Coronary Artery AnomaliesCoronary Artery Anomalies

Seoul National University Hospital

Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery

Coronary Artery AnomaliesCoronary Artery Anomalies

Incidence : 1-2% of the population including minor (major anomalies<1% of CHD)

1. Major anomalies 2. Minor variations1. Major anomalies 2. Minor variations - Coronary arterio-venous fistula - High take-off - Anomalous origin from PA - Anomalous circumflex artery origin - Single ostium or multiple ostia in

Left coronary artery other aortic sinus Right coronary artery - Hypoplastic proximal coronary artery

Both coronary arteries - Congenital proximal or distal stenosis

- Coronary artery from the posterior

aortic sinus - Ventricular origin of an accessory coronary artery

Coronary Artery Anomalies

Major categories1. Coronary arterio-venous fistula

2. Anomalous connection of left or right

coronary artery to pulmonary artery

3. Anomalous origin of a main coronary

artery from the aorta

Coronary Artery Anomalies

Pathophysiology• The anomalous origin of the left coronary artery on the

main pulmonary artery leads to reversal of the left coronary arterial flow. This anomalous circuit results in coronary steal, myocardial ischemia, left ventricular dysfunction, and congestive heart failure.

• Coronary arteriovenous fistulae between the left or right coronary arteries and the right heart chambers or the pulmonary artery also create a coronary steal phenomenon and myocardial ischemia.

Coronary Arterio-venous Fistula

Definition Direct communication between a coronary artery and the lumen

of any one of the four cardiac chambers or the coronary sinus, or its tributary vein or SVC, pulmonary artery or pulmonary veins close to the heart

History Krause : 1st description in 1865 Trevor : 1st autopsy report in 1912 Biorck & Crafoord : 1st report of surgical correction in 1947 Fell : 1st report of correct diagnosis & surgical correction in 1958 Swan : 1st report of surgical correction by CPB in 1959

Coronary A-V FistulaMorphology 1. Coronary artery site : dilated, elongated, serpiginous, Right coronary A : 50 ~ 55%, Left coronary A : 35% Both : 5% 2. Site of fistulous connection Right ventricle : 40% Right atrium : 25% Pulmonary artery : 15-20% Coronary sinus : 7% SVC : 1% Left atrium : 5% Left ventricle : 3% Other : rarely 3. Size & multiplicity of the fistula 2 ~ 5mm fibrous margin, single or multiple opening 4. Cardiac chamber : dilation in atrial, venous drain site 5. Bacterial endocarditis : 5% 6. Associated lesions : most occur as isolated lesions

Coronary A-V FistulaNatural history• The fistula, if not present at birth, develops earl

y in life. Likely small fistulae remains small and moderate fistulae slowly increase in size, although there may be little change over a 10 to 15 year period.

• Onset of dyspnea, heart failure, and angina can occur in young patients with large fistula

• The maximum incidence of congestive heart failure occurs in the fifth and sixth decades.

• Spontaneous rupture and closure is very rare.

Coronary A-V FistulaClinical features & diagnosis1. Presentation ; Most present late age in life

2. Symptoms ; Asymptomatic in young age Mild cardiomegaly Plethora on chest X-ray DOE from Lt. to Rt. shunt Angina (7%) Myocardial infarction (3%) Congestive heart failure (12 ~ 15%) in old age

3. Diagnosis ; Continuous murmurs EKG Chest radiography Echocardiography Cardiac catheterization, and angiography

Coronary Artery – RV Fistula

Coronary A-V Fistula Technique of operation1. Closed without CPB When termination of a major coronary artery branch into an easily accessible site

2. When CPB is used Indications; (1) when artery is dilated & tortuous & relatively inaccessible as in AV groove (2) when the fistula is in the course of coronary artery (3) when an aneurysm requires excision

Methods a. Closure through arteriotomy & aneurysm repair b. Closure through chamber

Coronary A-V Fistula

Surgical indications & results1. Survival ◎ Early death Hospital mortality : rare Complication : rare ◎ Time related Late results : excellent

2. Indications Diagnosis is an indication for operation unless the shunt is very small(QP/QS<1.3)

3. Controversies Interventional catheter-delivered occluding devices and coils have been reported successfully

Anomalous Connection of Left Coronary Artery to Pulmonary Artery

1. Definition The whole of the left main or only the left anterior descending or circumflex branch connects anomalously to proximal main pul

monary artery, or very rarely to proximal right pulmonary artery.

