intervention is necessary to prevent irreversible cardiac complications and early mortality.

Anomalous Left Coronary Artery Connected to the Pulmonary Artery in a 15-Year-Old Girl: Case Report and Discussion on Secondary Prevention of Sudden Death

Background. Anomalous left coronary artery connected to the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital heart disease. Adaptive development of sufficient heterocoronary collaterality in the newborn may allow survival to a later age. In older children or adults, malignant ventricular arrhythmias can reveal the disease. Case Report. A 15-year-old girl was referred to the local hospital after a resuscitated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. CT scan and coronary angiography revealed an ALCAPA. Direct aortic reimplantation of the left coronary artery was performed. Postoperative ECG monitoring showed short episodes of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia. Transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac MRI revealed subendocardial fibrosis of the anterolateral papillary muscle. Beta-blockade therapy was initiated at first intention. After hospital discharge, the patient reported several fainting without loss of consciousness. Considering sudden death nonrelated to effort, episodes of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, and areas of myocardial fibrosis, the patient underwent subcutaneous cardioverter-defibrillator implantation. 6-month follow-up is satisfactory without clinical or rhythmic abnormalities. Discussion. Indication for surgical correction of ALCAPA is well defined, but rhythmic secondary prevention after resuscitated cardiac arrest is less consensual. Cardiac MRI is an essential tool in the identification of a potential rhythmic substrate and should be taken into account in the discussion of a preventive cardioverter-defibrillator implantation.

Long-term Outcomes of Children Operated for Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery

BACKGROUND

We examined the outcomes of children (<18 years) operated for anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA).

METHODS

We linked patients undergoing ALCAPA repair between 1982 and 2003 in the Pediatric Cardiac Care Consortium with the National Death Index and the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, to examine their outcomes through 2019.

RESULTS

We identified 228 children (median age 6.0 months) operated for ALCAPA. At time of repair, 38.6% had severe mitral regurgitation (MR) and 71.4% severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Repair included primarily coronary reimplantation (n=173) and Takeuchi procedure (n=34); concurrently, 18 underwent mitral valve (MV) surgery. In-hospital death occurred in 31 (13.6%) and was not associated with MR severity (p=0.846); however, among patients with moderate or severe MR, risk of death was 28% lower when undergoing MV surgery (p=0.033). After adjustment for other risk factors, only infant surgery reached statistical significance for in-hospital death (aOR=12.99; 95% CI: 1.61, 104.59, p=0.016). Among those discharged alive with long-term data available (n=155), the 30-year transplant-free survival reached 95.5% (95% CI: 92.3-98.8) and was not associated with degree of pre-operative MR or LV dysfunction. Coronary reimplantation was associated with better long-term survival compared to other surgical techniques (aOR=0.11; 95% CI 0.02-0.74, p=0.023).

CONCLUSIONS

Favorable long-term outcomes can be expected after coronary artery reimplantation for ALCAPA even in cases with severe LV dysfunction at presentation. MV surgery predicted decreased risk for in-hospital mortality in patients with moderate/severe MR, but MR severity predicted neither in-hospital nor longer-term outcomes.

Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery: modified extra-anatomic reimplantation

The anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery in the position of a non-facing coronary sinus is extremely rare. The anatomical position of the ectopic ostia will determine which is the appropriate operative approach to create a dual-coronary supply. This report describes a technique of modified extra-anatomical rerouting using autologous pericardium patch and pulmonary artery flap to create a neo-composite coronary trunk passing anterior to the right ventricular outflow tract.

Long-term surgical results of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery repair in infants and older patients

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to compare the long-term surgical results of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery (LCA) from the pulmonary artery repair between infants and older patients.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study of patients undergoing anomalous origin of the LCA from the pulmonary artery repair between 1982 and 2018.

