Isolated Coronary Artery Anomalies

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Background

The term coronary artery anomaly refers to a wide range of congenital abnormalities involving the origin, course, and structure of epicardial coronary arteries. By definition, these abnormalities occur in less than 1% of the general population.[1] Coronary artery anomalies are frequently found in association with other major congenital cardiac defects. This article, however, is focused on isolated coronary artery anomalies (ie, in the absence of other major congenital cardiac defects). In adults, the clinical interest in coronary anomalies relates to their occasional association with sudden death, myocardial ischemia, congestive heart failure, or endocarditis. In addition, presence of coronary artery anomalies may, at times, create challenges during coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary interventions, and coronary artery surgery.[2, 3, 4, 5]

Pathophysiology

Normal coronary artery anatomy

The coronary arteries are the only branches of the ascending aorta, and they supply blood to all structures within the pericardial cavity. Usually, the 2 coronary artery ostia are located in the center of the left and right (anterior) sinuses of the aortic valve. The posterior sinus of the aortic valve contains no coronary ostium and is often designated as the noncoronary sinus.

Left coronary artery

The left coronary artery originates from an ostium located within the left coronary sinus of the aorta, and, after a single initial trunk (left main coronary artery) of variable length and size, it gives rise to the left anterior descending (LAD) and left circumflex (LCx) coronary artery branches. The LAD coronary artery runs along the anterior interventricular sulcus, provides several superficial (diagonal) and multiple deep (septal perforator) branches, and usually reaches the cardiac apex. In some individuals, a diagonal branch may have a very proximal takeoff such that the left main (LM) gives rise to 3 instead of 2 branches. In this case, the additional artery arising from the LM originates in between the LAD and the LCx coronary arteries and is called the ramus intermedius coronary artery. This artery provides blood supply to the anterior left ventricular free wall.

The LCx coronary artery runs in the left atrioventricular groove and usually has 1 or more branches that reach the obtuse margin of the heart (obtuse marginals). The LAD coronary artery supplies blood to the anterior left ventricular wall through its diagonal branches, the anterior two thirds of the interventricular septum through its septal perforator branches, and commonly the cardiac apex by its terminal branches. The LCx coronary artery supplies blood to the left ventricular lateral and posterior walls through its obtuse marginal branches.

Right coronary artery

The right coronary artery (RCA) originates from an ostium located within the right coronary sinus of the aorta and runs in the right atrioventricular groove to reach the crux (junction of the atrioventricular groove and the posterior interventricular sulcus) of the heart. It supplies blood to the inferior (diaphragmatic) left ventricular wall and often the posterior one third of the interventricular septum as well as the free wall of the right ventricular through its right ventricular (acute marginal) branches. The posterior descending branch of the RCA supplies blood to the posterior one third of the interventricular septum. A posterolateral branch of the RCA provides blood supply to the basal most portion of the posterolateral left ventricular wall.

Arterial dominance [6]

Left or right coronary artery dominance is determined by the origin of the atrioventricular nodal artery at the crux of the heart (see above). The atrioventricular node artery originates from the RCA in approximately 90% of the population and LCx coronary artery in the remaining 10%. The dominant coronary artery also gives off the posterior descending coronary artery that runs in the posterior interventricular sulcus and provides septal perforator branches to the posterior one third of the interventricular septum. In some individuals, both the RCA and the LCx reach the crux and jointly give rise to the posterior descending coronary artery. In such cases, the coronary arterial system is referred to as codominant.

Variations in normal coronary artery anatomy

Absence of the left main coronary artery with separate origin of the LAD and LCx coronary arteries from the left coronary sinus of the aorta has been described in roughly 1% of patients undergoing angiography and is considered a normal variant.[1] In addition, one or more infundibular (conal) arteries may arise from separate ostia in the aorta. As many as 5 separate conal artery ostia have been reported in otherwise normal hearts.[7] Minor variations in the location of ostia within the coronary sinuses of the aorta are observed frequently and are of no clinical significance. A variation in normal coronary artery anatomy is shown below.



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Coronary angiography showing separate origin of the left anterior descending (LAD) and left circumflex (LCx) coronary arteries from the left coronary ....

Anomalous coronary arteries

The list below presents a classification of major isolated coronary artery anomalies. As seen, coronary artery anomalies may involve abnormalities of number, origin and/or course, termination, or structure of the epicardial coronary arteries.

