Anomalous Supradominant Left Circumflex Artery with Rare, Rudimentary Left Anterior Descending Artery
Ghulam Abbas Shaikh1, Ameema Asad2, Syed Saadan Ahmed2
1Department of Cardiology, Dr. Ruth K. M. Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi, PAK.
Insights
This study highlights a rare coronary artery anomaly: a supradominant left circumflex artery (LCX) with a rudimentary left anterior descending artery (LAD). Early identification is vital for successful cardiac interventions.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Vascular Anatomy
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Coronary artery anomalies are uncommon but can lead to severe cardiac events like sudden cardiac arrest.
- This case involves a patient presenting with symptoms suggestive of cardiac issues, prompting further investigation.
Observation:
- A patient exhibited occasional chest pain and dyspnea on exertion.
- Initial tests including exercise tolerance test (ETT) and electrocardiogram (EKG) were inconclusive.
- Trans-radial coronary angiography revealed a rare anomaly: a supradominant left circumflex artery (LCX) and a rudimentary left anterior descending artery (LAD).
Findings:
- Coronary angiography demonstrated codominance due to a rudimentary LAD and an exceptionally large LCX, with a normal right coronary artery (RCA).
- No significant coronary artery stenosis or atherosclerosis was detected.
- Pharmacological management was initiated for the patient.
Implications:
- Accurate diagnosis of this supradominant LCX anomaly is critical for planning future percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
- Improved identification can enhance the success rates of invasive cardiac therapies.
- This case underscores the importance of recognizing rare vascular variations in clinical practice.
Abstract:
Anomalies pertaining to the coronary vasculature are rare and generally asymptomatic, however, they can pose life-threatening risks in the form of sudden cardiac arrests or myocardial ischemia. We present a rare anomaly of a supradominant left circumflex artery (LCX) and a rudimentary left anterior descending artery (LAD). The patient presented in our outpatient department (OPD) with complaints of occasional chest pain and dyspnea on exertion. An exercise tolerance test (ETT) was carried out, which was inconclusive and an electrocardiogram (EKG) revealed a sinus rhythm with a nonspecific ST segment. Due to these findings, an angiography was performed via the trans-radial route using a TIG 5 French catheter (Terumo Medical Corporation, NJ, US). Coronary angiography revealed codominance because of the presence of a rudimentary LAD, a normal right coronary artery (RCA), and an extremely large LCX. As there was no significant stenosis or atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries, pharmacological treatment was chosen. The patient was discharged in a medically stable condition with a routine follow-up planned after one month. The identification of this supradominant LCX is crucial for diagnosis in possible future circumstances of percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting operations, ultimately improving the success rate of invasive cardiac therapies.
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