RESULTS

Thirty-five patients were enrolled and divided into two groups based on their age: infants (<1 year of age: n = 11) and older patients (>1 year of age: n = 24). Median age was 5.2 months in infants and 6.3 years in older patients. The procedure included 24 LCA implantations and 11 intrapulmonary baffle repairs. Early mortality was recorded only in two infants (18%). Early complications included two low output syndrome (18%). Survival and freedom from reoperation at median follow-up of 17.2 years were not significantly different between groups (survival, 81.8 ± 11.6% vs. 94.1 ± 5.7% [p = .3846]; freedom from reoperation, 77.8 ± 13.9% vs. 90.0 ± 6.8% [p = .1175]). Mitral regurgitation (MR) developed substantially in two older patients in the long-term. In infants, significant improvements of fractional shortening (p = .0252) and left ventricular (LV) end-systolic (p = .0142) and end-diastolic diameter (p = .0157) occurred at 1 month.

CONCLUSIONS

Although there was no significant difference in survival and reoperation rate, the postoperative LV remodeling occurred more evident and rapid in infants. Worsening of MR in the long-term was observed only in older patients.

Impact of Reverse Left Ventricular Remodeling on Outcomes of Patients with Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery after Surgical Correction

The impact of reverse left ventricular remodeling (r-LVR) on clinical outcomes after surgical correction of anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) remains unclear. This study aims to examine the prognostic significance of r-LVR in patients with ALCAPA after surgery. We prospectively identified 61 patients undergoing surgical correction for ALCAPA; 54 patients had adequate echocardiographic image quality with quantitative biplane analysis performed both at baseline and at 30-day postoperative follow-up. Postoperative r-LVR was defined as a reduction of ≥ 10% in left ventricular end-diastolic volume index during follow-up. Cox proportional-hazards regression was used to investigate the independent association of r-LVR and all-cause mortality. Among 54 patients (age: 21.2 ± 7 months; 37% females), r-LVR occurred in 35 patients (64.8%) after surgery. Compared to patients with r-LVR, patients without r-LVR had significantly higher level of N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) [2176 (711, 4219) vs 998 (623, 2145) P < 0.001] and lower survival rate (47.3% vs 82.9%, HR = 5.72 [1.96 to 17.20], P < 0.001) at 1-year follow-up. NT-proBNP (OR = 2.27 [1.67 to 18.3], P = 0.02) was an independent predictor of r-LVR in multivariate analysis. Moreover, r-LVR was significantly associated with a lower rate of all-cause mortality (HR = 0.27 [0.08 to 0.98], P = 0.03) in multivariate analysis, even after adjustment for clinical and echocardiographic variables. R-LVR occurred in more than half of patients with ALCAPA undergoing surgical correction and it was associated with better clinical outcomes. NT-proBNP is an independent predictor of r-LVR.

Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery repair outcomes: Preoperative mitral regurgitation persists in the follow-up

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to present the midterm outcomes of surgical correction of the anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) with a focus on mitral regurgitation (MR).

METHODS

Medical records of 36 ALCAPA patients who underwent surgery in a single center were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

There were one (2.7%) neonate, 19 (52.7%) infants, 15 (41.6%) children, and 1 (2.7%) adult patient operated. Coronary reimplantation, tube reconstruction, and coronary artery bypass surgery techniques were performed in 29 (80.5%), 6 (16.6%), and 1 (2.7%) patient, respectively. Sixteen (44.4%) patients had a low ejection fraction and 13 (36.1%) patients had at least moderate MR preoperatively. None of our patients underwent a concomitant mitral surgery during the initial repair. Three and two patients died in the early and late postoperative period, respectively. Two patients underwent reoperation due to MR and pulmonary stenosis, separately. Preoperative MR was the only factor associated with at least moderate MR at the final follow-up (p < .01) and the presence of preoperative moderate or over-moderate MR estimated at least moderate MR at the final follow-up with 100% sensitivity and 80% specificity.

CONCLUSION

Although the mitral valve was not repaired in the first operation, the reoperation rate is low. However, a moderate or higher preoperative MR predicted MR at the last follow-up. Performing annuloplasty in such patients can be a strategy to be researched.

