Intercoronary communication between left anterior descending artery and totally occluded right coronary artery

The author presents a patient with chronic total occlusion of the right coronary artery with a large lumen communication to the distal left anterior descending artery as a single conduit. The diameter of this connection was very large and equaled the distal left anterior descending artery diameter. The unusual finding of a large lumen connection between the left anterior descending artery and right coronary artery most likely represents a congenital coronary anomaly.     

A totally occluded right coronary artery presenting with a normal electrocardiogram

Total occlusion of the right coronary artery (RCA) typically manifests as ST-segment elevation in the inferior leads and sometimes the lateral precordial leads of the surface electrocardiogram (ECG). We report a case of a patient with a normal electrocardiogram on presentation who, on angiography, revealed a totally occluded proximal RCA. Emergency angioplasty and stenting was successfully able to recanalize the entire RCA and restore TIMI III flow. ECGs performed post-procedure showed minimal change. The existence of a subendocardial microvascular network may have allowed this patient to escape what typically would have been a large ST-elevation inferior myocardial infarction.     

Relation of coronary collateral vessel development in patients with a totally occluded right coronary artery to the metabolic syndrome

Development of coronary collaterals (CCs) is triggered by the gradient between arteries due to obstruction and myocardial ischemia. Presence of CCs that feed the jeopardized myocardial area may limit the infarct size after coronary occlusion and may even provide a survival benefit. However, some patients develop good CCs, whereas others do not. The metabolic syndrome (MS) has been identified as a secondary target to decrease cardiovascular risk, although the effect of MS on development of CCs has not been investigated. We prospectively enrolled 596 consecutive patients (337 men and 259 women; mean age 56 +/- 8 years) who underwent coronary angiography at our center and were found to have total occlusion of the right coronary artery. Patients were then classified as having good CCs (Rentrop's grades 2 to 3) or poor CCs (Rentrop's grades 0 to 1). There were significant differences in terms of body mass index (kilograms of body weight divided by square meters of height), glucose levels, triglyceride levels, and years with angina pectoris between those with good and poor CCs. Prevalences of diabetes mellitus were 27.1% among patients with good CCs and 44% among those with poor CCs (p <0.001). Presence of MS was significantly higher in patients with poor CCs than in those with good CCs (78.4% vs 49.2%, p <0.001). In regression analysis, duration of angina pectoris (beta = 0.347, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.266 to 0.453, p <0.001), presence of diabetes mellitus (beta = 1.829, 95% CI 1.021 to 3.279, p = 0.042), wall score (beta = 2.379, 95% CI 1.356 to 4.173, p = 0.003), and presence of MS (beta = 2.993, 95% CI 1.541 to 5.813, p = 0.001) were independent predictors of angiographically determined poor CCs. In conclusion, MS seems to be independently associated with poor CCs in patients with an occluded right coronary artery.     

Myocardial bridging of the left anterior descending coronary artery and right coronary artery in a patient with mitral valve stenosis

Myocardial bridging is defined as the intramural course of a major epicardial coronary artery, and is mostly confined to the left ventricle and the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). Although it is considered to be a benign anomaly, it can lead to such complications as acute myocardial infarction, ventricular tachycardia, syncope, atrioventricular block and sudden cardiac death. Isolated myocardial bridging of the right coronary artery (RCA) and left circumflex artery have been reported in the literature In our case, myocardial bridging was observed in both the LAD and the RCA in a patient with mitral valve stenosis.     

Angioplasty of a totally occluded right coronary artery

A new 6 French (F) guiding catheter with a large, teflon-coated internal lumen (4.2F) was developed, permitting use of the standard ultralow profile (< 3F) over-the-wire system. This small coronary angioplasty system (6F-PTCA) was evaluated in 48 lesions in 45 of 137 patients (33%) who underwent coronary angioplasty between September 1990 and January 1991. The mean age was 64 years (range 49 to 82); 37 (82%) were male. The procedure was via the brachial artery in 28 patients (62%). The overall primary success rate was 96%. It was 100% via the brachial artery and 90% via the femoral artery. There were no major complications. The puncture compression time with the 6F-PTCA via the brachial artery and via the femoral and with 8F-PTCA via the femoral was 3.8, 9.6, and 16.9 hr, respectively (P<0.001), although the procedure time of the 6F-PTCA via brachial and via femoral and of the 8F-PTCA was not significantly different. The mean hospital stay was 3.1, 4.5, and 5.5 days, respectively (P<0.01). A small hematoma occurred in 2 patients (4.4%) after the 6F-PTCA and in 3 (3.3%) after 8F-PTCA, and a large hematoma (>5 cm) was noted in 7 patients (7.6%) after 8F-PTCA. These results indicate that coronary angioplasty using the over-the-wire system through the new 6F guiding catheter is technically feasible. Moreover, this approach, especially when advanced via the brachial artery, could shorten the he-mostasis time and facilitate early ambulation. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Myocardial ischemia caused by a coronary anomaly left anterior descending coronary artery arising from right sinus of Valsalva

We present the case of a patient in anomalous origin of the left anterior descending coronary artery that caused myocardial ischemia and led to positive myocardial scintigraphic results. Coronary angiography showed that the left anterior descending coronary artery arose from the right coronary ostium-an anomaly that has been associated with chest discomfort-without atherosclerotic lesions. Left circumflex artery and the diagonal branches were arising from the left main coronary artery and the whole coronary tree were free of atherosclerosis.     

Mid left anterior descending coronary artery originating from the right coronary artery

Dual connection of the left anterior descending coronary artery to the left and right coronary arteries is a very rare congenital anomaly. In this report we describe two cases in which the mid-position of the left anterior descending coronary artery is connected to the right coronary artery, one directly and the second by way of the infundibular artery. To the best of our knowledge, connection of the mid-position of the left anterior descending to the infundibular artery has not been previously described.     

