Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery with coronary artery steal in adults. Report of two cases and review of the literature.

Patients with anomalous left coronary artery arising from the pulmonary artery rarely survive to adult life. Those who attain adulthood may present with angina indistinguishable from coronary artery disease and are liable to sudden death. Myocardial infarction, though rare in young adults, may occur and may be due to coronary artery steal. Accurate diagnosis requires coronary arteriography. Two further cases of coronary artery steal in adults with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery are presented. In both patients aortocoronary bypass grafting using a reversed autogenous saphenous vein with closure of the origin of the anomalous left coronary artery was successfully performed. This operation provided complete symptomatic relief and may protect patients against the risk of sudden death.     

Emergency ligation of anomalous left coronary artery arising from the pulmonary artery

We report two cases of successful emergency ligation of anomalous left coronary artery arising from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) in patients with previous cardiac arrest. Both patients had regained marginal cardiac output after cardiopulmonary resuscitation and had maximal doses of inotropic support. The ALCAPA ligation was then performed as a life-saving procedure in the absence of any kind of mechanical circulatory support.     

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) presenting with ventricular fibrillation in an adult: a case report

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital anomaly. The usual clinical course is severe left sided heart failure and mitral valve insufficiency presenting during the first months of life. However, in some cases collateral blood supply from the right coronary artery is sufficient and symptoms may be subtle or even absent. Arrhythmias or sudden cardiac death in adult life may be the first clinical presentation in patients with ALCAPA. We report a case, where a 39-year old woman presented with ventricular fibrillation during phycial exertion. Coronary angiography and CT-angiography revealed an anomalous origin of the left coronary artery, and an aortic reimplantation of the left coronary artery was performed followed by ICD implantation. A review of the literature on ALCAPA is presented along with CT images before and after surgery.     

Effect of coronary artery bypass grafting on native coronary artery stenosis. Comparison of internal thoracic artery and saphenous vein grafts

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of coronary artery bypass grafting on the degree of stenosis of the native coronary artery. METHODS: Experimental design: retrospective data analysis. Setting: University hospital. Patients: consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (n=52). Bypasses using internal thoracic artery grafts (n=26) and saphenous vein grafts (n=37) to incompletely occluded coronary arteries were studied. Interventions: coronary artery bypass grafting using internal thoracic artery or saphenous vein grafts. Measures: stenosis of the native coronary artery on angiography. RESULTS: Three recipient coronary arteries bypassed with internal thoracic artery grafts (12%) and 14 recipient coronary arteries bypassed with saphenous vein grafts (38%) showed progression of narrowing (p=0.024). Two recipient coronary arteries bypassed with internal thoracic artery grafts (8%) and 13 recipient coronary arteries bypassed with saphenous vein grafts (35%) showed total occlusion (p=0.016). Hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and smoking history did not correlate with progression of stenosis of the native coronary arteries. Graft flow measured during surgery in the saphenous vein grafts was not significantly different between the group that exhibited progression of the native stenosis and the group that did not. CONCLUSIONS: Coronary artery bypass grafting with saphenous vein grafts may result in progression of stenosis of the recipient coronary artery. This is less likely after coronary artery bypass grafting with internal thoracic artery grafts. This difference may be due to the ability of the pedicled internal thoracic artery graft to regulate flow. Thus competitive flow in the native coronary artery is minimized. This has significant clinical implications.     

Spontaneous rupture of coronary artery.

We report a case of spontaneous coronary artery rupture (SCAR) 3 months after descending aortic replacement. Cardiac tamponade was confirmed at first by using echocardiography following emergency pericardial centesis. The patient was denied aortic dissection by computed tomography, thereafter diagnosed as SCAR with selective angiography, which revealed a leakage from the left circumflex branch. The patient underwent successful rupture site isolation by bilateral ligation and distal revascularization with aortocoronary bypass with saphenous vein graft.     

Giant aneurysm of saphenous vein graft to coronary artery compressing the right atrium.

Aneurysm of reverse aortocoronary saphenous vein graft is a known complication of coronary artery bypass grafting. In this report we present a case of a 60-year-old man who presented 12 years after coronary artery bypass grafting with a giant graft aneurysm of the reverse aortocoronary saphenous vein graft to the right coronary artery, compressing the right atrium. Spiral computed tomography was used to identify the aneurysm measuring 7 x 6 x 7 cm. We also reviewed the English-language literature and found reports of 50 patients with similar aneurysms of which 30 (61%) were identified as true aneurysms and 17 (33%) were identified as pseudoaneurysms. Three patients could not be identified into either group. We reviewed the presenting symptoms, diagnostic tools, and treatment options for this rare entity. An understanding of the pathophysiology of reverse aortocoronary saphenous vein graft aneurysm is important to prevent the possibility of aneurysm rupture, embolization, myocardial infarction, or death.     