Long-Term Outcome of the Anomalous Origin of the Left Coronary Artery From the Pulmonary Artery (ALCAPA) in Children After Cardiac Surgery: A Single-Center Experience

Background

The anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital coronary artery anomaly. It induces left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and mitral valve regurgitation (MR). If untreated, survival beyond infancy is rare. The aim of our study was to analyze the outcome in children with ALCAPA after cardiac surgery.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed all patients who were diagnosed at our institution with ALCAPA and underwent surgical repair from 1999 to the end of 2018 (for 20 years). We followed LV dimensions, function, the progress of MV regurgitation, and the somatic growth of children after surgical repair.

Results

Twenty-nine patients underwent ALCAPA repair while 15 (52%) patients were male. The median age at surgical repair was 5.3 (IQR: 3.8-7.4) months and the mean weight was 5.5±2 kg. Surgical repair was performed in form of coronary reimplantation in 26 (90%) patients and Takeuchi repair in three (10%) patients. Intensive care unit (ICU) stay was eight (IQR: 6-17) days and hospital stay was 15 (IQR: 12-21) days. The follow-up duration was 5±3.6 years. Echocardiographic parameters started to improve by six weeks after the repair, and they normalized by one year. At the time of surgery ejection fraction (EF) was 34±17%, fractional shortening (FS) was 15±10%, and LV inner diameter in diastole (LVIDD) z score was 5.7±2.8. These parameters improved by one year after surgery to 66±7%, 34±6%, and 0±1.3, respectively. However, somatic growth started to improve six months after surgical repair. MR was moderate to severe in seven (24%) patients at the time of surgery and regressed to no more moderate nor severe MR at the last follow-up. None of the 29 patients died.

Conclusions

LV systolic function and dimensions start to improve by six weeks after surgery and reach normal values by one year. MR regresses without intervention in correspondence with the regression of LV dimensional parameters. The somatic growth of children improves six months after repair.

Effective myocardial perfusion and concomitant haemodynamic status determine the clinical diversity of anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery

BACKGROUND

Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery is a rare congenital heart disease (CHD) with diverse clinical presentations despite the same anatomy. Factors determining this heterogeneous presentation are not well understood.

METHOD AND RESULTS

We retrospectively investigated 14 patients (12 females) who underwent surgical repair of anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery. These patients were divided into three groups based upon the severity of initial presentation: (1) severe, life-threatening condition (n = 5), (2) mild-to-moderate distress (n = 6), and (3) asymptomatic (n = 3). All patients presented with left ventricular dilation and retrograde flow in left coronary artery by echocardiogram. Eight patients in (1) and (2) presented with severe left ventricular dysfunction. All but one showed abnormal ECG consistent with myocardial ischemia or infarction. Asymptomatic patients had preserved left ventricular systolic function despite ischemic findings on ECG. In 13 patients after surgical repair, all but one normalised left ventricular geometry and systolic function, suggesting nearly full myocardial recovery upon improvement of myocardial perfusion; 8 patients had residual echogenic papillary muscle with variable degree of mitral regurgitation.

CONCLUSIONS

Evidence of myocardial ischemic injury was present in all patients with anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery regardless of their initial presentation. Retrograde flow in left coronary artery, implying collateral vessel development from right coronary artery to left coronary artery, was noted in all patients, yet only few patients had preserved systolic function at the time of diagnosis. The balance between effective myocardial perfusion and a deleterious fistulous flow provided by these collaterals and the simultaneous haemodynamic status are what determine the clinical diversity of anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery.

Misdiagnosis of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery by echocardiography: Single-center experience from China

OBJECTIVES

To identify the risk factors causing misdiagnosis by echocardiography and missed diagnosis of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Echocardiographic results of 16 patients with ALCAPA confirmed by surgery in Union Hospital, Wuhan, were analyzed retrospectively. The influencing factors leading to echocardiographic misdiagnosis were analyzed from the aspects of confusing image characteristics, special pathological anatomy of the left coronary artery (LCA), and operators' working years.

