Anomalous origin of left coronary artery from pulmonary artery. Case report and review of literature concerning teen-agers and adults

Abstract

An adult with angina was found to have 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. Eighteen additional cases of ALCAPA in this age group have been diagnosed post mortem. In this report, we will review the management of teen-agers and adults in whom ALCAPA was correctly diagnosed during life. We shall also describe the eighth case of successful aorta-left coronary artery grafting with the saphenous vein in this age group. 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 one death. It would appear that saphenous vein grafting is the definitive means of surgically correcting ALCAPA, because it restores the dual coronary circulation.