Transcatheter aortic valve replacement in patients with anomalous left circumflex coronary artery

Kosuke Ujihira1, Amish N Raval2, Matthew R Wolff2

  • 1Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin.

Insights

An anomalous left circumflex artery poses risks during transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Protecting the artery with a guidewire and balloon proved safe, similar to unprotected procedures, in three patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Interventional Cardiology
  • Cardiac Surgery

Background:

  • Anomalous left circumflex artery (ALCA) is a rare coronary anomaly.
  • ALCA can increase risks of coronary artery stenosis or obstruction during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).
  • Optimal procedural management for ALCA during TAVR remains unclear.

Observation:

  • This report details three cases of severe aortic stenosis with an ALCX.
  • In one case, a coronary guidewire and balloon were used for protection before TAVR.
  • In the other two cases, TAVR was performed without specific coronary protection measures.

Findings:

  • All three TAVR procedures were successfully completed without immediate complications.
  • No coronary stenosis or obstruction occurred during or after the procedures.
  • One-year follow-up revealed no adverse events in any of the patients.

Implications:

  • The findings suggest that TAVR can be performed safely in patients with ALCX, even without routine coronary protection.
  • Further research is needed to definitively establish the best procedural management for ALCX during TAVR.
  • These cases contribute to the understanding of managing complex coronary anatomy during TAVR.

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