腘动脉压迫综合征八例

目的 总结腘动脉压迫综合征诊治经验.方法 回顾性分析2002年7月至2010年7月收治的8例患者临床资料,其中男性7例,女性1例,年龄16～56岁,平均(29±14)岁.6例经腘窝S形切口发现并解除解剖畸形,2例腘动脉局限性狭窄合并远侧腘动脉瘤,其中1例行腘动脉缩缝成形,1例切除部分动脉瘤壁以自体大隐静脉补片成形;4例患者腘动脉闭塞,其中2例行腘动脉血栓内膜剥脱术(1例自体大隐静脉补片成形术),1例行自体大隐静脉间置术,1例行自体大隐静脉旁路手术.2例腘动脉闭塞病变较长者直接经膝下内侧切口行自体大隐静脉旁路手术.结果 8例患者术后恢复良好出院,随访4～99个月,平均(50±37)个月.7例患肢血运良好,正常活动.1例自体大隐静脉旁路术后51个月远端吻合口及腘动脉分支狭窄,行球囊扩张术后1个月后再闭塞,经保守治疗后轻度跛行.结论 腘动脉压迫综合征是导致青少年下肢缺血的少见疾病,早期正确诊断和及时手术治疗可取得良好效果.

Abstract：

Objective To summarize our experience on the diagnosis and management of 8 patients with popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES). Methods Clinical data of 8 PAES cases admitted from Jul 2002 to Jul 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 7 males and 1 female with the mean age of (29 ± 14)years (ranging 16 -56 years). In 6 cases posterior "S" shaped incisions in the popliteal fossa were applied and anomalous anatomic structures were verified. Segmental stenosis and post-stenotic popliteal arterial aneurysm was identified in 2 cases, and partial resection of the aneurismal wall and arterioplasty including one with saphenous vein patch were applied; For 4 cases with short segmental occlusion of the popliteal artery, surgical treatment included thromboendarterectomy in 2 cases (with saphenous vein patch plasty in one case), saphenous vein interposition in 1 case, and saphenous vein bypass grafting in 1 case.Medial longitudinal incisions and saphenous vein bypass grafting were applied in 2 cases with long segmental occlusion in popliteal artery without exploration for anatomic anomalies. Results All patients recovered uneventfully without any notable complication. During the follow-up period ranging from 4 to 99 months [average (50± 37) months], no ischemic symptom reoccurred in 7 cases with patent arteries or grafts, and recurrent claudication occurred in 1 case with distal anastomostic stenosis. The stenosis was subsequently treated with balloon angioplasty and vein graft thrombsis occurred one month later. Medicine and exercise were recommended for the patient and now mild claudication still remains without affecting his normal life.Conclusions PAES is a disease of relatively low incidence resulting in lower extremity ischemia, which can be successfully cured with proper management.     

Minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass performed via diaphragmatic approach

From October 1996 until August 2000, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for right coronary artery was performed via diaphragmatic approach. This procedure was done in 18 patients consist of 13 male and 5 female ranging in age from 47 to 81 years old. Ten of 18 cases were performed coronary bypass reoperation. Right gastroepiploic artery was used in 16 cases, and branched radial artery or saphenous vein graft from gastroduodenal artery was used in one case. Bypassed region in right coronary artery was segment 3 in 9 cases, right posterior descending artery in 8 and right atrio-ventricular branch in one. All grafts were patent in postoperative cardiac catheterization. This approach was desirable for the case, which bypass grafting to right coronary artery is necessary, on account of avoiding injury of patent bypassed graft by median sternotomy in re-do CABG. For the patient whose stomach had been resected, bypass grafting from gastroduodenal artery with radial artery or saphenous vein graft to right coronary artery is useful procedure.     

Reoperative off-pump subclavian-coronary artery bypass grafting in an elderly patient with left internal thoracic artery stenosis]

A 80-year-old Japanese female was diagnosed to have angina pectoris and admitted to our hospital. She had been operated on with mitral valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting to right and circumflex coronary artery 4 years before. The coronary angiogram showed significant stenosis with severe calcification in the left anterior descending coronary artery, and it was unsuitable for catheter intervention. The patient also had stenotic left internal thoracic artery and multiple cerebral infarction, but successful off-pump subclavian-coronary artery bypass grafting using saphenous vein graft through small thoracotomy was performed without new neurological deficit. This procedure is useful for patients with left internal thoracic artery unsuitable for MIDCABG, due to quality, size, or injury during preparation.     

