Anomalous interarterial left coronary artery: An evidence based systematic overview

Place of Angioplasty for Coronary Artery Anomalies With Interarterial Course

Few patients with an anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) require a correction of this congenital anomaly. Current recommendations offer surgical repair as a first line therapy to prevent a sudden cardiac death as a main objective. However, these guidelines are focused on children and not based on randomized controlled studies. Furthermore, decision-making should be different in an adult population less exposed to the risk of sudden cardiac death. Current practices showed reluctance to offer a surgical treatment for right AAOCA associated with ischemic symptoms or myocardial ischemia. Our aim in this review is to expose the rationale for percutaneous coronary intervention in right AAOCA with interarterial course and to present the published results.

Incidental Anomalous Left Coronary Artery in a Transplanted Heart

Anomalous coronary artery is an uncommon congenital cardiac anomaly that is often detected incidentally on coronary angiography. It has rarely been reported in the donor heart of patients who have undergone cardiac transplantation. Here, we report a case of a 72-year-old patient who received a second heart transplant and has been identified to have an anomalous left main coronary artery originating from the right coronary sinus on postoperative coronary angiography.

Anomalous Coronary Artery Origin in a Young Patient with Marfan Syndrome

Marfan syndrome is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder that affects connective tissue and is caused by mutations in the fibrillin 1 gene present at chromosome 15. Aortic aneurysm is its main complication, and along the dilation of the aorta root and its descending portion (60–100%), with secondary aortic insufficiency, it increases risk of acute aortic dissection and death. Coronary artery anomalies affect between 0.3% and 1.6% of the general population and are the second leading cause of sudden death in young adults, especially if the anomalous coronary passes through aorta and pulmonary artery. The anomalous origin of the left main coronary artery in the right Valsalva sinus has a prevalence of 0.02%–0.05% and is commonly related to other congenital cardiac anomalies, such as transposition of great vessels, coronary fistulas, bicuspid aortic valve, and tetralogy of Fallot. Its association with Marfan syndrome is not known, and there is no previous report in the literature. We describe here a case of a female with Marfan syndrome diagnosed with symptomatic anomalous origin of the left coronary artery in the right Valsalva sinus.

Varying clinical presentations of anomalous origin of the left main coronary artery from the right coronary sinus with an interarterial course in adults

The diagnosis of anomalous origin of the left main coronary artery from the right coronary sinus with an interarterial course in children and adolescents is considered life-threatening and clinical guidelines recommend surgical correction. The prognostic implications of this diagnosis in adults are not clear. This anomaly may present in adults as sudden cardiac death or may be diagnosed incidentally. Treatment of this anomaly in adults should be tailored individually taking into account the clinical presentation and patient characteristics.

Anomalous Aortic Origin of a Coronary Artery From the Inappropriate Sinus of Valsalva

Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) from the inappropriate sinus of Valsalva is increasingly recognized by cardiac imaging. Although most AAOCA subtypes are benign, autopsy studies report an associated risk of sudden death with interarterial anomalous left coronary artery (ALCA) and anomalous right coronary artery (ARCA). Despite efforts to identify high-risk ALCA and ARCA patients who may benefit from surgical repair, debate remains regarding their classification, prevalence, risk stratification, and management. We comprehensively reviewed 77 studies reporting the prevalence of AAOCA among >1 million patients, and 20 studies examining outcomes of interarterial ALCA/ARCA patients. Observational data suggests that interarterial ALCA is rare (weighted prevalence = 0.03%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.01% to 0.04%) compared with interarterial ARCA (weighted prevalence = 0.23%; 95% CI: 0.17% to 0.31%). Recognizing the challenges in managing these patients, we review cardiac tests used to examine AAOCA and knowledge gaps in management.

Anomalous Coronary Arteries That Need Intervention: Review of Pre- and Postoperative Imaging Appearances

Coronary artery anomalies constitute a diverse group of abnormalities, ranging from anatomic variants to those having hemodynamic consequences. This review focuses on major anomalies that have clinical implications requiring treatment, including anomalous origin of the coronary artery from the opposite sinus with interarterial course specifically with an intramural course, coronary artery origin from the pulmonary artery, and coronary artery fistula. Comprehensive imaging evaluation is necessary to precisely delineate the anatomy as well as pathophysiologic aspects of the anomaly before determining treatment options for a specific patient. Coronary computed tomographic angiography provides elegant depiction of coronary arterial anatomy and the relationship of the vessel to the adjacent structures, with the ability to perform three-dimensional reconstructions. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is emerging as an alternative noninvasive imaging strategy, particularly in young individuals, due to the lack of ionizing radiation and avoidance of iodinated contrast agents. This review describes the roles and recent technical advancements in computed tomography and MR imaging pertinent to coronary artery imaging. Additionally, this article will familiarize readers with the cross-sectional imaging appearance of clinically relevant coronary anomalies, hemodynamic considerations, and complex decision making. The different management strategies used for these anomalies, such as coronary unroofing, reimplantation, bypass grafting, Takeuchi repair, and surgical and interventional closure of fistulas, as well as specific posttreatment complications, are also discussed. ^©RSNA, 2017.

