Variant of the left coronary artery with an unusual origin and course: Anatomic and postmortem angiographic findings

This study demonstrates anatomic and postmortem angiographic findings characterizing the origin of the left coronary (LC) artery arising in common trunk with the right coronary (RC) artery from the right aortic sinus and its course via the ventricular septum (VS) to the left heart. This anomaly was a single finding observed among 388 angiographies and 60 corrosion castings. The course of the LC was divided in four segments. The first three form a curve that is upward concave. Large branches to the septomarginal trabecula (ST), VS, diagonals (DS), and the small anterior interventricular (anterior descending) artery originated from the outer part of this curve. In the anteroposterior x-ray, the above curve resembles a deep-bottom pot with a handle corresponding to the fourth segment. In the right anterior oblique, the first and second segments form a large erect angle. The third segment occupies the lower part of the absent proximal anterior interventricular artery, and the fourth crosses the outflow tract and the first segment in the middle. The course of these four segments of LC resembles the shape of the number 6. These findings are important for interpreting coronary angiographies in patients with this anomaly. Clin. Anat. 11:367–371, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

右冠状动脉起源于左主干5例临床分析

目的：分析右冠状动脉起源于左主干的临床特征，探讨其与心肌缺血的关系。方法：回顾分析5例右冠状动脉起源于左主干的临床资料及相关文献。结果：（1）本组5例患者中，女性1例，男性4例，年龄27～70岁。（2）临床表现主要为胸痛、胸闷等心绞痛症状，除1例老年患者外，其余4例病人都有典型的心绞痛症状和缺血心电图变化。（3）冠状动脉造影示3例合并严重冠状动脉粥样硬化，给予冠状动脉搭桥术，术后随访2月～6年无明显不适；另2例冠状动脉无明显病变，药物治疗后仍有劳累性心绞痛发作，其中1例半年后猝死。结论：右冠状动脉起源于左主干是一种罕见的冠脉畸形，对存在严重心肌缺血的患者应进行预防性冠状动脉搭桥术或介入治疗，预防不良事件的发生。     

Main trunk of the left coronary artery: anatomic study of the parameters of clinical interest

The objective of this study was to analyze in one single series all the characteristics of the main trunk of the left coronary artery (MT) that may be of use in the diagnosis and treatment of its pathologies. One-hundred human hearts from autopsies were used. The average age of the sample studied was 63.15 years +/- 18.76 (range = 17-94 years). The heart was removed after resection of the costosternum and placed in 10% formaldehyde. With gradual separation and retraction of the myocardial fasciculi the MT was exposed. The length of the MT, the luminal diameter of the MT at its midpoint, and the luminal diameter of the left coronary orifice were measured with a caliper. The angle of division between the anterior interventricular and circumflex branches was also measured, and the number of terminal branches originating from the MT was recorded. In four cases, there was no MT and the anterior interventricular and circumflex branches originated directly from the left aortic sinus. The average length of the MT was 10.8 +/- 5.52 mm (range = 2-23 mm); the average diameter at its midpoint was 4.86 +/- 0.80 mm; and there was no significant difference noted between the midpoint diameter of the MT and the diameter of the left coronary orifice. The most frequent type of division of the MT was bifurcation (62%); in 38% of cases the MT divided into three or more branches. An average value of 86.7 +/- 28.8 degrees was obtained for the angle of division of the terminal branches of the MT (range = 40-165 degrees ). There was a positive correlation between the length of the MT and the angle of division of its terminal branches, with the longest MTs having the largest angle of division.     

先天性左冠状动脉主干闭锁3例超声心动图特征及文献复习

目的 通过研究先天性左冠状动脉主干闭锁（LMCAA）的超声心动图表现,提高对LMCAA诊断的准确性.方法 回顾性分析经冠状动脉造影证实的3例LMCAA患儿的超声心动图检查结果,并复习相关文献,总结LMCAA超声心动图特征.结果 LMCAA特异性超声心动图特征：①主动脉左冠状动脉窦内无左冠状动脉主干开口,左冠状动脉主干近心端闭锁呈盲端,远心端内径细窄,发育不良;②右冠状动脉内径增宽;③多切面未显示左冠状动脉与肺动脉确切连接的证据.LMCAA非特异性超声心动图特征：①左心室明显扩大,左室收缩功能可正常或减低;②二尖瓣腱索、乳头肌回声显著增强,可伴有二尖瓣脱垂.彩色多普勒超声特征：①收缩期二尖瓣口可见中至大量反流信号;②左、右冠状动脉之间形成细小侧支循环; ③左冠状动脉前降支和回旋支血流为逆向灌注（向心性）;④发育不良的左冠状动脉虽然在肺动脉周围分布,但彩色多普勒超声不能显示其与肺动脉连接的确切逆灌血流信号.结论 LMCAA有特异性的超声心动图特征,提高对LMCAA的全面认识是诊断本病的关键.     