RESULTS

Echocardiography diagnosed 11 cases with an accuracy rate of 68.8%. Five cases were misdiagnosed, three cases as endocardial fibroelastosis, one case as mitral prolapse with severe insufficiency, and one case as coronary-pulmonary artery fistula. Display rate of the specific echocardiographic features for confirmed group and misdiagnosed group was statistically significantly different（P = .014）. But the working years of the operator for confirmed group and misdiagnosed group were not statistically significantly different（P = .267）. Some special pathological anatomy and pathophysiological features could be also the cause of misdiagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Echocardiography is the first diagnostic choice of the ALCAPA in China. It is essential for the operator to have the knowledge, diagnostic awareness, and proficiency in manipulation in the accurate interpretation of echocardiography results.

Fluid Overload in Special Pediatric Cohorts With Anomalous Origin of the Left Coronary Artery From the Pulmonary Artery Following Surgical Repair

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence, risk factors, and clinical outcomes associated with early fluid overload (FO) in a special group of pediatric patients undergoing repair of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA).

DESIGN

It was a retrospective study performed with multiple variable regression analysis.

SETTING

A single cardiac surgical institution.

PARTICIPANTS

Eighty-eight patients younger than 18 years of age undergoing ALCAPA surgical repair with cardiopulmonary bypass were recruited at the authors' institution from June 2010 to September 2017.

INTERVENTION

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Of 88 pediatric patients with ALCAPA after surgical repair, 37.5% developed early FO, defined as fluid accumulation ≥5% within the period from surgery until midnight of postoperative day 1. Patients with early FO were younger, weighed less, and had worse preoperative cardiac dysfunction. With logistic regression analysis, being underweight was confirmed to be a risk factor for FO development (odds ratio, 8.66; 95% confidence interval, 2.83-26.52; p < 0.001). Early FO also predicted severe acute kidney injury, respiratory morbidity, and low cardiac output syndrome after reimplantation procedure. Patients with early FO also had significantly longer mechanical ventilation hours (p  <  0.001), intensive care unit length of stay (p = 0.003), and hospital length of stay (p = 0.009).

CONCLUSION

Early FO ≥5% has been linked to adverse postoperative outcomes in pediatric patients undergoing repair for ALCAPA. The use of restrictive fluid management is crucial for patients who have lower weight and poor myocardial function before and after complex surgical procedures such as in ALCAPA settings.

Surgical outcomes for anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery: Influence of late presentation

OBJECTIVES

Although surgical outcomes for anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) are excellent in the modern era with the coronary reimplantantion technique, mortality remains high in Chinese population. This study was undertaken to review the surgical management for ALCAPA in our center and assess the midterm outcomes.

METHODS

This was a retrospective review of 105 patients who underwent surgical repair for ALCAPA from January 2008 to January 2018.

RESULTS

The diagnosis of ALCAPA was not made before referred to our hospital in 31 patients (30%). Median age at repair was 7.6 months (interquartile range, 4.3-25.4 months). Mean preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction was 47.3% ± 16.9%. Concomitant mitral intervention was performed in 52 patients (50%). Mechanical circulatory support was used in 15 patients (14%). Early mortality was 14%. Classification and regression tree analysis identified 3 risk groups for early mortality, among which patients with preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction ≤41.6% and age at repair >127 days were the most likely to suffer from mortality. Using nonlinear mixed-effect model to assess the time course for postoperative left ventricular ejection fraction, patients of this group also needed significantly longer time for recovery of left ventricular function after surgery (P < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Late referral of patients with ALCAPA is not uncommon in our center. Older age at repair in patients with preoperative left ventricular dysfunction is the main reason for higher early mortality, and is also associated with longer time to normalization of left ventricular function after surgery.

Myocardial function in patients with anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery syndrome: A long-term speckle tracking echocardiographic study

Background

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery (LCA) from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital heart disease. Retrograde flow from the right coronary artery (RCA) through natural collaterals to the low-pressure main pulmonary artery causes extensive ischemia. Limited data concerning the extent of permanent myocardial damage and functional recovery after surgical repair in the long-term follow-up is available.

