Congenital Aortic Insufficiency From an Abnormal Left Aortic Cusp Results in Acute Coronary Syndrome
Tam T Doan1, Amna Qasim1, Debra Kearney2
1The Lillie Frank Abercrombie Section of Cardiology, 3984Texas Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
Insights
Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is rare in children, but a six-week-old infant presented with cardiac arrest due to severe aortic insufficiency (AI) from a congenital aortic cusp anomaly. The infant recovered after an emergent Ross operation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Congenital Heart Disease
- Cardiovascular Surgery
Background:
- Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is an uncommon manifestation in pediatric patients.
- Congenital aortic insufficiency (AI) is a rare cause of ACS in infants.
- Early diagnosis and intervention are critical for managing pediatric cardiovascular emergencies.
Observation:
- A previously healthy six-week-old infant experienced an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
- Diagnostic evaluation revealed severe AI attributed to an anomalous left aortic cusp.
- The severe AI was the underlying cause of the acute coronary syndrome.
Findings:
- The infant's presentation of ACS secondary to congenital AI is a rare clinical scenario.
- Successful emergent surgical repair was achieved using the Ross operation.
- The Ross procedure effectively addressed the aortic insufficiency and restored cardiac function.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering rare cardiac anomalies in pediatric ACS presentations.
- Congenital AI should be investigated in infants with unexplained cardiac arrest and ischemic symptoms.
- The Ross operation is a viable surgical option for severe congenital AI in infants, offering favorable outcomes.
Abstract:
Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a rare presentation in children with isolated congenital aortic insufficiency (AI). We report the case of a six-week-old previously well male who presented with an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and was diagnosed with severe AI from a left aortic cusp anomaly resulting in ACS. The infant successfully underwent an emergent Ross operation.
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