Extremely high origin of the right coronary artery from the ascending aorta.

Coronary artery anomalies, especially variations in the level of origin, are frequent. In most cases, the origin lies just a few millimeters superior to the supravalvular ridge; ectopic origins of more than one centimeter above this border are rare. We report a case in which the right coronary artery arises from the ascending aorta 38 mm above the supravalvular ridge.     

Right coronary ostium agenesis with absence of the right coronary artery: a rare case of non-ST elevation coronary syndrome

We present a case with right coronary ostium agenesis with anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the left circumflex artery, which caused a non-ST elevation coronary syndrome. A review of the literature indicates this to be an extremely rare case.     

Concomitant multi-vessel disease is associated with a lower procedural death rate in patients treated with percutaneous coronary interventions within the left main coronary artery (from the ORPKI registry)

IntroductionIn this study, we aimed to distinguish differences in the procedural complication rate in a group of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) of the left main coronary artery (LMCA) between patients with isolated LMCA disease and multi-vessel disease (MVD) with LMCA involvement and to identify their predictors.Material and methodsWe assessed 221,187 patients from the Polish Cardiovascular Intervention Society national registry (ORPKI) regarding all PCI procedures performed in Poland in 2015 and 2016. We extracted data of 1,819 patients with isolated LMCA disease and 3,718 patients with MVD and LMCA involvement. We compared those two groups in terms of procedural complications and their predictors.ResultsThe overall rate of procedural complications was significantly higher in patients treated with LMCA PCI both in the group of patients with isolated LMCA (6.5%) and the group with MVD with LMCA involvement (7.3%) compared to the non-LMCA PCI group (1.9%, p = 0.002). Multivariate analysis confirmed that MVD with LMCA involvement is an independent predictor of decreased risk of procedural death in the overall group of patients undergoing PCI of the LMCA (odds ratio: 0.583; 95% confidence interval: 0.4–0.848; p = 0.005).ConclusionsThe MVD involvement in patients treated with PCI of the LMCA may play a protective role. Patients with isolated LMCA involvement undergoing PCI should be subjected to special care and protected by various methods, such as devices to support left ventricle function.     

Changes in left ventricular ejection fraction and coronary flow reserve after coronary microembolization

Introduction

Although coronary microembolization (CME) is a frequent phenomenon in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, few data are available on the changes in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and coronary flow reserve (CFR) after CME.

Material and methods

In this study, six miniature swine of either sex (body weight 21-25 kg) were used to prepare a CME model. After coronary angiography, 1.2 × 10⁵ microspheres (42 µm) were selectively infused into the left anterior descending artery via an infusion catheter. Left ventricular ejection fraction was evaluated using transthoracic echocardiography; myocardial blood flow was measured using coloured microspheres; and CFR and coronary pressure were measured using Doppler and a pressure wire.

Results

Left ventricular ejection fraction was 0.77 ±0.08 at baseline, 0.69 ±0.08 at 2 h, 0.68 ±0.08 at 6 h, and 0.76 ±0.06 at 1 week (2 h vs. baseline p < 0.05; 6 h vs. baseline p < 0.01). After CME, left ventricular end systolic volume (LVESV) and end diastolic volume (LVEDV) were significant larger 1 week later (p < 0.01 for both), while CFR was significantly reduced at 6 h (1.24 ±0.10 at 6 h vs. 1.77 ±0.30 at baseline, p < 0.01) and myocardial blood flow remained unchanged. Serum ET-1 level was significantly higher only at 6 h after CME (6 h vs. baseline p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Reduction of CFR and LVEF is significant at 6 h after CME and recovers 1 week later with left ventricular dilation.     

