Sudden cardiac death of a teenage girl

Anomalies of coronary artery origin can be of little clinical significance and only an incidental autopsy finding. However recent case reports have shown that a wide range of potential pathologic alterations of congenital coronary anomalies are associated with clinical symptoms and exercise related sudden death. We describe the case of a 16-year-old girl who sustained a cardiac arrest and died after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) of intractable cardiogenic shock. The sporty and previously healthy girl suddenly fainted after swimming in a tributary of the Danube. Autopsy revealed an anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the anterior sinus of Valsalva and its course between aorta and pulmonary artery. The cause of this anomalous origin and possible mechanism for sudden death is discussed. We conclude that this congenital anomaly should be considered in cases of major cardiac events in young people.