Surgical implications of early branching of the left coronary artery in anatomic correction of transposition of the great arteries.

Early branching of the left coronary artery (LCA) may become an additional operative challenge during coronary transfer in anatomic correction of transposition of the great arteries. An early branch of the LCA running in opposite transfer direction was present in 3 out of 25 patients who underwent anatomic correction. By excising a large cuff of aortic sinus wall around the ostium of the LCA enough length was gained for successful coronary transfer without kinking in 2 patients in whom the first branch was arising at the level of the origin of the circumflex artery. In the third patient with the first branch arising proximal to the origin of the circumflex artery an alternative surgical procedure seemed preferable. In such a coronary anomaly optimal visualization of the coronary branching pattern, possibly including selective coronary angiography, is advisable for better planning of the surgical technique.