Percutaneous coronary intervention with stent deployment in anomalously-arising left circumflex coronary arteries
Nick E J West1, Charles J McKenna, Oliver Ormerod
1Department of Cardiology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK. nick.west@glos.nhs.uk
Insights
Anomalous left circumflex coronary arteries commonly develop atherosclerotic disease in their retroaortic segment. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is feasible for treating this condition, offering favorable outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Interventional Cardiology
- Congenital Heart Disease
Background:
- Anomalous origin of the left circumflex coronary artery (ALCAC) is the most common congenital coronary anomaly.
- The predisposition of ALCAC to proximal atherosclerotic disease is debated.
- Limited data exist on stent deployment in anomalous circumflex vessels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of atherosclerotic disease in the retroaortic segment of ALCAC.
- To evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in these vessels.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective case study of 22 patients with ALCAC.
- Twelve patients underwent PCI with stent deployment in the retroaortic segment.
- Analysis of coronary disease and procedural success.
Main Results:
- 73% of ALCAC vessels showed significant obstructive disease in the retroaortic portion.
- PCI was successful in all attempted cases.
- Favorable short- to medium-term event-free survival was observed.
Conclusions:
- The retroaortic segment of ALCAC is selectively prone to atherosclerosis.
- PCI is a feasible treatment option for ALCAC with obstructive disease.
- PCI in these vessels can be technically challenging.
Background:
Anomalous origin of the left circumflex coronary artery from the right sinus of Valsalva or proximal right coronary artery is the most common congenital coronary anatomical abnormality. Whether such vessels are particularly predisposed to atherosclerotic disease in their proximal portion remains controversial. Successful balloon angioplasty has been described, but thus far only six isolated cases of stent deployment in anomalous circumflex vessels have been described in the interventional literature.
Methods:
Single-center retrospective case study of twenty-two patients with anomalous circumflex coronary arteries. Twelve patients (11/12 male, average age (63 +/- 3) years) underwent successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stent deployment in the retroaortic segment of the anomalous vessel.
Results:
Significant obstructive coronary disease in the retroaortic portion was found in the majority of anomalous left circumflex vessels (16/22, 73%), but did not predict the presence of significant two or three vessel coronary disease (P = 0.14, 0.63). PCI was successful in all cases attempted, with favourable short/medium-term event-free survival.
Conclusions:
The retroaortic portion of anomalously-arising circumflex coronary arteries is selectively predisposed to atherosclerotic disease. PCI to these vessels is feasible but may be technically challenging.
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