ANOMALOUS ORIGIN OF LEFT CORONARY-ARTERY FROM PULMONARY-ARTERY - CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW OF LITERATURE CONCERNING TEEN-AGERS AND ADULTS

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 73  (6) , 887-893
Abstract
An adult with angina had an anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA). Review of the literature regarding this anomaly in teen-agers and adults disclosed only 25 cases diagnosed during life. Additional cases (18) of ALCAPA in this age group were diagnosed post mortem. The management of teen-agers and adults in whom ALCAPA was correctly diagnosed during life was reviewed. The 8th case of successful aorta-left coronary artery grafting with the saphenous vein in this group was described. This case brings the total in the literature to 44. Of those patients offered surgical therapy, 13 underwent successful ligation of the anomalous artery. Saphenous vein grafts were employed in 8. Five did not undergo ligation or saphenous vein grafting. There was 1 death. Saphenous vein grafting may be the definitive means of surgically correcting ALCAPA, because it restores the dual coronary circulation.