Angioplasty of a totally occluded right coronary artery.

We have presented a case of angioplasty of a chronically occluded right coronary artery. The occlusion had been present for 6 wks by clinical estimates. The length of the occluded segment (approximately 55 cm) did not preclude a successful outcome. Proper selection and manipulation of angioplasty equipment are, as in every case, critical for procedural success. Subintimal guidewire passage, though a frequent event, is occasionally associated with ischemic manifestations, and mandates detection and proper management. New approaches to PTCA of total coronary occlusions continue to be developed.     

慢性冠状动脉闭塞病变患者支架术再通前后心功能和侧支循环研究

目的探讨血运重建对慢性冠状动脉闭塞病变的临床意义及侧支循环对心肌缺血和心功能的保护作用。方法对冠状动脉造影证实的冠状动脉完全闭塞并侧支循环良好的20例患者,支架术前后分别行亚极量运动负荷试验,试验中监测心电图变化及最大氧耗量,最大运动量,最大运动时间。采用超声心动图监测左心室收缩功能和泵功能变化。观察侧支循环开闭情况及室壁运动情况。结果支架术后运动所达到的最大心率较术前明显提高(P<0.05)最大运动量明显提高(P<0.01),运动诱发的心电图相应导联ST段压低明显改善(P<0.05),运动时间明显延长(P<0.01),侧支循环关闭。与支架术前比较,左心室收缩功能与泵功能均有明显改善。结论患者支架术后左心室收缩功能与泵功能明显改善,运动诱发的心肌缺血明显改善,运动耐量明显增加,良好的侧支循环对缺血心肌和心功能有保护作用,但多数不能消除负荷所致的心肌缺血。     

Anomalous right coronary artery originating from the left anterior descending artery

An anomalous right coronary artery (RCA) arising from the left anterior descending artery (LAD) is very rare, and has previously been considered a variant of single coronary artery. This is the first report of an anomalous RCA arising from the LAD with a coexisting proximal RCA. The anomaly was discovered incidentally during cardiac catheterization for severe mitral regurgitation. The incidence, anatomy and clinical associations of anomalous coronary arteries are reviewed here.     

Anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the left anterior descending coronary artery

This is the first presentation of anomalous origin of right coronary artery (RCA) from mid-left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. A 77-year-old male was catheterized because of recent onset of fatigue during exertion. The LAD demonstrated 50–60% narrowing just proximal to the anomalous origin of the RCA. The patient was maintained on oral medication. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Diagn. 44:328–329, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the left anterior descending coronary artery

A 77-year-old male presented with a recent posterior myocardial infarction for coronary angiography. This angiogram revealed a rare, previously unreported anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery distal to the first major diagonal branch. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Diagn. 42:308–309, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Single coronary artery anomaly: right coronary artery originating from the mid left anterior descending artery

We present three cases of a single coronary artery that is the anomalous RCA originating from the mid LAD artery. These cases are rare. We discuss how to make accurate diagnosis and select appropriate treatment.     

Left anterior descending artery length in left and right coronary artery dominance

BACKGROUND: Coronary stenosis of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) is respected by cardiologists because of its negative influence on morbidity and mortality. An important anatomical consideration is the length of the LAD. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between length of LAD and coronary dominance. DESIGN: Retrospective comparison of 100 consecutive angiograms with left coronary dominance with 100 consecutive angiograms with right coronary dominance. The relationship between the length of the LAD and coronary dominance was analyzed. METHODS: We retrospectively compared 100 consecutive angiograms with left coronary dominance (the posterior descending artery being supplied by the circumflex artery) with 100 consecutive angiograms with right coronary dominance (the posterior descending artery being supplied by the right coronary artery). LADs were categorized into three types: type A, LAD terminating before the cardiac apex; type B, LAD reaching the apex but not supplying the inferoapical segment of the left ventricle; and type C, LAD wrapping around the apex and supplying the inferoapical segment. LAD typing was also analyzed in relation to gender. RESULTS: It was found that the LAD wrapped around the apex in 87% of cases of left coronary dominance but only in 47% of patients with right coronary dominance, and that the long LADs were more frequently seen in women than in men, irrespective of coronary dominance. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the LAD in left coronary dominance is usually long and wraps around the apex, and believe that angiographic interventions in such cases have important clinical significance.     

Anomalous right coronary artery originating from the mid left anterior descending artery

A 68-year-old male with a history of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia presented with recurrent episodes of chest discomfort. A 12-lead ECG and an echocardiogram were normal. A myocardial perfusion study could not rule out ischemia in the inferior wall. At coronary angiography using the transradial approach, the right coronary artery (RCA) could not be visualized. Angiography of the left coronary system demonstrated non-obstructive atherosclerosis involving the mid segment of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery and a normal circumflex (Cx) artery. The RCA originated from the mid LAD segment distal to the first septal perforator and the first diagonal branch and was free of atherosclerosis disease. A contrast-enhanced 64-slice multi-detector cardiac computed tomography showed that the LAD was severely calcified in the proximal part, and the RCA coursed anterior to the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) to reach the right atrioventricular groove. The patient was managed medically and became asymptomatic.     

Double left anterior descending artery originating from the left and right coronary artery: A rare coronary artery anomaly

A case of double left anterior descending coronary artery is presented. The double artery originated from the left main stem and the right coronary artery. There were no stenoses on these two arteries. This anomaly of coronary arteries seems to be very rare. © 1993 Wiiey-Liss, Inc.