Normal variations include the following:

Abnormal numbers includes the following:

Anomalous origins include the following:

Anomalous origins include the following:

Anomalous courses includes the anomalous artery which takes 1 of 4 aberrant pathways, as follows:

Anomalous courses also include the following:

Anomalous terminations include the following:

Abnormal coronary structures include the following:

The following section provides more detailed discussion of the above.

Abnormal number

In some individuals, certain left ventricular territories may be supplied by more than one coronary artery. Duplications of the LAD coronary artery, LCx coronary artery, and RCA have been reported.

Dual LAD coronary artery

Dual LAD coronary artery[8] consists of one short and another long artery and has been classified into several different subtypes.

In the most common form (type I), the short and long LAD coronary arteries originate from the normal LAD coronary artery proper. The shorter artery then runs in the anterior interventricular sulcus and terminates abruptly long before reaching the apex. The longer artery, however, runs on the anterior epicardial surface of the left ventricle and returns to the anterior interventricular sulcus in its distal one third and then continues on to the apex. All diagonal branches originate from the longer artery.

In the type II variety, the long LAD coronary artery courses over the anterior surface of the right rather than the left ventricle.

In the type III dual LAD coronary artery, the long artery has, at least partly, an intramyocardial (bridging) course. Unlike types I and II, the septal perforators arise from the long LAD and the diagonals arise from the short LAD coronary artery.

In the type IV variety, the short LAD coronary artery arises from the LM coronary artery and the long artery anomalously arises from the RCA and courses to the left side anterior to the right ventricular outflow tract.

In relatively recent years, with the more widespread use of coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA), additional variations of dual LAD have been described. In one report, a variant of type IV was detailed in where the anomalous long LAD originated independently from the right coronary sinus and reached the distal anterior interventricular sulcus by coursing through the crista supraventricularis portion of the setum (type V).[9]

Duplications of the RCA

Duplications of the RCA[10, 11] have been reported with both single and double ostium in the right coronary sinus. The duplicate vessels may course together in the right atrioventricular groove and/or have separate courses with one coursing on the epicardial surface of the right ventricle. Both vessels give rise to right ventricular branches and generally 1 of the 2 gives off the posterior descending coronary artery.

We have reported duplication of the LCx,[12] or otherwise described as aberrant origin of one OM branch from the LAD, ramus intermedius, or diagonal branch of the LAD, in a case series of 24 patients. In the image below, the anomalous OM courses parallel to the LCx coronary artery and supplies blood to the acute margin of the left ventricle.



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Coronary angiography showing the anomalous origin of the left main (LM) coronary artery from proximal right coronary artery (RCA) with subsequent retr....

Anomalous origin

Abnormalities of the origin of coronary arteries with subsequent normal epicardial course relate to the anomalous location of one or both coronary ostia. These include the origin of LM, LAD, LCx, or RCA from the pulmonary trunk.[1] In addition, coronary arteries may originate directly from the left or right ventricles; the bronchial, internal mammary, subclavian, right carotid, or innominate arteries; the aortic arch; or the descending thoracic aorta.[1] High takeoff of the left or right coronary ostia, defined as the location of the ostium of the left or right coronary artery more than 1 cm above the sinotubular junction, has been described.[13, 14] See the images below.



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Selective left coronary artery angiogram demonstrating anomalous origin of obtuse marginal (OM) coronary artery from proximal left anterior descending....



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Coronary angiography showing the anomalous origin of the right coronary artery (RCA) from the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery with subs....



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Coronary angiography showing the origin of the right coronary artery (RCA) as the continuation of the left circumflex (LCx) coronary artery.