2. History Brooks : 1st description in 1886 Bland, White & Garland (BWG Syndrome) : Described clinical syndrome in 1933 Sabiston : 1st successful operation in 1959 Cooley : Bypass graft in 1966 Neches : Coronary transposition in 1974 Takeuchi : Tunnel repair in 1979

ALCAPAMorphology1. Connection ◎ Left or posterior cusp of pulmonary trunk, rarely right cusp ◎ Uncommonly circumflex branch connection anomalously ◎ Rarely only the LAD connects anomalously2. Left ventricle ◎ Hypertrophied, dilated ◎ Diffuse fibrosis in subendocardial layer ◎ Secondary subendocardial fibroelastosis3. Mitral valve incompetence ◎ Extensive fibrosis, calcification in the papillary muscle (dysfunction) ◎ Endocardial fibroelastosis in the mitral apparatus & LV (fusion & shortening of chordae tendinae)

ALCAPA (1)

Anomalous Connection of Left Coronary Artery to Pulmonary Artery

ALCAPA (2)

ALCAPA

Clinical features & diagnosis1. Infant presentation Symptoms may be recognized within a week or so of birth (high postnatal pulmonary artery pressure limits runoff into the pulmonary artery) EKG : Anterolateral infarct with Q waves & ST segment elevation, LVH Chest radiology : Cardiomegaly with interstitial pulmonary edema Echocardiogram Cineangiography

2. Adult presentation Collateral circulation is adequate to prevent infarction. When severe symptoms do not occur in infancy, presentation is often delayed to beyond 20 years of age. Some patients remain asymptomatic.

ALCAPA

Natural history1. Incidence rare (0.26%) , 1 per 400 CHD2. Survival 65% : die due to LV failure during the 1st year of life lf death does not occur during the 1st year, the hazard lessens considerably by Rich interarterial collateral Restrictive opening of left coronary artery Marked right coronary dominance Most patients who survive infancy continue to be a risk of death from chronic heart failure secondary to ischemic cardiomyopathy

ALCAPATechniques of operation• Construction of a two-coronary system Tunnel operation (Takeuchi Repair)

Left coronary artery transfer

Subclavian-left coronary artery anastomosis

Other techniques for assisting reimplantation

Extension by autologous flaps of aorta or pulmonary artery

Mobilization with pulmonary button

Coronary artery bypass grafting

• Ligation of left coronary artery

ALCAPA

Goals of surgery• Establishing the 2-coronary system with direct aortic implantation• Situations where direct aortic implantation is not suitable 1. Anomalous orifice is located in the nonfacing sinus or in the lateral position on the left pulmonary sinus 2. The patient is older with well-developed collateral around the pulmonary sinus

ALCAPATunnel Operation

ALCAPAImplantation of Anomalous Artery

ALCAPASubclavian-left Coronary Artery Anastomosis

ALCAPASurgical results1. Survival Early death : variable Time-related : good2. Mode of death : acute cardiac failure3. Incremental risk factors for premature death Status of left ventricular myocardium lmportant mitral incompetence4. Functional status : generally good late postoperatively5. Left ventricular function6. Mitral incompetence7. Effect of the nature of the postoperative coronary system8. Conduit patency after the two-vessel repair9. Right ventricular outflow obstruction after a tunnel repair

ALCAPA

Indications for operation • The diagnosis in an infant is an indicatio

n for urgent operation and this condition in older patients as well.

• The mitral valve should be left alone when operation is performed in young patients, but in older patients mitral repair or replacement may be required.

ALCAPA Special Situations & Controversies 1. Anomalous connection of the right coronary artery, circ

umflex coronary artery, or left anterior descending coronary artery to pulmonary trunk

. Even rarer . Much less lethal . Operation is probably advisable. 2. Total anomalous connection of the coronary arteries to the pulmonary trunk . Very rarely . Symptoms appear within a few days of birth and death follows within 2 weeks. . Urgent operation should be carried out.

