Diagnosis and Management of Anomalous Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery in an Asymptomatic Infant

Pediatr Cardiol. 2020 Jan;41(1):209-212. doi: 10.1007/s00246-019-02192-2. Epub 2019 Sep 14.

Abstract

Anomalous origin of the left anterior descending coronary artery from the pulmonary artery is a rare variant of anomalous origin of the left main coronary artery from the pulmonary artery. We report on a seemingly asymptomatic patient with ALADCAPA and a small restrictive muscular ventricular septal defect diagnosed by echocardiogram in the neonatal period. Our patient underwent elective repair at 3.5 months of age after which feeding and growth improved dramatically. Multimodality imaging is helpful to confirm this rare anomaly; however, echocardiographic clues including lack of left coronary branching or an abnormal coronary course should raise suspicion for ALADCAPA. This case provides support for early repair in children with an incidental finding of this anomaly as subclinical ischemia may be under-recognized by available testing but may lead to symptoms later in life.

Keywords: Anomalous left anterior descending coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALADCAPA); Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA); Coronary angiography; Coronary artery anomaly; Echocardiography.

MeSH terms

  • Computed Tomography Angiography / methods
  • Coronary Angiography
  • Coronary Vessel Anomalies / diagnostic imaging*
  • Echocardiography / methods
  • Female
  • Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / diagnosis*
  • Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / surgery
  • Humans
  • Incidental Findings
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Multimodal Imaging
  • Pulmonary Artery / diagnostic imaging*