Antemortem diagnosis of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery in a dog

Anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the pulmonary artery in a Staffordshire Bull Terrier

An asymptomatic 17-month-old, 18.5-kg, male Staffordshire Bull Terrier was referred due to a heart murmur. Examination revealed a grade 3/6 left apical systolic and right apical 3/6 heart murmur. Echocardiography showed volume overload of the left ventricle and mild systolic dysfunction with a left-right flow over the interventricular septal region. Cardiac gated computed tomography revealed anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the pulmonary artery, an extensive network of collateral blood vessels connected the right and left coronary arteries, with bronchial and left intercostal arteries also connected to the network of collateral blood vessels, markedly enlarged right and left coronary arteries and left coronary sinus. With varied presentation, coronary anomalies are difficult to recognise and classify and to the best of our knowledge this is the first case of anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the pulmonary artery diagnosis in the dog.

Advanced imaging in an adult dog with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery and extensive collateral coronary circulation

A three-year-old, spayed female, Bichon Frise was diagnosed with an anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery, a rare congenital coronary artery defect which has only been reported in two other dogs. Echocardiography was initially performed, though the final diagnosis was made with angiography and computed tomography angiography. An extensive network of collateral coronary circulation allowed for communication between the dilated, tortuous right coronary artery, and the anomalous left coronary artery. Though collateral circulation likely prolonged the patient's life, it is suspected that coronary steal phenomenon and chronic myocardial ischemia ultimately led to fatal ventricular arrhythmias. The dog died suddenly at the age of six, three years after initial diagnosis.