[Ectopic connection of the left coronary artery with the contralateral sinus with or without intramural pathway: how and why differentiating them?]

Among the wide spectrum of congenital abnormalities of coronary arteries, a left coronary artery connected with the contralateral sinus is considered as an anatomical high-risk while associated with a proximal preaortic course. The ectopic connection may be associated with or without intramural pathway regarding the aortic wall. An intramural pathway is a characteristic to be considered because it is able to be involved in myocardial ischemia-related adverse events of which the sudden death. Therefore, making an identification of an intramural pathway is essential for the ectopic connections of the left coronary artery associated with a preaortic course.

Abnormal origins of the coronary arteries from the aortic root

Anomalous origin of a coronary artery from the aorta is a potentially serious anomaly that occurs in about 0.1-0.2% of the population. This percentage is small; however, it translates into about 4000 annual births with these anomalies. The clinical presentation of these anomalies is rare, and hence most are and will remain asymptomatic. The various anatomic anomalies are described, with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery that then passes between the aorta and pulmonary artery being the most serious of these anomalies. The pathophysiology resulting from these anomalies is described, as are methods for identifying those who require treatment; however, we still do not know the best methods of determining which patients need treatment.

Strenuous exercise induced syncope due to coronary artery anomaly

Coronary artery anomalies are among the neglected topics in cardiology. Anomalous origin of the left main coronary artery from the right sinus of valsalva is a rare coronary anomaly observed in 0.15% of patients. During exercise, the distended aorta and pulmonary artery with increased blood flow may squeeze the Left Main Coronary Artery (LMCA) between them. Even though arrhythmias are common causes of syncope, one should also think about aberrant coronary artery in the patients with syncope of unexplained origin. Patients experiencing exercise induced syncope accompanied by symptoms of coronary ischemia (typically: chest pain, ischemic findings on ECG, and raised cardiac markers) should be referred to diagnostic coronary angiography.

An interarterial course of anomalous coronary artery and an alternative surgical option

An interarterial course of anomalous left main coronary artery originating from the right aortic coronary sinus of valsalva is a rare condition among anomalous aortic origin of the coronary artery. Various surgical options are available. We performed an alternative procedure, that is, mobilisation of the pulmonic root, pulmonary bifurcation, and plication of the pulmonic root adjacent to the left main coronary artery, in a 12-year-old boy. Favourable results were achieved after 43 months of follow-up.

Anomalous aortic origin of coronary arteries from the opposite sinus: a critical appraisal of risk

Background

Anomalous aortic origin of the coronary artery (AAOCA) from the opposite sinus of Valsalva with an interarterial course has received much attention due to its association with sudden death in otherwise healthy individuals. AAOCA is relatively common and may have significant public health implications. While our knowledge of its pathophysiology and natural history remains incomplete, an emphasis has been placed on surgical correction.

Discussion

In 2005 we published a review examining the rates of sudden death with AAOCA, as well as complications of surgical management. Evidence now points even more strongly to lower rates of sudden death, while surgical outcomes data now better documents associated risks.

Summary

Armed with this updated information, we agree with the need for a national registry to better track patients with AAOCA. We submit that the risks of surgical management outweigh any benefits in the asymptomatic patient with anomalous right coronary artery, and expectant management should also be strongly considered even in asymptomatic patients with anomalous left coronary artery.

Identifying, characterizing, and classifying congenital anomalies of the coronary arteries

The clinical manifestations of coronary artery anomalies vary in severity, with some anomalies causing severe symptoms and cardiovascular sequelae and others being benign. Cardiovascular computed tomography (CT) has emerged as the standard of reference for identification and characterization of coronary artery anomalies. Therefore, it is important for the reader of cardiovascular CT images to be thoroughly familiar with the spectrum of coronary artery anomalies. Hemodynamically significant anomalies include atresia, origin from the pulmonary artery, interarterial course, and congenital fistula. Non-hemodynamically significant anomalies include duplication; high origin; a prepulmonic, transseptal, or retroaortic course; shepherd's crook right coronary artery; and systemic termination. In general, coronary arteries with an interarterial course are associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. Coronary artery anomalies that result in shunting, including congenital fistula and origin from the pulmonary artery, are also commonly symptomatic and may cause steal of blood from the myocardium. Radiologists should be familiar with each specific variant and its specific constellation of potential implications.