Anomalous Coronary Artery Connection to Aorta

1. Definition A condition in which either the main coronary artery arises fr

om the aorta in a site other than the left coronary sinus or the aorta just above it ; or in which right coronary artery arises in a site other than the right coronary sinus or the sino-tubular junction (apparently clinical events are related to this condition only when the anomalously arising artery passes between aorta & pulmonary trunk)

2. History Cheitlin : Description of death of anomalous LCA in 1974

Roberts : Description of anomalous RCA in 1984

Anomalous Coronary Artery Connection

Morphology 1. Anomalous connection of left main coronary artery . Two coronary ostia are side by side in the right sinus mostly. . Single enlarged ostium in the right sinus near to or overlying commissure between right and left less commonly . Coronary artery may pass posteriorly between aorta & PA trunk

2. Anomalous connection of right coronary artery . More common than anomalous connection of the left main

coronary artery . The anomalously connecting right coronary artery passes forward

between the two great arteries. . Commonly seperated ostium, but uncommonly single ostium within left sinus or over the commissure

Anomalous Coronary Artery Connection

Restriction of coronary flow• Acute angulation at the coronary takeoff• Presence of the ostial ridge, slitlike orifice, • Stretching and compression of the intramural seg

ment by the aortic valve commissure• Most recently, variable lateral luminal compressio

n of the intramural trunk that worsens during systole

• RCAs arise from the left sinus or ectopically in the right sinus.

Anomalous Coronary Artery Connection

Medical (expectant) treatment• Coronary bypass grafting • Implantation into the correct sinus from outsid

e the aorta • Translocation of the pulmonary artery• The use of primary angioplasty in patients with

myocardial infarcts• The use of stents to prevent compression• Transaortic modification of the origin and prox

imal portion of the ectopic or anomalous RCA

Anomalous Coronary Artery Connection

Clinical features & diagnosis• The natural history is controversial.

• No characteristic clinical or electrocardiographic

feature

• Diagnosed by coronary cineangiography

A search is made for objective evidence of reversible

ischemia (A number of cases have been reported in

which serious sequelae, including sudden death)

Anomalous Coronary Artery Connection

Surgical Strategies Anomalous connection of a coronary artery (A

CCAA) to an incorrect sinus of Valsalva is a relatively rare congenital defect

• Coronary reimplantation,• Unroofing intramural segment, • Coronary artery bypass grafting. • Reinplantation of pulmonary trunk

Anomalous Coronary Artery Connection

Compromised coronary blood flow• Compression of the intramural segment of the c

oronary artery between the pulmonary artery and aorta

• Narrowing of the slit-like orifice to anomalous artery with increased aortic pressure

• An acute angle of the takeoff of the coronary artery

• Stenosis in intramural segment of the coronary artery, especially at the level of the commissure.

Anomalous Coronary Artery Origin

Operative indications & techniques 1. Indication Indications remain arguable, but reversible ischemia is an indication for operation.

2. Technique . Coronary bypass graft operation internal mammary artery saphenous vein graft . Reconstruction of proximal portion of the coronary artery (lntramural course) . Division and reimplantation

3. Results Generally good

Anomalous Coronary Artery Connection

Unroofing Procedure

Coronary Ostial StenosisCoronary Ostial Stenosis

Developmental etiologyDevelopmental etiology 1. Congenital1. Congenital

1) Membranous obstruction1) Membranous obstruction 2) Hypoplasia2) Hypoplasia 3) Atresia3) Atresia

2. Inflammatory2. Inflammatory 1) Takayasu’s : 8.5%1) Takayasu’s : 8.5% 2) Kawasaki : 9%2) Kawasaki : 9% 3) Middle aortic syndrome3) Middle aortic syndrome

Coronary Artery AneurysmDevelopment & diagnosis • The first pathologic description of a coronary artery aneur

ysm was by Morgagni in 1761, and the first clinical case of coronary artery aneurysm was reported by Bourgon in 1812.

• Coronary artery aneurysm is an uncommon disease, the main causes of coronary artery aneurysm include congenital, atherosclerosis, Kawasaki disease, complication of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, and endocarditis.

• On rare occasions, a coronary artery aneurysm grows large enough to be called giant coronary artery aneurysm, for which a precise definition is still lacking

Coronary Artery AneurysmClinical features• Coronary artery aneurysm is defined as coronary dilation that

exceeds the diameter of normal adjacent segments or the diameter of the patient's largest coronary vessel by 1.5 times.

• Coronary artery aneurysm is an uncommon disease, found in only 0.15% to 4.9% of patients who undergo coronary angiography.

• The complications of coronary artery aneurysm include thrombosis, embolization, rupture, and vasospasm

• Operative procedures include coronary fistula closure, underwent coronary artery aneurysm resection, embolectomy, and plastic repair of the aortic wall with partial excision of the free aortic wall.