Anomalous origin and course

Single coronary artery

The entire coronary artery system may originate from a single ostium (solitary coronary ostium or single coronary artery) in the aorta. This solitary ostium is either located in the left or right coronary sinus of the aorta. When the LM coronary artery originates from the proximal RCA, or vice versa, the anomalous artery takes 1 of 4 aberrant pathways to reach its proper vascular territory. These pathways are designated as type A (Anterior to the right ventricular outflow tract), type B (Between the aorta and pulmonary trunk), type C (Cristal, coursing through the crista supraventricularis portion of the septum), and type D (Dorsal or posterior to the aorta).[15]

Single coronary arteries may also include the separate origin of the LAD and LCx coronary arteries from the proximal RCA. In this case, the LAD coronary artery takes one of the type A, B, or C pathways, and the LCx coronary artery takes either the B or D pathway. The LCx coronary artery may also originate from the distal RCA. In that case, the LCx coronary artery is merely a continuation of the RCA in the posterior atrioventricular groove. Overall, a total of 20 possible variations of single coronary artery have been described.[16]

Origin from opposite coronary sinus

Both the left and right coronary arteries may arise from separate ostia located in the same, either left or right, sinus of the aorta. In such cases, the anomalous vessels take 1 of the 4 possible courses to reach their proper territories similar to what was described above for the single coronary artery (types A-D).[17] In the absence of congenital heart disease, anomalous origin of coronary arteries from noncoronary sinus is not reported.[18]

Anomalous course

Otherwise normal coronary arteries may have an intramyocardial course (ie, myocardial bridge). This particular abnormality involves a variable length of the vessel and is observed most commonly in the proximal portion of the LAD coronary artery.[1]

Anomalous termination

Major epicardial coronary arteries may terminate abnormally into one of the cardiac chambers, the coronary sinus, or the pulmonary trunk and, thus, produce fistulas. These fistulas can originate from the left coronary artery system (50-60%), right coronary artery system (30-40%), or both (2-5%). Most fistulas (90%) drain into the right heart.[1]



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Coronary angiography showing the presence of a fistula originating from a diagonal (diag) branch of the left anterior descending coronary artery with ....

Abnormal coronary structure

Both congenital stenosis and atresia of the coronary arteries have been described.[1] Congenital epicardial coronary artery stenosis is usually caused by a membrane or a fibrotic ridge. Coronary artery atresia is characterized by the presence of an ostial dimple in the left or right aortic sinus that terminates in a cordlike fibrotic structure without a patent lumen. Atresia may also involve individual major epicardial coronary arteries. Hypoplastic coronary arteries have small luminal diameter (usually < 1 mm) and reduced length.[1] The latter is often associated with the absence of the posterior descending coronary artery.

Epidemiology

United States data

Coronary artery anomalies are observed in 0.3-1.3% of patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography, in approximately 1% of routine autopsy examinations, and in 4-15% of young people who experience sudden death. In the general population, the incidence of a single coronary artery is approximately 0.024%, whereas coronary artery fistulas are found in 0.2% of patients undergoing coronary angiography. Coronary artery fistulas are present in 0.002% of all patients with congenital heart disease. Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is reported in 0.0003% of the general population. This anomaly is responsible for 18% of all cases of congestive heart failure in children younger than 2 years.

Sex- and age-related demographics

No differences have been reported in incidence of specific coronary artery anomalies among male and female subjects.

Origin of left main coronary artery from the pulmonary trunk manifests during early infancy. Other significant coronary anomalies usually result in symptoms during young adult life. The remaining anomalies generally are clinically silent and may be discovered incidentally during noninvasive or invasive diagnostic testing for unrelated symptoms.[19, 20]

Prognosis

Most coronary artery anomalies are clinically silent and do not affect the outcome of patients. Certain anomalies are associated with sudden death, myocardial ischemia (including acute myocardial infarction[21] ), congestive heart failure, or endocarditis at an early age.

Morbidity/mortality

Most coronary artery anomalies are clinically silent and do not affect the quality of life or life span of the affected individuals. Specific forms of anomaly, such as the origin of the left main coronary artery from the pulmonary trunk, the aberrant course of the arteries between the great vessels in association with anomalous and slitlike ostium, and large coronary artery fistulas, may be associated with sudden death, myocardial ischemia, congestive heart failure, or endocarditis. Hypoplastic coronary arteries and high take-off of coronary ostia have been occasionally reported to have been associated with sudden death. The exact incidence of these associated clinical events is not known.[1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

A study by Krupinski et al indicated that the incidence of high-risk coronary artery features tends to be greater in association with an anomalous origin of the right, rather than left, coronary artery. The study included more than 50 patients diagnosed by computed tomography (CT) scanning with an abnormal origin of the right (16 patients), left (13 patients), or left circumflex (22 patients) coronary artery. Although 15 of the right coronary artery patients had a slitlike orifice, only three patients total in the other two groups had this feature.[22]