Anomalous origination of a coronary artery from the opposite sinus

Anomalous origination of a coronary artery from the opposite sinus (ACAOS) is estimated to be present in 0.2-2.0% of the population. In the majority of individuals, ACAOS has no hemodynamic or prognostic implications, but in a minority of cases, typically where the anomalous coronary artery takes an interarterial course to reach its correct myocardial territory, it can precipitate ischemia and sudden cardiac death (SCD). With the growing use of CT coronary angiography (CTCA) in the investigation of ischemic heart disease, we can expect increasing rates of incidental detection of this anomaly. Although CTCA and magnetic resonance coronary angiography can effectively characterize these lesions anatomically, they fail to describe and quantitatively assess the basic defect that leads to coronary insufficiency, such as mural intussusception. The key challenge lies in the identification of which patients are at risk of SCD and, therefore, who should be offered corrective surgical or (potentially) percutaneous intervention. Conventional, noninvasive stress testing has limited sensitivity, but emerging, invasive stress tests, which utilize intravascular ultrasonography and measurements of fractional flow reserve, show the potential to provide more-accurate hemodynamic and prognostic assessment.

Percutaneous revascularization in a patient with anomalous origin of left main coronary artery

Anomalous origin of the coronary artery from opposite coronary sinus is infrequently observed during coronary angiography. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of anomalous coronary artery is technically difficult and challenging. It requires appropriate selection of guide catheters for adequate stability, coaxial alignment and backup support during the intervention. We hereby report a rare case of anomalous origin of left main coronary artery (LM) from the right coronary sinus, having a retro-aortic course to the left side before its bifurcation into left anterior descending (LAD) and circumflex artery. The 59-year-old man had successful PCI of atherosclerotic LAD lesions. A 64-slice Multi-Detector Computed Tomography (MDCT) performed at 4 years of follow-up demonstrated patency of coronary stents and also delineated the origin and course of the anomalous LM. The case illustrates the rarity of anomalous LM, and describes technical issues during PCI and the role of MDCT in coronary anomaly imaging.

An overview of surgery options for congenital coronary artery anomalies

Congenital and acquired coronary artery anomalies are associated with significant morbidity and mortality and can be sudden in onset. The spectrum of congenital lesions include anomalous origin from the pulmonary artery, critical left main stenosis/atresia, coronary artery fistulas, anomalous aortic origin and intramyocardial courses. The spectrum of acquired lesions include Kawasaki disease, late postoperative obstructions in patients who had coronary artery surgical manipulations and iatrogenic injuries that can occur in the catheterization laboratory or the operating room. Surgical therapies for ischemic syndromes associated over the long term of these anomalies are presented herein.

A hazardous finding of a rare anomalous left main coronary artery in a patient with a secundum atrial septal defect

A 23-year-old male referred for evaluation of a “choking” sensation with exertion and a murmur. A transthoracic echocardiogram demonstrated right atrial and ventricular dilatation, right ventricular volume overload, and a large secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) with left to right shunt and a calculated pulmonary-to-systemic blood flow ratio (Qp/Qs) estimated at 2.3 to 1. Cardiac catheterization also demonstrated evidence of the ASD with Qp/Qs of 4.6 to 1 with a significant step-up in oxygen saturation at the right atrial level. Additionally, an anomalous left main coronary artery (ALMCA) origin from the anterior right coronary cusp was suspected. Using 64-slice multidetector computed tomography coronary angiography (CCTA) the left main coronary artery was seen to arise from the right coronary cusp then traverse between the pulmonary trunk and the proximal ascending aorta before bifurcating into the left anterior descending and circumflex arteries that followed their normal courses distally. Based on the high risk nature of associated sudden death from an anomalous left main coronary artery (ALMCA) coursing between the aorta and the pulmonary trunk, the patient underwent surgical re-implantation of the ALMCA to the left coronary cusp and repair of the ASD. This case highlights a rare finding of a hazardous ALMCA in a patient with a secundum ASD and the utility of CCTA in evaluating the course of coronary anomalies along with other cardiac pathology.