Impact of diabetes on mortality and complications after coronary artery by-pass graft operation in patients with left main coronary artery disease

PurposeLeft main disease (LMD) is a severe form of coronary artery disease (CAD). Fifty percent of patients with LMD treated conservatively die within 3–5 years of diagnosis. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of type 2 diabetes on early and late (2-year) prognosis and the risk of complications after coronary artery by-pass graft (CABG) surgery in patients with LMD.Material/methodsWe enrolled 257 patients diagnosed with LMD. 169 (67%) underwent CABG, 19 (8%) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) without left main stem protection. 30 (12%) patients had CABG previously. Patients treated with CABG were divided into two groups – with and without diabetes. There were 43 (25.4%) patients with diabetes and 126 (74.6%) without diabetes.ResultsWe observed more complications with wound healing (40.5% vs. 12.8%, p < 0.001) and sternal dehiscence (23.8% vs. 4.0%, p < 0.001) after CABG in patients with diabetes. There were no differences in 7-day, 30-day, 3-month and 1-year mortality. 2-Year mortality was also similar in both groups (11.6% vs. 11.1%, p = 0.928). Patients with diabetes were more frequently hospitalized due to other reasons than angina (39.5% vs. 20.6%, p = 0.014).ConclusionsPatients with diabetes and LMD had more often complications with wound healing and sternal dehiscence after CABG than patients without diabetes. Type 2 diabetes did not influence early and late mortality in patients with LMD treated with cardiac surgery, but the presence of diabetes was associated with more frequent hospitalizations.     

Coincidence of a right retroaortic circumflex coronary artery and a right-sided aortic arch with a retroesophageal course of the left subclavian artery (arteria lusoria)

An anomalous branch of the right coronary artery was found in a 71-year-old male cadaver with a right-sided aortic arch. The anomalous artery arose from the proximal portion of the right coronary artery and ran in a retroaortic course, before reaching the posterior wall of the heart. It was recognized as the right-sided variation of the circumflex coronary artery. The aortic arch had as branches the left common carotid, right common carotid, right subclavian, and left subclavian arteries, in that order, and the descending aorta was located in the right thorax. The left subclavian artery arose from a Kommerell's diverticulum and ran behind the esophagus, and the left-sided ligamentum arteriosum was also connected at the diverticulum. Therefore, the right aortic arch was classified as type N according to Adachi-Williams-Nakagawa and type III-B1 in accordance with Stewart-Edwards. The Kommerell's diverticulum in this case seemed to press on the posterior wall of the esophagus.     

Pulmonary sequestration with right coronary artery supply

Pulmonary sequestration is an unusual malformation consisting of isolated nonfunctioning lung segments lacking communication with functional tracheobronchial trees. Systemic blood supply is commonly from the thoracic aorta, but arteries occasionally arise from other sites. We report a rare form of pulmonary sequestration with arterial supply from the right coronary artery.     

Unexpected sudden death of a 19-year-old female with congenital single coronary artery ostium during exertion

Coronary artery anomalies are associated often with myocardial ischemia or sudden cardiac death. A 19-year-old woman who participated in an exertive game lost consciousness upon one such exertion. She was taken to a hospital where she died on the same day. An autopsy revealed that she had bifurcated coronary arteries, which arose from one coronary ostium in the left sinus of Valsalva. The right coronary artery arose from the left sinus and traveled between the aorta and the pulmonary trunk. The heart as well as the cardiac conduction system depended exclusively on the single coronary artery ostium for oxygenated blood supply, and the unbalanced blood distribution on her exertion probably led to sudden cardiac death. The case highlights the medicolegal importance of unexpected sudden cardiac death related to an anomalous origin of the coronary arteries.     

Autoregulation by the right coronary artery in dogs with open chests; comparison with the left coronary artery

Experiments were conducted to study autoregulatory responses of the right and left coronary arteries in dogs with open chests. The right and left circumflex coronary artery were cannulated and perfused with blood from the femoral artery via a pressurized reservoir. The perfusion pressure was varied in steps over a wide range and coronary blood flow rates were measured. Both the right and left coronary arteries exhibited autoregulation but the pressure at the lower end of the autoregulatory range was lower in the right (39.8±9.1 mm Hg) than in the left circumflex coronary artery (57.6±14.5 mm Hg). The slope of the pressure-flow relationship in the autoregulatory range was less steep in the right than the left circumflex coronary artery. The closed-loop gain when the perfusion pressure was less than 100 mm Hg was greater in the right than in the left circumflex coronary artery. Increases in the right ventricular afterload produced by pulmonary artery constriction decreased the closed-loop gain, shifted the autoregulatory range upward and to the right, and made the slope steeper. These results indicate that more effective autoregulation is carried out by the right than the left circumflex coronary artery.     