In addition, 15 of the right coronary artery patients had an intramural course, compared with three total in the other two groups, and whereas 11 of the right coronary artery patients had an interarterial course, none of the other patients did. Moreover, only 3 patients in the left coronary artery group presented with chest pain, compared with 25 patients total in the right and circumflex coronary artery groups. The investigators also found that five of the right coronary artery patients experienced cardiac events during follow-up, compared with four total in the left and circumflex coronary artery groups.[22]

Etiology

The exact pathogenetic mechanisms for development of congenital coronary artery anomalies are not well understood. According to extensive embryologic studies, formation of a normal coronary arterial system depends on multiple morphologic features, including formation of cardiac sinusoids, development of coronary buds on embryologic aortopulmonary trunk, and selective connection between the two systems. Any malformation within these systems may lead to development of coronary artery anomalies.

Congenital heart diseases

Some congenital heart diseases are found in association with coronary artery anomalies. These associations are especially strong in the following:

Familial clustering

Isolated reports of specific coronary artery anomalies occurring in family members have been reported. However, to date, no definitive data on coronary inheritance pattern have been reported in humans.[23]

History

Most patients with coronary artery anomaly remain asymptomatic either because the anomaly does not produce any symptoms during life or because the first manifestation is sudden death. Anomalous coronary artery is recognized as the second most common cause of athletic field death among young competitive athletes.[24]

In infants, myocardial ischemia may manifest as episodic crying, tachypnea, or wheezing. The infant may refuse to eat, presumably in order to avoid anginal pain.

In older individuals, symptoms are reported in less than 30% of patients before a diagnosis of coronary anomaly is made. These generally include palpitation, exertional dyspnea, angina or syncope, fatigue, or fever. These symptoms rarely raise clinical suspicion for diagnosis of coronary artery anomalies.

Physical Examination

Most coronary artery anomalies are discovered incidentally during noninvasive imaging, coronary angiography, or at autopsy and cause no clinical symptoms. However, particular subsets of these anomalies have been associated with sudden death, myocardial ischemia, congestive heart failure, or bacterial endocarditis.

Sudden death

This presentation has been observed in association with the origin of the left main or right coronary arteries from the opposite sinus of Valsalva and the type B (ie, between the aorta and pulmonary trunk) course of the anomalous vessel. This particular anomaly often is associated with a slitlike ostium and an obtuse takeoff of the proximal portion of the aberrant coronary artery. This combination may result in ischemia during exertion due to the stretching of the affected vessel that compromises blood flow at the ostium of the vessel. Increased cardiac output during exercise may also distend the ascending aorta and the pulmonary trunk and contribute to decreased blood flow through the anomalous coronary artery.

Sudden death also has been reported with congenital coronary artery structural abnormalities such as stenosis, hypoplasia, or atresia. Such structural abnormalities of the coronary arteries interfere with normal myocardial perfusion. Sudden death also has been reported in association with high takeoff of coronary arteries. The latter may lead to impairment of diastolic coronary artery flow. Ventricular fibrillation has been identified as the terminal event in some patients with coronary artery anomaly who have died suddenly during ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring.

Myocardial ischemia

In addition to abnormalities mentioned under sudden death, myocardial ischemia also may occur in patients with anomalous origin of the left and, occasionally, right coronary artery from the pulmonary artery or right ventricle. In this type of anomaly, myocardial ischemia primarily occurs because of low coronary perfusion pressure secondary to the relatively low pulmonary diastolic pressure.

Myocardial ischemia also may occur in the setting of a single coronary artery when the aberrantly coursing vessel terminates prematurely and the myocardium distal to the vessel is inadequately perfused.

Intramyocardial course of coronary arteries (ie, myocardial bridge) occasionally has been associated with myocardial ischemia. The mechanism of myocardial ischemia in this condition is not fully elucidated.

Large coronary artery fistulas also may reduce myocardial perfusion and, thus, cause ischemia.