Anomalous Origin of the Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery in Adults

Between March 1986 and December 1994, four adult patients underwent surgery for anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) at the German Heart Institute Berlin. The patients, aged 27, 35, 54, and 60, were all females. ALCAPA was diagnosed 3 to 8 months before surgery. The patients presented with cardiac murmur (two patients), abnormal ECG pattern (two patients), arrhythmia (one patient), and acute myocardial infarction (one patient). During surgery a two coronary system was established either by Takeuchi operation (one patient), interruption of the anomalous vessel and aortocoronary saphenous vein bypass (two patients), or internal mammary artery bypass (one patient). There were no postoperative deaths, however, one patient had to be reoperated because of a recurrent shunt. Clinical improvement was observed in all four patients with disappearance of fatigue, angina, dyspnea, and ischemic ECG changes. Despite having this long-standing congenital heart defect, adult and elderly patients with ALCAPA may benefit from surgical intervention to establish a two coronary system.     

Surgical treatment for anomalous origin of left coronary artery from pulmonary artery.

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery carries a poor prognosis; most patients die early in life from myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure. During a 12-year period at the Texas Heart Institute, 13 patients with this congenital malformation ranging in age from 1 to 24 years underwent operation. The anomalous coronary artery was sutured or ligated, or both, close to the pulmonary artery in 3 patients, 2 before 1965. Aortocoronary bypass was performed in the remaining 10 patients, using an autogenous saphenous vein graft in 9 and a Dacron tube in 1. More recently a distal end-to-side anastomosis has been employed and is not the preferred method. If necessary, a pump oxygenator may be used to complete the procedure. The only death was that of the first patient in the series who underwent ligation of the left coronary artery and mitral annuloplasty for severe mitral insufficiency; Of the 12 patients available for long-term follow-up study, all but 1 were asymptomatic. Follow-up angiographic studies showed the graft to be patent in 7 patients; the longest period of graft patency was 8 years. Definitive operative therapy is preferable to simple ligation because it eliminates the left-to-right shunt from the right coronary artery to the pulmonary artery and establishes a double coronary artery system.     

Anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the pulmonary artery.

Three patients with anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the pulmonary artery are presented together with a review of the 14 patients with this anomaly previously reported. One of the current patients is the youngest to be diagnosed before operation and the youngest to undergo corrective operation. Although the lesion is usually asymptomatic, it may contribute to sudden death. The only suggestive physical finding is a continuous murmur with diastolic accentuation, which is present only in some patients. There are no diagnostic electrocardiographic or chest roentgenographic changes. Diagnosis is made best by selective left coronary arteriography showing retrograde filling of the right coronary artery from collateral vessels. Operative repair should consist either of direct reimplantation of the proximal right coronary artery into the aortic root or of saphenous vein bypass graft to the coronary artery with ligation of its origin. Operation is recommended when the lesion is recognized.     

Left Ventricular Aneurysmectomy in a Child: Treatment of Anomalous Left Coronary Artery

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery with development of a massive left ventricular aneurysm in a 23-month-old child is described. Operative treatment included ligation of the anomalous origin, ventricular aneurysmectomy, and a saphenous vein bypass graft to the anterior descending coronary artery. The principles of ventricular aneurysm resection used in adults are applicable to small children with this complication of anomalous coronary artery origin.     

A 69-year-old Woman with Anomalous Origin of Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery: Surgical Repair Using a Trap-door Flap

We present a patient with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA), which was diagnosed and corrected in her 60 s. The patient is the oldest documented survivor of ALCAPA who underwent a surgical repair. ALCAPA should be corrected surgically to restore the dual coronary system at any age and this case shows that the surgical procedure may be performed safely even in an elderly patient.     

Bland-White-Garland syndrome. Surgical treatment using a minimal-invasive approach

We report the surgical treatment of a Bland-White-Garland syndrome (BWG-syndrome) of adult type in a 61-year old female patient. Coronary catheterization revealed an anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the trunk of the pulmonary artery. Based on excellent collateral perfusion of the artery from the right coronary artery, ligation near its origin from the pulmonary artery was attempted via a minimally-invasive approach. No saphenous vein bypass was implanted, no reimplantation of the anomalous vessel in the aorta was performed. The patient recovered uneventfully without signs of ischemia. Appearance of BWG-syndrome in adults is very rare, especially without symptoms of myocardial ischemia. The different modalities of the treatment of these syndromes in adult patients are often debated. In this case, closure without revascularisation appeared to be appropriate.     

Free internal mammary artery for coronary bypass

We studied 12 cases of free internal mammary artery (IMA) grafting. We used IMAs as free grafts mainly because of its shortness (6 cases 50%) and injury during dissection (4 cases 33%) and found the varicose change of saphenous vein in 5 cases (42%). Most of the grafting sites are distal parts of coronary arteries. Proximal anastomosis sites are other vein grafts (3 cases), other IMA grafts (3 cases), vein grafts interposing to the aorta (3 cases), and aorta (1 case). Patency rate of the free IMA grafts 4 weeks after operations was good (82%). Free IMA grafting is safe alternative to in situ IMA grafting when IMA grafts are short or injured and saphenous vein grafting is impossible.     