The relationship of myocardial bridges to coronary artery dominance in the adult human heart

Myocardial bridging is recognized as an anatomical variation of the human coronary circulation in which an epicardial artery lies in the myocardium for part of its course. Thus, the vessel is 'bridged' by myocardium. The anterior interventricular branch of the left coronary artery has been reported as the most common site of myocardial bridges but other locations have been reported. The purpose of this study was to provide more definitive information on the vessels with myocardial bridges, the length and depth of the bridged segment, and the relationship between the presence of bridges and coronary dominance. Two hundred formalin-fixed human hearts were examined. Myocardial bridges were found in 69 (34.5%) of the hearts with a total of 81 bridges. One bridge was found in 59 of these hearts and multiple bridges were observed in ten (eight with double bridges and two with triple bridges). Bridges were most often found over the anterior interventricular artery (35 hearts). Bridges were also found over the diagonal branch of the left coronary artery (14), over the left marginal branch (five) and over the inferior interventricular branch of the left coronary artery (six). Bridges were also found over the right coronary artery (15 hearts), over the right marginal branch (four) and over the inferior interventricular branch of the right coronary artery (two). The presence of bridges appeared to be related to coronary dominance, especially in the left coronary circulation. Forty-six (66.6%) of the hearts with bridges were left dominant. Forty-two of these had bridges over the left coronary circulation and four over the right coronary circulation. Seventeen hearts (24.6%) were right dominant. Eleven of these had bridges over the right coronary circulation and six over the left coronary circulation. The remaining six hearts were co-dominant with four having bridges over the left coronary circulation and two over the right coronary circulation. The mean length of the bridges was 31 mm and the mean depth was 12 mm. The possible clinical implications of myocardial bridging may vary from protection against atherosclerosis to systolic vessel compression and resultant myocardial ischaemia.     

小儿左冠状动脉异常的矫治术麻醉管理方法探讨

目的分析小儿起源于肺动脉的左冠状动脉异常矫治手术的麻醉特点,为今后开展类似手术提供可行的麻醉管理方法。方法回顾性分析2006年3月至2010年7月本院20例小儿起源于肺动脉的左冠状动脉异常矫治术的麻醉管理方法。结果采用静吸复合全麻,术中均未出现急性心衰或心梗,CPB时间为58～204（80.6±44.4）min,主动脉阻断时间为25～125（53.4±32.2）min,开放主动脉后均自动复跳,适时应用血管活性药物,以保证麻醉平稳,停CPB时SBP为（78.6±8.0）mmHg,DBP为（45.4±3.5）mmHg,HR为（130.8±10.5）次/min,术中无死亡及麻醉并发症。1例术后第2天死于严重低心排综合征,死亡率为5%,其余痊愈出院。结论小儿左冠状动脉异常矫治术以静吸复合全麻的方法 ,辅以严密监测,尽力维持血流动力学稳定,积极采取各种措施避免加重心肌缺血的麻醉管理方法是正确可行的,可以推广应用于术前有心功能损害的手术。     

小儿左冠状动脉异常起源于肺动脉的外科矫治

目的 总结小儿左冠状动脉异常起源于肺动脉（ALCAPA）的外科矫治方法及效果。方法 回顾性研究。纳入2015年2月—2020年10月泰达国际心血管病医院9例接受外科手术治疗的小儿ALCAPA患者的临床资料。男2例、女7例,年龄0.2~12.3岁（中位年龄1.7岁）,体质量5.7~44.3 kg（中位体质量11.6 kg）。患者采取个体化手术策略（肺动脉内隧道技术、主动脉壁和带蒂肺动脉壁缝合、带蒂直接移载、左主干开口成形术）恢复双源冠状动脉供血,其中4例同期行二尖瓣成形术。观察指标：监测患儿左心室射血分数（LVEF）和二尖瓣反流程度,并比较其在术前、术后早期、末次随访时的变化。结果 全组患儿均手术顺利,无死亡。2例重症婴儿术后延迟关胸6 d和9 d。9例患儿出院后获随访1个月~4.5年,均未出现心绞痛或心力衰竭症状。患儿术后早期与术前LVEF分别为62.1%（39.0%,63.5%）和59.0%（40.0%,64.5%）,差异无统计学意义（Z=14.00,P=1.000）;末次随访LVEF为64.0%（60.5%,67.5%）,较术后早期改善,差异有统计学意义（Z=26.50,P=0.034）。术后早期二尖瓣反流与术前、末次随访比较,差异均无统计学意义（Z=1.13、1.41,P=0.257、0.157）。结论 对于小儿ALCAPA采用个性化外科矫治手术可以获得满意的近中期效果。     