Congestive heart failure

Large coronary artery fistulas may result in right- or left-sided cardiac volume overload with or without symptoms of congestive heart failure. The hemodynamic effects of coronary artery fistulas depend on their site of drainage, diameter, and length. Drainage into the right heart produces left-to-right shunt with dilation of the right heart chambers and increase in pulmonary resistance. Eisenmenger syndrome has not been reported in association with such shunts. Drainage into the left heart produces left ventricular volume overload that may mimic aortic insufficiency clinically.

Heart failure also may be the predominant presentation in infants with the origin of the left main coronary artery from the pulmonary trunk. In the latter condition, the left ventricle appears dilated and globally hypokinetic on transthoracic echocardiography.

Bacterial endocarditis

Coronary artery fistulas may result in an increased risk of infective endocarditis or endarteritis depending on the location of the fistula. The infection commonly involves the receiving chamber of the heart at the entrance site of the anomalous coronary artery.

Signs

Physical findings generally are absent in most congenital coronary artery anomalies. The following signs may be present in patients with either anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery or a large coronary artery fistula:

Imaging Studies

For initial screening purposes, preferred imaging modalities should (1) be noninvasive; (2) be applicable to a wide population, at a reasonable cost, with a minimal level of side effects such as those that could be involved in the use of ionizing radiation; and (3) have reliable diagnostic accuracy.

Noninvasive imaging modalities in patients with coronary artery anomaly are used to either visualize the anomalous vessels or evaluate a heart murmur or symptoms of dyspnea, angina, syncope, or endocarditis. Visualization of anomalous coronary arteries can be achieved by the following noninvasive methods:

Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography

Echocardiography is an attractive screening option in view of its relative simplicity, noninvasiveness, lack of ionizing radiation, relatively low cost, and widespread availability.[25, 26] However, the discriminating power of echocardiography is intrinsically limited (both temporally and geometrically), and few opportunities are available for aligning the echocardiographic imaging planes with the coronary anatomy, which presents curves and phasic movements. Therefore, this technology is less than ideal for firmly diagnosing most types of coronary artery anomalies in adults.

Computed tomographic angiography (CT angio)

For studying coronary artery anomalies, CT angio has seen a dramatic rise in interest since the introduction of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) scanners with 4 detector rows in 1998. The earliest reports on coronary artery anomalies were based on experience with electron-beam computed tomographic (EBCT) scanning, which correlated closely with coronary angiography.[27, 28, 29, 30]

Initial reports concerning the use of MDCT for identifying and characterizing anomalies of coronary origin and course have been quite encouraging, especially considering the benefits of 3-dimensional image reconstruction.[31, 32, 33, 34] Multiple MDCT studies of coronary artery anomalies have already been performed, including studies done to correlate noninvasive findings with that of invasive coronary angiography. Rapid advances in CT angio technology has made this imaging modality a reliable means of defining coronary artery anomalies. However, routine use of CT angio in young patients with suspected coronary anomaly should be discouraged due to exposure to relatively high doses of ionizing radiation. The importance of interpretation skills and proper training in accurate diagnosis of coronary artery anomalies by this modality should be emphasized.

Coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA)

MRA is a noninvasive technique without the disadvantages of CT angio, including ionizing radiation and nephrotoxic contrast agent. As a tomographic imaging technique, MRA allows 3-dimensional reconstruction and omnidirectional visualization of a coronary artery origin and course. In several published series, MRA has been shown to be as accurate as coronary angiography in defining the origin and proximal course of the coronary arteries.[30, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43] However, high resolution definition of the more distal portions of anomalous coronary arteries may be problematic in some patients.

Although generally considered safe, MRA is not free of limitations including its inability to be used in patients with claustrophobia or in those with certain metallic implanted devices. Gadolinium-based MR contrast agents have also been implicated in several instances of nephrogenic systemic sclerosis, particularly inpatients with advanced kidney disease.

This modality of imaging is, however, the preferred diagnostic test in younger patients in whom echocardiography has failed to provide adequate definition of the coronary artery anatomy.

Invasive coronary angiography

Definitive diagnosis of coronary artery anomalies at times requires selective arterial angiography via catheterization.[44]

During coronary angiography, placing a pulmonary artery flotation (Swan-Ganz) catheter to guide assessment of the course of the anomalous vessels is recommended.

Origin of coronary artery from pulmonary trunk may require pulmonary angiography; however, most arteries are visualized during selective arteriography of vessels originating from the aorta.