Successful revascularization of multiple coronary artery aneurysms using a combination of surgical strategies

We report our approach to an unusual case of a 64-year-old man with multiple coronary artery aneurysms (CAAs) of the right, left anterior descending, and ramus coronary arteries. The right CAA was unusually large in size (measuring 5.5 cm). The aneurysms were obstructive, resulting in ischemic heart disease and heart failure. Multiple surgical techniques have been proposed to approach CAAs; however the ideal treatment strategy is poorly defined. This patient underwent successful revascularization using a combination of strategies, including aneurysm ligation, interposition reversed saphenous vein grafting, and bypass grafting. Surgical approach should be determined by aneurysm size, presence of branching vessels, and degree of stenosis.     

Multiple aneurysm of saphenous vein graft with low symptoms 16 years after coronary artery bypass grafting

Aneurysms of saphenous vein graft are a known but rare complication of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). In this report, we present a case of a 59-year-old man who presented 16 years after CABG, three aneurysms of the saphenous vein graft to the right coronary artery compressing right atrium but with low symptoms. Transoesophageal echocardiography and CT scan were used to identify the aneurysm which was confirmed by cardiac catheterization. A favourable course was obtained after surgical treatment. We also review the literature on saphenous vein graft aneurysms interesting symptoms, diagnosis, pathophysiology and treatments.     

The use of intraoperative Doppler assessment to guide the surgical treatment of anomalous right coronary arteries

Abstract   Despite its rarity, anomalous origin of the right coronary artery (RCA) from the left coronary sinus can pose risk of sudden death. Because of this risk, many patients elect surgical correction of this anomaly. Surgical strategies for correction of this include ostioplasty, coronary artery reimplantation, and, more commonly, coronary artery bypass grafting. After coronary artery bypass grafting, some advocate ligation of the proximal RCA, speculating that competitive flow will cause graft failure. As no objective criteria for this have been established, we propose a method using of intraoperative Doppler flow measurements to guide the decision to preserve the proximal anomalous native vessel. We present three cases in which an RCA with an anomalous origin from the left sinus was corrected with coronary artery bypass grafting with the assistance of intraoperative Doppler flow measurements to guide the decision to preserve the proximal anomalous native vessel. In each case, the RCA was bypassed using a saphenous vein graft (SVG) that was used to bypass origin of the RCA. Flow through the graft was compared with and without ligation of the proximal RCA, before creation of the proximal anastomosis. In each case, flow through the SVG was not significantly reduced with the proximal RCA patent and ligation was not performed.     

Single versus bilateral internal thoracic artery grafts with concomitant saphenous vein grafts for multivessel coronary artery bypass grafting: effects on mortality and event-free survival

BACKGROUND: The issue of superiority of single internal thoracic artery grafting versus bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting remains unresolved. The aim of this study was to compare the long-term outcome of single and bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting with concomitant saphenous vein grafting for multivessel coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODS: Between March 1985 and April 1995, 6650 patients underwent primary isolated coronary artery bypass grafting with internal thoracic artery grafts, including 4382 patients with multivessel bypass grafting requiring at least 3 grafts. Outcomes of patients undergoing single internal thoracic artery plus saphenous vein grafting (n = 2547) and bilateral internal thoracic artery plus saphenous vein grafting (n = 1835) were obtained at a mean follow-up of 11 +/- 3 years. RESULTS: Patients with bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting were younger, were mostly male, and had less diabetes, hypertension, unstable angina, and recent myocardial infarction than patients undergoing single internal thoracic artery grafting. Thirty-day mortality was 2.3% for the group undergoing single internal thoracic artery grafting versus 1.2% for those undergoing bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting (P =.007). Survival probability at 10 years was 88% for the single-graft group compared with 93% for the bilateral-graft group (P <.001). Multivariate analysis with propensity scoring showed that bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting decreased the risk of death (hazard ratio, 0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.60-0.90), myocardial infarction (hazard ratio, 0.79; 95% confidence interval, 0.67-0.93), and coronary reoperation (hazard ratio, 0.41; 95% confidence interval, 0.21-0.80) throughout the follow-up period. Other significant predictors of death were diabetes, prior myocardial infarction, need for intra-aortic balloon pump, chronic heart failure, and peripheral vascular disease. CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing bilateral internal thoracic plus saphenous vein grafting appear to have a significantly better long-term clinical outcome than patients undergoing single internal thoracic artery plus saphenous vein grafting for multivessel coronary artery bypass grafting.