Aim

Determination of the incidence of incipient myocardial dysfunction in ALCAPA patients in the long-term observation using tissue Doppler and speckle tracking echocardiography.

Methods and results

Eighteen ALCAPA patients after surgical repair (at median age of 7 months, range 3–167) underwent echocardiographic examination after (median) 17 years. All but 4 patients in NYHA class II presented well at follow-up. No narrowing in proximal LCA was detected in color Doppler. The initial (pre-surgical) left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction of 33±17% almost normalized to 55±6%, but was lower than in the age, sex and body surface area matched control group: 62±5% (p<0.001). At follow-up, LV global longitudinal strain (LS): -15.8±3.3% vs -21.9±1.7%; right ventricular LS: -20.6±3.9% vs -24.9±4.6%; left atrial LS: 27.7±4.3% vs 41.0±11.5%; right atrial LS: 26.8±7.4% vs 44.0±7.9% and early pulsed wave to tissue Doppler mitral filling ratio (E/E’): 8.1±2.6 vs 5.8±1.3 were impaired in the ALCAPA population in comparison to the control group (p<0.01 for all comparisons). LV radial and circumferential strain did not differ between groups. Mean LS in the ALCAPA patients in the RCA region was -19.0±4.4%, while in the LCA region -13.8±7.3% (p<0.00001).

Conclusions

Despite good clinical condition and normalized LV ejection fraction in ALCAPA patients after surgical repair in the long-term follow-up, the diastolic and longitudinal systolic function of all cardiac chambers remained impaired, especially in the LCA region. Lifelong surveillance of repaired ALCAPA patients is needed.

Late presentation of anomalous left coronary artery arising from pulmonary artery with acute coronary syndrome

Congenital anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is associated with early infant mortality and adult sudden death. The use of advanced cardiac imaging has resulted in an increase in the number of diagnosed ALCAPA cases, especially in the adult population, sometimes even asymptomatic. The extent of collateral circulation that develops between the right coronary artery (RCA) and left coronary artery (LCA) determines the outcomes. We present a case of hitherto undiagnosed case of ALCAPA, with first presentation as acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in young male.

Intramural Aortic Course Should Always Be Considered for Anomalous Origin of the Left Coronary Artery From the Right Pulmonary Artery

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery (LCA) from the right pulmonary artery (ALCARPA) is an extremely rare subset of an already rare entity, anomalous origin of the LCA from the pulmonary artery. Whenever it is diagnosed preoperatively, one should be extremely vigilant about the potential intramural course of the descending part of the LCA in the aorta. Preoperative imaging frequently fails to delineate this intramural course. We report our experience with one such case where we had accidentally injured the LCA during dissection from the right pulmonary artery. Although it was successfully managed, it reinforces our aforementioned point concerning the importance of vigilance in seeking to identify intramurality as a component of this anomaly of coronary artery origin.

A new surgical approach to a patient with anomalous origin of left coronary artery from pulmonary artery: A case report

Anomalous origin of the left main coronary artery from the main pulmonary artery is a very rarely seen congenital heart disease in children. Fatal ischemic and arrhythmic complications usually occur during early infancy, when pulmonary vascular resistance falls and left coronary artery flow decreases. Nearly 10% of patients reach childhood and adulthood, if extensive collateral coronary artery circulation develops. In this article, we report our end-to-end anastomosis technique of the left internal mammary artery to the left main coronary artery in a-10-year-old patient.

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in an 8-Month-Old Infant for Ostial Stenosis of a Reimplanted Left Main Coronary Artery

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a routine procedure undertaken in adult patients. In children, the procedure remains rare and challenging due to a multitude of factors including but not limited to complex congenital heart disease anatomy, catheter and stent to patient size mismatch, and lack of data for post-PCI antiplatelet therapy. We present a case of PCI in an 8-month-old infant with anomalous left coronary artery from pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) who developed severe ostial kinking of the left main coronary artery (LMCA) after surgical reimplantation of the anomalous coronary. A 3.5 × 8 mm Vision bare metal stent was successfully placed into the LMCA and postdilated with excellent results. Follow-up echocardiography at 6 months post-PCI demonstrated a patent stent with normal Doppler flow signals. Despite initial success, the infant developed severe heart failure and was listed for orthotopic heart transplantation at age 20 months, one year after PCI. Given the paucity of published data regarding PCI and outcomes in infants with ALCAPA after surgical reimplantation, we describe our case and present a review of the available literature.

