Anomalous Origin of Right Coronary Artery from Left Coronary Sinus: Surgical Management and Clinical Result.

BACKGROUND

Anomalous aortic origin of coronary artery is a rare congenital condition in which the coronary artery arises from the opposite sinus of Valsalva. Although many patients are asymptomatic at the time of presentation or diagnosis, surgical correction is recommended due to the risk of ischemic sudden death. We describe seven cases of right coronary artery (RCA) arising from the left sinus of Valsalva, causing the hypoperfusion through RCA.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All patients underwent preoperative coronary angiography, echocardiography, and cardiac stress test (treadmill test [TMT], n = 4; technetium-99m sestamibi [MIBI], n = 3). In four patients, coronary computed tomography (CT) was performed. On the basis of preoperative test results, unroofing of the coronary artery (n = 3) or off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB; n = 4; patients with coronary arterial occlusive disease) was performed. In two patients, intraoperative flow meter was performed and showed the improvement of flow rate through RCA.

RESULTS

Postoperative CT angiography after OPCAB confirmed good graft patency (n = 4); CT angiography after unroofing demonstrated widely patent neo-orifice (n = 3). All patients underwent postoperative cardiac stress tests including TMT and MIBI, which revealed no evidence of ischemia. All patients were asymptomatic and returned to normal activities (mean follow-up, 41 months; 32-49 months).

CONCLUSION

The appropriate surgical procedure based on specific anatomical details, perioperative evaluation, and follow-up by focusing on the ischemia may lead to successful surgical outcomes of this coronary anomaly.