Other Tests

Other diagnostic studies include the following:

Medical Care

The goal of medical therapy is to improve and preserve the hemodynamic status through acting on myocardial contractility, reducing congestion, and decreasing myocardial energy expenditure. Note the following:

A 2018 case report discussed a middle-aged patient with isolated single coronary artery with absent right coronary artery who presented with unstable angina and underwent successful conservative management.[45]  Aside from symptomatic complaints of pain, palpitations, and dizziness, the patient's vital signs, physical examinations, and transthoracic echocardiographic findings were unremarkable; electrocardiography revealed normal sinus rhythm with intermittent sinus bradycardia and nonspecific T-wave changes, and selective coronary angiography and aortography showed unusual cardiac features.[45]

The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology have published guidelines on the management of adult and older adult patients with congenital heart disease.[46, 47]

Consultations

Obtain consultations with a pediatric or adult cardiologist and a cardiothoracic surgeon.

Activity limitations

Discourage strenuous physical activity such as heavy exercise and competitive sports in patients with significant coronary artery anomalies and those with symptoms of myocardial ischemia at least until surgical correction is performed.

Surgical Care

Surgery is the only definitive treatment for coronary artery anomalies.

Coronary arteries originating from the pulmonary trunk are resected optimally from the pulmonary trunk and reimplanted into the ascending aorta. A 2018 case study described successful direct surgical implantation of the right coronary artery into the aorta in a 2-month-old infant with isolated anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the main pulmonary artery, with good outcome at 7 months follow-up.[19]

For anomalous coronary arteries that course in between the aortic root and the pulmonary trunk and have resulted in myocardial ischemia or sudden cardiac death, surgical intervention is recommended. In addition to relocation of the coronary ostium to the appropriate anatomic location, other surgical techniques have been employed. These alternative methods of revascularization have included unroofing and bypass grafts using the the internal mammary artery or saphenous veins. Current evidence indicates that unroofing may be a safe and effective surgical approach in such cases.[48] In some patients with the origin of the coronary artery from the pulmonary trunk, an intrapulmonary tunnel may be produced to connect the ostium of the anomalous artery to the aorta.

Coronary artery fistulas can be treated with percutaneous transcatheter occlusion using a detachable balloon, detachable coils, double-umbrella devices, and microparticles of polyvinyl alcohol foam, or they can be treated surgically with a simple ligation. When possible, ligation is performed preferably at the point of entry of the coronary artery to the cardiac chamber. When this is not possible, ligation is performed internally. In patients with multiple lateral communications between the coronary artery and the cardiac chambers, a tangential arteriorrhaphy can be performed. The great risk in coronary ligation is postsurgical myocardial ischemia or infarction.

In a study of data from records of 18 patients who underwent transcatheter closure (TCC) approaches for coronary artery fistulas, investigators found that the choices of TCC technique and device selection varied and were mainly determined by the anatomic type of the fistula.[49]

Coronary angioplasty with placement of stent is the treatment of choice for myocardial bridges if convincing evidence of myocardial ischemia exists. However, the vast majority of myocardial bridges do not appear to cause myocardial ischemia.

Coronary artery bypass grafting, preferably using the internal mammary artery, is the surgical treatment of choice for coronary artery atresia.

In a case study of a 7-week-old neonate, investigators described left main coronary artery atresia (LMCAA) revascularization with a left internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft and mitral valve repair. This procedure had a successful outcome 1 year postoperatively.[50]  

Medication Summary

The goals of pharmacotherapy are to reduce morbidity and to prevent complications.

Digoxin (Lanoxin)

Clinical Context:  Cardiac glycoside with direct inotropic effects in addition to indirect effects on the cardiovascular system. Acts directly on cardiac muscle, increasing myocardial contractility. Its indirect actions result in increased carotid sinus nerve activity and enhanced sympathetic withdrawal for any given increase in mean arterial pressure.

Dobutamine (Dobutrex)

Clinical Context:  Produces vasodilation and increases inotropic state. At higher dosages may cause increased heart rate, exacerbating myocardial ischemia.

Inamrinone (Inocor)

Clinical Context:  Formerly amrinone. Bi-pyridine positive inotrope and vasodilator with little chronotropic activity. Different in mode of action from both digitalis glycosides and catecholamines. More likely to cause tachycardia than dobutamine. May exacerbate myocardial ischemia. Adjust dose according to patient response.