Surgical Outcome in Adolescents and Adults With Anomalous Left Coronary Artery From Pulmonary Artery

BACKGROUND

The outcomes of different repair strategies of an anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) in adolescent and adult patients are uncertain. The long-term outcomes of reimplantation and Takeuchi repair were compared in this study.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of data collected from patients receiving ALCAPA repair at our institute from January 2005 to December 2016. Short- and long-term outcomes of reimplantation and Takeuchi repair were compared.

RESULTS

A total of 50 consecutive patients underwent ALCAPA repair, with an average age of 31.6 ± 15.6 years and 66% women. No significant differences were found in short-term outcomes between the 2 groups. However, at a median of 65.7 months' follow-up, the major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) (including all-cause death, admission due to heart failure, new-onset acute myocardial infarction, and repeated revascularization) rate of the Takeuchi repair group was significantly lower than that of the reimplantation group (hazard ratio, 0.21; 95% confidence interval, 0.04 to 0.97). Furthermore, the preoperative glucose level was significantly associated with increased MACE rate (hazard ratio, 10.82; 95% confidence interval, 1.20 to 97.54). Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and ejection fraction significantly improved in both groups. However, mitral valvuloplasty did not predict long-term recovery of left ventricular function.

CONCLUSIONS

Although short-term outcomes were satisfactory in both groups, a higher MACE rate was observed in reimplantation group than Takeuchi repair group; mitral valvuloplasty was not significantly associated with improved prognosis and left ventricular reverse remodeling. Elevation of preoperative blood glucose level was significantly associated with increasing long-term MACE rate.

Surgical Outcomes of Anomalous Origin of the Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery in Children: An Echocardiography Follow-up

BACKGROUND

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare but potentially life-threatening congenital heart defect. A retrospective analysis was carried out to elucidate the surgical outcomes of ALCAPA in infants and children using follow-up echocardiography.

METHODS

From September 2008 to March 2017, 26 children diagnosed with ALCAPA underwent left coronary re-implantation. All surviving patients received echocardiography during follow-up.

RESULTS

The mortality rate after the operation was 11.5%. Before repair, twenty patients (76.9%) presented with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. The mean Z-score of the preoperative LV end-diastolic diameter was 4.42 ± 2.09. Mitral regurgitation (MR) was present in all patients. Two patients (7.7%), both with mitral valve prolapse, underwent mitral valve repair at the time of ALCAPA repair. Two children required postoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. LV function normalized at a median time of 5.3 months (range: 0.5-36.0 months). The Z-score of the LV end-diastolic diameter decreased simultaneously. The degree of MR gradually decreased in all surviving patients. All patients had patency of the proximal left coronary artery confirmed by echocardiography at the most recent follow-up. Six patients (26.1%) showed supravalvar pulmonary stenosis and seven patients (30.4%) showed right pulmonary stenosis during follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Coronary re-implantation was effective for rebuilding a dual coronary system in patients with ALCAPA and resulted in progressive improved LV function and reduced functional MR. Echocardiography was valuable for evaluating the outcomes. LV function, the degree of MR, and possible complications could be detected with follow-up echocardiography.

Anomalous Origin of the Left Coronary Artery From the Pulmonary Artery Presenting in Adulthood: A French Nationwide Retrospective Study, an Editorial Commentary

Adults with anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery typically have multiple venous and arterial collateral arteries surrounding the artery, making precise ligation imperative. Most physicians delay mitral valve repair until left ventricular function improves allowing for reperfusion through a 2-coronary system reimplanting the anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery into the aorta.