Reactive hyperaemic flow characteristics of the right coronary artery compared to the left anterior descending coronary artery in the open-chest dog

Reactive hyperaemia, the cardiovascular response to transient occlusion of a vessel, was examined and compared in the right coronary artery (RCA) and the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) in the same heart of an open-chest dog. First, to study the relationship between reactive hyperaemia and occlusion time in the RCA and LAD, respective flows were measured and reactive hyperaemia was induced with different occlusion times. Occlusion time required for half the maximum peak percentage reactive hyperaemic flow (%PRH), t _1/2, for the RCA was approximately twice that of the LAD: 11.4±2.3 s versus 5.9±1.4 s. Maximum %PRH of the RCA was significantly greater than that of the LAD while the percentage repayment of the RCA was lower than that of the LAD. Augmentation of right ventricular oxygen consumption shortened t _1/2 and increased percentage repayment significantly. Second, to determine critical pressure, which was defined as the perfusion pressure below which reactive hyperaemia was abolished completely, the RCA and LAD were perfused through a shunt from the carotid artery, perfusion pressure was varied in the range of 100 to 20 mmHg and reactive hyperaemia was induced. Critical pressure in the RCA was significantly lower than in the LAD: 32.2±5.7 mmHg versus 41.5±5.0 mmHg. These results suggest that the RCA has a greater flow reserve than the LAD. These results were consistent with the difference of oxygen metabolism between the right and left ventricles. The difference of oxygen metabolism between the two ventricles would, at least partly, account for these results.     

Risk factor comparison in young patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome with atherosclerotic coronary artery disease vs. angiographically normal coronaries

Background: Acute myocardial infarction is a relatively rare phenomenon in the young population. The incidence has nevertheless increased from years past, likely due to the presence of multiple risk factors from an increasingly younger age. Regardless of whether they have atherosclerotic coronary artery disease or normal coronary angiogram, young patients with risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD), chest pain, and positive troponin, are initially treated in a similar fashion. Our goal was to shed light on whether risk factors between these two groups differ to help guide physicians in clinically determining whether or not an atherosclerotic cardiovascular event has occurred, as well as to potentially identify young patients at risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) despite normal coronary arteries.Methods: A retrospective cross sectional study was undertaken over an 8 year period at Tawam Hospital. 576 patients aged 50 or under who underwent coronary angiography were selected for the study. Medical records were analyzed for the patient''s demographics and CAD risk factor profile, including the following variables: family history of CAD, smoking status, Body Mass Index category, lipid profile, and diagnosis of hyperlipidemia, diabetes, or hypertension. Details of the coronary angiogram were also reviewed.Results: Statistically significant outcomes included a higher prevalence of diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and smoking history in patients with CAD compared to the patients with normal coronary angiogram. Diabetes was one of the strongest risk factors in CAD patients, with an odds ratio of 1.98 (p= 0.011), followed by hyperlipidemia at 1.85 (p= 0.021). Smoking history had an odds ratio of 2.93 (p <0.001).Conclusion: Risk factors were present in both groups, but significantly more in the CAD group. No particular risk factor stood out for the development of ACS in those with normal coronary arteries, other than mean BMI being slightly higher in this group. Based on our analysis, no single variable can accurately predict the risk for ACS in normal coronaries. To our knowledge, few studies have been done in the young population with angiographically normal coronary arteries to determine possible risk factors for development of ACS. Further research needs to be done to determine whether the risk factors that were common amongst both groups are coincidental, or a cause of ACS in those with normal coronary arteries.     

Giant right coronary artery aneurysm secondary to Kawasaki disease in child: a case report

Coronary artery aneurysm or ectasia was reported in approximately 15% to 25% of the affected children, particularly in the proximal end of the main blood vessel and the left anterior descending part. Rare patients have been reported with aneurysm in the distal end of the right coronary artery. In this case report, we present a rare case with aneurysm in the distal end of the right coronary artery. Multi-slice computed tomography was performed for the coronary angiography. Aspirin (10 mg/kg body weight per day) and gamma globulin (2 kg/kg body weight) was administrated via intravenous injection. The patient is currently in a healthy status with a 12-month follow up.