Milrinone (Primacor)

Clinical Context:  Bi-pyridine positive inotrope and vasodilator with little chronotropic activity. Different in mode of action from both digitalis glycosides and catecholamines.

Metoprolol (Lopressor)

Clinical Context:  Selective beta1-adrenergic receptor blocker that decreases automaticity of contractions.

Atenolol (Tenormin)

Clinical Context:  Selectively blocks beta1 receptors with little or no effect on beta2 types.

Propranolol (Inderal, Betachron E-R)

Clinical Context:  Nonselective, beta-adrenergic receptor blocker with membrane-stabilizing activity that decreases automaticity of contractions. Allow time for drug to reach site of action (particularly if circulation is slow). Do not continue doses after desired alteration in rate or rhythm is achieved.

Class Summary

Used to improve and preserve hemodynamic status by acting on myocardial contractility, reducing congestion, and decreasing myocardial energy expenditure.

Furosemide (Lasix)

Clinical Context:  Increases excretion of water by interfering with chloride-binding cotransport system, which inhibits sodium and chloride reabsorption in ascending loop of Henle and distal renal tubule. Dose must be individualized to patient. Depending on response, administer at increments of 20-40 mg, no sooner than 6-8 h after the previous dose, until desired diuresis occurs. When treating infants, titrate with 1-mg/kg per dose increments until a satisfactory effect is achieved.

Class Summary

Loop diuretics decrease plasma volume and edema by causing diuresis. The reduction in plasma volume and stroke volume associated with diuresis decreases cardiac output and, consequently, blood pressure. May improve pulmonary and systemic cardiovascular activity. Should be used cautiously because any drop in intravascular volume may cause a corresponding drop in cardiac output.

Author

Jamshid Shirani, MD, Director of Cardiology Fellowship Program, Director of Echocardiography Laboratory, Director of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Clinic, St Luke's University Health Network

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Alessandra Brofferio, MD, Staff Cardiologist, Cardiology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institutes, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editors

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.

Steven J Compton, MD, FACC, FACP, FHRS, Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology, Alaska Heart Institute, Providence and Alaska Regional Hospitals

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Eric H Yang, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Director of Cardiac Catherization Laboratory and Interventional Cardiology, Mayo Clinic Arizona

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Park W Willis IV, MD, Sarah Graham Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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Coronary angiography showing separate origin of the left anterior descending (LAD) and left circumflex (LCx) coronary arteries from the left coronary sinus of the aorta (absent left main).

Coronary angiography showing the anomalous origin of the left main (LM) coronary artery from proximal right coronary artery (RCA) with subsequent retroaortic (dorsal [type D]) course to the left side.

Selective left coronary artery angiogram demonstrating anomalous origin of obtuse marginal (OM) coronary artery from proximal left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. LM=left main, LCx=left circumflex.

Coronary angiography showing the anomalous origin of the right coronary artery (RCA) from the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery with subsequent anterior course (anterior [type A]) to the right atrioventricular groove.

Coronary angiography showing the origin of the right coronary artery (RCA) as the continuation of the left circumflex (LCx) coronary artery.

Coronary angiography showing the presence of a fistula originating from a diagonal (diag) branch of the left anterior descending coronary artery with anomalous communication with the pulmonary artery (PA).

Coronary angiography showing separate origin of the left anterior descending (LAD) and left circumflex (LCx) coronary arteries from the left coronary sinus of the aorta (absent left main).

Coronary angiography showing the anomalous origin of the left main (LM) coronary artery from proximal right coronary artery (RCA) with subsequent retroaortic (dorsal [type D]) course to the left side.

Selective left coronary artery angiogram demonstrating anomalous origin of obtuse marginal (OM) coronary artery from proximal left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. LM=left main, LCx=left circumflex.

Coronary angiography showing the anomalous origin of the right coronary artery (RCA) from the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery with subsequent anterior course (anterior [type A]) to the right atrioventricular groove.

Coronary angiography showing the origin of the right coronary artery (RCA) as the continuation of the left circumflex (LCx) coronary artery.

Coronary angiography showing the presence of a fistula originating from a diagonal (diag) branch of the left anterior descending coronary artery with anomalous communication with the pulmonary artery (PA).